WAKE THE #FRACK UP BOULDER COLORADO! YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE FRACKED BY ENCANA!

Wake up Boulder!  There are no local force fields or bubbles that can protect you any longer from the oil and gas industry. You must wake the #frack up, get informed, and take action to protect Boulder Colorado from the  unregulated toxic oil and gas industry. 

My great grandparents, who homesteaded in Boulder, would crawl out of the local Boulder Cemetery and kick your ass for not protecting Boulder's natural environment and culture. 

The city council and county commissioners were elected to protect you and the environment from adverse impacts. They are not! They are waning on the side of Governor Hickenlooper's threat of a lawsuit and his #fracking agenda. If the elected officials of Boulder County cannot protect you, you must take action into your own hands and force them to use 'your' tax dollars to protect your ways of life to include; clean air, clean water and land.  

Take Boulder back from corrupt politicians. Dismantle corrupt systems, and bring back the rights of communities and that of the natural world. It's up to YOU!  RESIST - DO NOT COMPLY!

Below are current statistics to inform you on oil and gas activities in Boulder County.
...............................................................................


784 WELLS OF ALL STATUSES (11/24/2012)


169 – (AL) ABANDONED OIL AND GAS LOCATIONS  (WELLS ARE STILL THERE BTW AWAITING RE-ENTRY AND RE- DRILLING)

108 – (DA) DEAD AND ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS (POSE SIGNIFICANT THREAT FROM SEEPING AND WELL-BORE FAILURE RATES)

14 – (DG) CURRENTLY BEING DRILLED 

141 – (PA) PLUGGED AND ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS (POSE SIGNIFICANT THREAT FROM SEEPING AND WELL-BORE FAILURE RATES) MANY ARE IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND HOMES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT ON TOP OF THE OIL AND GAS WELL. SOME HOMES HAVE EXPLODED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HARMED

306 – (PR) PRODUCING/ACTIVE OIL AND GAS WELLS (EACH CONDENSATE TANK RELEASES 2 TONS OF TOXIC HYDROCARBON VAPORS PER YEAR)

2 - (SI) SHUT IN – LIKE A ‘PAUSE BUTTON’ ON PRODUCTION -NORMALLY WAITING FOR PRICES TO INCREASE BEFORE TURNING THE SWITCH BACK ON

1 - (TA) TEMPORARILY ABANDONED

4 – (UN) UNKNOWN STATUS – I’M ALWAYS AMUSED THAT THE STATE DOES NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF A WELL

38 –(XX) WELL LOCATION 

99 - HISTORIC TOXIC WASTE EVAPORATION PITS (ALL ABANDONED AT THIS TIME. SOME NEAR OR UNDER RESIDENTIAL HOMES)
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WHAT'S TO COME?

**56 NEW APPROVED PERMITS ALL FROM ENCANA! ** 2 ARE HORIZONTAL

24 NEWLY APPROVED LOCATION PERMITS - 5 ARE NEW DRILLING LOCATIONS BUT 19 ARE RE-ENTRIES/RE-DRILLING OF HISTORIC WELLS. 

Remember I listed Boulder County has 109 historic wells? All 109 historic wells have the potential of being re-entered and re-drilled with new toxic technologies. Old well-bores pose a significantly high risk of failure. 

Aggregation of well bores create enormous fugitive emission venting that is currently allowed under the Clean Air Act. Toxic chemicals will be released surrounding Boulder County in a brown cloud as seen daily in Weld County. Weld County is home to 19,000 active oil and gas wells and carries a failed history to prevent adverse impacts.

Weld County currently has:

- 646 public complaints on file at COGCC

- 3,974 Alleged oil and gas operator violations

- 1,772 toxic fluid spills/releases 43% have contaminated groundwater with chemicals such  as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and many more hazardous chemicals.

- Up to 824,600 gallons of oil (carcinogenic hydrocarbons)  have been spilled and “unrecovered” in Weld County.

- Up to 383,600 gallons of produced water (toxic industrial waste)  has been spilled and “unrecovered” in Weld County.

- Up to 547,400 gallons of “Other” fluid has been spilled and “unrecovered in Weld County.  (“Other” may include toxic fracking fluids.)

To quote the Mayor of Loveland during a 'tour de frac' in Weld County: "We don't have to allow that to happen," he said. "We will not allow that to happen."

Please review Dr. Colborn's groundbreaking AIR MANUSCRIPT where she captured the toxic chemicals that are released from the oil and gas industry. Shocking! Alarming! INHUMANE! are a few words that come to mind.

WAKE THE #FRACK UP BOULDER COLORADO!

You are not impervious, you are not immune, you are about to be a victim of a 'System of Oppression', the Corporate State of Colorado, all happily approved by your local elected officials unless YOU do something.

What can you do? Stay informed as to what the local Boulder fractivist groups are doing. Join the local groups. Attend all city council and county commissioner meetings and speak out against fracking in Boulder. Attend a rally. Get a twitter account and know real-time what is happening. Whatever your capacity and talents are, they are very much needed.

Contact me: @fractivist (on twitter) or fractivist@gmail.com or @COFrackAttack to get involved immediately and to stay up to date on local events.

The first image below is a historic 'toxic produced water pit' in Boulder County. It appears to be under a residential home - link to official COGCC docx

click images to enlarge

P.S. ENCANA IS COMING -  HERE ARE THEIR CO STATS VIA THE COGCC DATABASE

ENCANA  * 46 reported Spills

44.0% GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

4.0% SURFACE WATER CONTAMINATION

61.0% BERMS FAILED

ALL DATA SOURCED BY THE COGCC

KERR-MCGEE OIL & GAS BENZENE SPILL CONTAMINATES GROUNDWATER 17 UG/L

THE BATTERY WAS SHUT IN. THE PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON IMPACTED SOIL IS BEING EXCAVATED. GROUNDWATER WAS ENCOUNTERED IN THE EXCAVATION AT ~4` BGS. LAB ANALYTICAL RESULTS CONFIRMED BENZENE IMPACTS TO GROUNDWATER ABOVE THE CGWQS AT A CONCENTRATION OF 17 UG/L.

OFFICIAL COGCC DOCX LINK


........................................................................................................

Date Rec'd:	11/20/2012	Report taken by:	BOB CHESSON
DocNum:	2231131	API number:	05-123 -18271	Facility ID:	250468

Operator Information

Operator:	KERR-MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP	Oper. No.	47120
Address:	P O BOX 173779 ATTN: ASHLEY COCCIOLONE  DENVER , CO 80217-3779
Phone:	(720 )929-6000	Fax:	(720 )929-7461
Operator Contact:	PAUL  SCHNEIDER

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	11/13/2012
Type of Facility:	WELL
Well Name/No.	HSR-BARCLAY  2-28	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: NWNE section: 28 township: 3N range: 66W meridian: 6

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled:	Recvrd:
Water spilled:	Recvrd:
Other spilled:   0	Recved:  0
GW Impact? Y Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill:  - X   -
Current land use:  AGRICULTURE
Weather conditions:  60 DEG F, CLEAR
Soil/Geology description  UNKNOWN
Distance in feet to nearest surface water:  535
Depth to shallowest GW:  4
Wetlands:  2700	Buildings:  1900
Livestock:	Water Wells:  320
Cause of spill:
HISTORICAL IMPACTS
Immediate Response:
THE BATTERY WAS SHUT IN. THE PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON IMPACTED SOIL IS BEING EXCAVATED. GROUNDWATER WAS ENCOUNTERED IN THE EXCAVATION AT ~4` BGS. LAB ANALYTICAL RESULTS CONFIRMED BENZENE IMPACTS TO GROUNDWATER ABOVE THE CGWQS AT A CONCENTRATION OF 17 UG/L.
Emergency Pits:
NA
How extent determined:
SOIL AND GROUNDWATER SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED FROM THE EXCAVATION. THE ANALYTICAL RESULTS AND EXCAVATION DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED ON A FORM 27.
Further Remediation
WILL BE PROVIDED ON A FORM 27.
Prevent Problem:
A NEW TANK BATTERY WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.
Detailed Description:
FIELD CREWS DISCOVERED HISTORICAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON IMPACTED SOIL WHILE REMOVING THE OLD TANK BATTERY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF LEAKING DUMPLINES, TANKS OR FITTINGS. THE VOLUME OF THE RELEASE IS UNKNOWN.

Fracking Failures Event - Colorado Oil and Gas Failures [GUEST SPEAKERS]

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Inadequate enforcement means current Colorado oil and gas development is irresponsible

LINK

Fracking Hazards Obscured In Failure To Disclose Wells

BLOOMBERG

Ben Elgin

14 Aug 2012

Seeking to quell environmental concerns about the chemicals it shoots underground to extract oil and natural gas, Apache Corp. (APA) told shareholders in April that it disclosed information about “all the company’s U.S. hydraulic fracturing jobs” on a website last year.

Actually, Apache’s transparency was shot through with cracks. In Texas and Oklahoma, the company reported chemicals it used on only about half its fracked wells via FracFocus.org, a voluntary website that oil and gas companies helped design amid calls for mandatory disclosure.

Energy companies failed to list more than two out of every five fracked wells in eight U.S. states from April 11, 2011, when FracFocus began operating, through the end of last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The gaps reveal shortcomings in the voluntary approach to transparency on the site, which has received funding from oil and gas trade groups and $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy.

“FracFocus is just a fig leaf for the industry to be able to say they’re doing something in terms of disclosure,” said U.S. Representative Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat. DeGette, along with Pennsylvania Senator Robert Casey, introduced legislation in March 2011 that would require companies to disclose fracking chemicals. The bills haven’t advanced in either the House or Senate.

With FracFocus, “companies that want to disclose can do it but the other ones don’t have to,” DeGette said.

85% Fracked

Continue reading...

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MY TAKE

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HOCUS POCUS FRAC FOCUS IS A JOKE!

I analyzed fracfocus.org data against official docx and found a 75% skew in official COGCC data of that which was posted on fracfocus. It's bogus

fracfocus is nothing but a public pacifier.

Shane

.

Fracking and Nature do not Mix [IMAGES]

Below are images from where I live in Colorado along the Rocky Mountains. You can see the absolute beauty behind the ugly heavy, toxic industry called oil and gas development. The Rockies have numerous peaks that reach over 14,000 feet and are admired by the rest of the world.

Each day, these Rocky Mountains are covered with a beautiful sunset, as immortalized in a song by John Denver. The beauty we call, Colorado, is now blocked and ravaged by fracking rigs that rip up our soils, contaminate ground and surface waters, spew chemicals in the air such as:trimethylbenzene that impairs your respiratory system, causes brain and nerve disorders, affects your immune system, causes cancer and tumors, affects your genetic makeup, is considered an endocrine disruptor and causes liver and kidney failure. Other chemical found are acetaldehyde, acetone,cyclohexane, formaldehyde, fluorene and hundreds of other very harmful chemicals.

These chemicals are placed into our environment by the oil and gas industry and are currently harming our environment and our citizens. As you know, the oil and gas industry lavishes in its numerous federal exemptions at the expense of our health and the health of our future children.

The oil and gas industry is imposing severe, and catastrophic damage to our environment and 'your' health on a scale that will ultimately be grave when all is said and done. It's already shocking to me as I uncover the truth about oil and gas in Colorado. I have over 75 active oil and gas wells within a one mile radius of my home and cannot wait to move out of this forsaken 'Superfund' County.

 I have uncovered many things in Colorado and the State appears to be negligent in its address to the safety and concerns of its citizens. I call upon the State of Colorado to fully address the harmful impacts the oil and gas industry is imposing on the environment and its citizens with a full health impact study. (I will submit an official letter to this statement).


Colorado citizens are being invaded by oil and gas development at an alarming rate. We currently have ~47,000 active wells and are set to more than double that number in the near future. One County, namely Weld County, or 'Well County' as I call it, comprises ~40% of the states active well count with 18,000 active wells as you can see in the image at the top right of this blog page.

In Weld County, our Laramie-Fox Hills Aquifer was confirmed by the COGCC in Aug of 2009 with thermogenic methane and toluene oil and gas development. Yes, this aquifer was contaminated by mining that uses fracking methods and where in the hell is the EPA? The operator who reportedly contaminated the aquifer was fined a mere $46,200. LINK

Further investigation appears to show that this aquifer has and continues to be contaminated with thermogenic methane and toluene over the last three decades by oil and gas mining. I find it shocking that our own County Commissioners even state there are no public complaints on record that stem from oil and gas development in Weld County.  That's a blatant lie, and one that requires these officials either be removed from their positions for being ineffective and not addressing the real safety concerns of its citizens, or submit a public apology to the current 642 citizen complaints  and admittance of lack of due diligence immediately.

What was once a beautiful Rocky Mountain view is now, forever marred by the sick industry that uses harmful, unregulated, unconventional methods to extract a mineral far less valuable than that which we need to survive. Make no mistake, this unregulated industry is causing far more harm than any 'positive' benefit they purport. Thus the much needed federal exemptions LINK

The State of Colorado has failed miserably to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts to the environment and human health.



CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

MORE IMAGES LINK

Produced Water and Condensate had Been Leaking for Months or Years - Groundwater Contaminated According to COGCC Reports

In a nutshell: Produced water and condensate had been leaking from and oil and gas dump-line underground for possibly months and or years. Nobody knows just how long the 'toxic' leak had been ongoing. According to COGCC reports, groundwater was confirmed contaminated.

Question for COGCC: Why was this report received 7 months after the incident occurred?

According to the COGCC Rules:For all reportable spills, operators shall submit a Spill/Release Report, Form 19, within ten (10) days after discovery. An 8 1/2 x 11 inch topographic map showing the governmental section and location of the spill shall be included. Such report shall also include information relating to initial mitigation, site investigation, and remediation. The Director may require additional information.

It appears that the operator may have failed to comply by Rule 906 b (5)

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CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Date of Incident:

12/6/2011

Date Rec'd:

7/17/2012

COGIS - Spill Reports

Form 19/19A                                                                     Doc
Date Rec'd:	7/17/2012	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2229647	API number:	05-123 -22756	Facility ID:	276280

Operator Information

Operator:	PDC ENERGY INC	Oper. No.	69175
Address:	1775 SHERMAN STREET - STE 3000 ATTN: SCOTT REASON DENVER , CO 80203
Phone:	(303 )860-5800	Fax:	(303 )860-5838
Operator Contact:	BRANDON  BRUNS

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	12/6/2011
Type of Facility:	TANK BATTERY
Well Name/No.	CLARK  11-27	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: NWNW section: 27 township: 7N range: 65W meridian: 6

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled:	Recvrd:
Water spilled:	Recvrd:
Other spilled:   0	Recved:  0
GW Impact? Y Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill:  18-FT X  25 -FT
Current land use:  O&G PRODUCTION FACILITY/AGRICULTURE
Weather conditions:  0-10 DEG F
Soil/Geology description  HAVERSON LOAM, 1-3% SLOPES
Distance in feet to nearest surface water:  90
Depth to shallowest GW:  4
Wetlands:	Buildings:  215
Livestock:	Water Wells:  545
Cause of spill:
EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Immediate Response:
SEE COMMENTS.
Emergency Pits:
NA
How extent determined:
SEE COMMENTS.
Further Remediation
~67 CU YDS OF IMPACTED SOIL EXCEEDING COGCC TABLE 910-1 CONCENTRATION LEVELS HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE WASTE MANAGEMENT LANDFILL IN AULT, COLORADO, FOR DISPOSAL. ACTIVATED CARBON WAS APPLIED AS AN AMENDMENT TO TREAT RESIDUAL IMPACTS FROZEN IN GROUNDWATER ADN WAS MIXED IN WITH THE EXPOSED SMEAR ZONE SOILS IN THE EXCAVATION BEFORE IT WAS BACKFILLED. PDC SCHEDULED INSTALLATION OF MONITORING WELLS TO DELINEATE GROUNDWATER IMPACT AT THE SITE. RESULTS WILL BE SUBMITTED IN A FUTURE FORM 27.
Prevent Problem:
PDC REPLACED THE LEAKING DUMP LINES.
Detailed Description:
RELEASE OCCURRED AT THE TANK BATTERY RELATED TO THE CLARK 11-27 (API 123-22756) AND CLARK 12-27 (API 123-23100). THE TANK BATTERY IS LOCATED IN THE NWNW OF SEC. 27 AS DEPICTED ON FIGURE 1. DURING EQUIPMENT UPGRADES AT THE FACILITY, PDC DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE DUMP LINES THAT RELEASED AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF CONDENSATE ADN PRODUCED WATER TO THE SUBSURFACE. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Compiled by: Shane Davis Source: COGCC .

Biomonitoring Summary on Toluene - Oil and Gas

Toluene

CAS No. 108-88-3

General Information

Toluene (methylbenzene) is a flammable, liquid, aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a high production chemical isolated from crude oil. Toluene is used widely as a solvent and to synthesize chemicals such as benzene, trinitrotoluene, and toluene diisocyanate. As with other aromatic solvents, it is a minor component of gasoline, and additives containing toluene are used as octane boosters. Toluene is detected frequently in urban air, especially in high motor traffic areas and near industrial areas or hazardous waste sites (ATSDR, 2000; Mukund et al., 1996). Indoor air levels of toluene can exceed outdoor levels, largely due to consumer products (e.g., nail polish solvent, adhesive glues, paints, and paint thinner) and cigarette smoke (ATSDR, 2000; Gordon et al., 1999). Toluene does not persist in soil due to its volatility and is not detected commonly in U.S. groundwater and drinking water supplies (USGS, 2006).

The general population is exposed to toluene mainly by breathing contaminated air. Workplace exposure to toluene may occur during the production and use of petrochemicals and solvents. Toluene is well absorbed by inhalation, dermal, and oral exposure routes. After absorption, toluene is metabolized rapidly by hepatic microsomal enzymes, and the major urinary excretion product is hippuric acid. Other urinary metabolites include ortho- and para-cresol, S-benzylmercapturic acid, and S-para-toluylmercapturic acid.

Human health effects from toluene at low environmental doses or at biomonitored levels from low environmental exposures are unknown. Humans exposed to high levels of toluene in air for a short time can show central nervous system depression (lassitude, stupor, and coma). Persons with short term exposures to toluene at levels higher than workplace air standards have shown poor performance on cognitive tests, neurobehavioral impairment, and eye and upper respiratory tract irritation (ATSDR, 2000). Its distinctive aromatic smell is detectable well below workplace air standards. Chronic solvent inhalant abuse, usually involving toluene and other volatile hydrocarbons, has resulted in permanent brain damage with dementia (Filley et al., 2004). Chronic occupational exposures at levels exceeding workplace standards have damaged hearing and possibly color vision (Lomax et al., 2004). In animal studies, prenatal toluene exposure impaired fetal growth and skeletal development, and altered behavioral development in the offspring (ADSDR, 2000; Jones and Balster, 1997). Evidence for human reproductive effects is inconclusive, and reports of developmental effects have been reported mainly in children exposed in utero by maternal solvent abuse (Bukowski, 2001). Epidemiologic studies of workers exposed to toluene (or toluene together with other solvents) have not demonstrated increased risks for cancer, and animal studies have not demonstrated an increased incidence of tumors (IARC, 1999). IARC determined that toluene was not classifiable with regard to human carcinogenicity. The U.S. EPA has established a drinking water and other environmental standards for toluene. The FDA has established a bottle water standard and level for toluene as an indirect food additive. OSHA and ACGIH established workplace standards and guidelines, respectively, for toluene. Information about external exposure (i.e., environmental levels) and health effects is available from ATSDR at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/.

Biomonitoring Information

Levels of blood toluene reflect recent exposure. A nonrepresentative sample of adults in NHANES III (1988–1994) had geometric mean and median blood toluene levels, respectively, of 0.52 and 0.28 µg/L (Ashley et al., 1994; Churchill et al., 2001), generally higher than comparable levels in NHANES 2001–2002 and 2003–2004. Similar median blood toluene levels have been reported in U.S. children (Sexton et al., 2005, 2006) and in studies of adults without occupational exposure (Backer et al., 1997; Bonanno et al., 2001; Buckley et al., 1997). Population studies in Italy and Mexico have reported median blood toluene levels that were about twice as high as those in the U.S. (Brugnone et al., 1994; Carrer et al., 2000; Lemire et al., 2004; Perbellini et al., 2002). Geometric mean blood toluene levels were 0.191 and 0.669 ng/mL in non-smoking and smoking adults, respectively, from a subsample of NHANES 1999–2000 participants (Lin et al., 2008). Other studies have reported blood toluene levels that were approximately four times higher in smokers than non-smokers (Ashley et al., 1995; Bonanno et al., 2001; Brugnone et al., 1994; Perbellini et al., 2002), but environmental tobacco smoke exposure has not been associated with elevated blood toluene levels (Carrer et al., 2000; Sexton et al., 2005). Exposure to gasoline fumes can increase blood toluene levels during self-service refueling (Backer et al., 1997). Vehicle exhaust and gasoline fumes in such occupational settings as gas stations, automobile repair shops, and street vending can result in blood toluene levels that are two to three times higher than background levels (Mannino et al., 1995; Romieu et al., 1999).

Finding a measureable amount of toluene in blood does not mean that the level of toluene causes an adverse health effect. Biomonitoring studies of blood toluene can provide physicians and public health officials with reference values so that they can determine whether or not people have been exposed to higher levels of toluene than levels found in the general population. Biomonitoring data can also help scientists plan and conduct research on exposure and health effects.

Effects of long term exposure

Serious adverse behavioural effects are often associated with toluene abuse related to the deliberate inhalation of solvents.^[22] Long term toluene exposure is often associated with effects such as: psychoorganic syndrome;^[23] visual evoked potential (VEP) abnormality;^[23] toxic polyneuropathy, cerebellar, cognitive, and pyramidal dysfunctions;^[22][23] optic atrophy; and brain lesions.^[22]

The neurotoxic effects of long term use (in particular repeated withdrawals) of toluene may cause postural tremors by upregulating GABA receptors within the cerebellar cortex.^[22] Treatment withGABA agonists such as, benzodiazepines provide some relief from toluene induced tremor and ataxia.^[22] An alternative to drug treatment is vim thalamotomy.^[22] The tremors associated with toluene misuse do not seem to be a transient symptom, but an irreversible and progressive symptom which continues after solvent abuse has been discontinued.^[22]

There is some evidence that low level toluene exposure may cause disruption in the differentiation of astrocyte precursor cells.^[24] This does not appear to be a major hazard to adults; however, exposure of pregnant women to toluene during critical stages of fetal development could cause serious disruption to neuronal development.^[24]

Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wikipedia

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MY TAKE

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Toluene in commonly found in oil and gas development all throughout Colorado.  Hundreds of cases of oil and gas spill/incidents that have occurred in Colorado report toluene as one of the top chemicals that has been found to exceed acceptable levels in many soil and water samples. In some reported spill cases, hundreds, or even thousands of gallons of ‘liquid industrial waste’ that contained toluene were never recovered from the soil or water where the spill occurred. It’s most often the case that the spill was not discovered for months due to lack of adequate manpower via the COGCC . This appears to be a failure by the State of Colorado to prevent and mitigate adverse environmental and human health impacts. One such case of the industry contaminating the Laramie-Hills Aquifer with toluene can be found HERE

Toluene is a very harmful chemical to children and pregnant mothers. Please understand that toluene is a widely used chemical by the oil and gas industry, and if you have active oil and gas wells in close proximity to your home, you must address the presence of this dangerous chemical as a valid  concern.

Shane

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Home Explodes, Resident Transported to Burn Center - Cause: Orphaned Natural Gas Well

click to enlarge

BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

IN THE MATTER OF THE EXPENDITURES OF THE                                         )                     CAUSE NO. 1E

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE FUND FOR THE                                              )

COLORADO OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION                          )                     ORDER NO. 1E-3

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

                        This cause came on for an emergency hearing before the Commission at 1:30 p.m. on February 25, 2005, in Suite 801, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado for an order to allow the expenditure of additional funds from the Environmental Response Fund. The Commission held this emergency hearing pursuant to its authority under §34-60-108(3), C.R.S. (2004).

FINDINGS

                        1. On February 12, 2005 an explosion occurred in a double-wide trailer located in the SW¼ SW¼ of Section 31, Township 33 North, Range 9 West, N.M.P.M. The resident of the trailer was transported to the burn unit of Mercy Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. La Plata County emergency response and Durango Fire & Rescue Authority began an investigation of the cause of the explosion.

                        2. On February 14, 2005 Mr. Butch Knowlton, La Plata County, contacted Mr. Mark Weems, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) Field Inspector, and on that day they and representatives of various gas well and pipeline operators met at the site of the explosion to continue the investigation of the cause. It was determined that the site of the explosion is located in an area known to have thermogenic methane gas in the shallow ground water, and is approximately 150 feet south-southeast of the location of the Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well (API 05-067-05211) and approximately 150 feet west of a pipeline operated by Red Cedar Gathering Company (Red Cedar). The Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well (API 05-067-05211) was drilled in the late 1930’s. This well was known to have leaked gas and a memo in the well file indicates that in 1966 the well was flaring through the well marker. This memo also notes that bubbling water was observed to the west of the flaring well. Although COGCC records indicate one well at this location, records obtained from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe on February 18, 2005 show that there may have been another well (Bryce Farm #1X) at this location also. During 1994 the COGCC, using Environmental Response Fund (ERF) money, plugged what was thought to be the Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well.

                        3. On February 15, 2005 COGCC’s third party contractor was onsite and collected gas samples from a place under the trailer/explosion site where gas was venting from the ground and from the headspace of the associated water well. These samples were submitted to a laboratory for compositional analysis. COGCC’s third party contractor also used a gas meter to survey the area around the Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well, the trailer/explosion site, and the associated water well. Elevated levels of flammable gas were detected in these areas. Red Cedar personnel pressure tested its pipeline, which is located east of the explosion site. The pipeline passed this test. In addition, Red Cedar personnel conducted a preliminary gas survey of the area around the Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well, the trailer/explosion site, the pipeline right-of-way, and land to the west of the explosion site and found a number of areas of high flammable gas concentration.

                        4. On February 16 and 17, 2005 the analytical results from the gas samples were received and evaluated by COGCC staff. The gas from the vent in the soil under the trailer was approximately 92 percent methane, 6 percent carbon dioxide, with trace amounts of C2 through C6 compounds, which clearly showed the gas was not propane fuel, nor processed gas, but most likely gas from the Fruitland Formation. The sample from the headspace of the water well contained too much air to achieve reliable analytical results.

                        5. On February 21 through 23, 2005, COGCC’s third party contractor with support from La Plata County conducted a detailed soil gas survey of the impacted area, surveyed four nearby residents, and the nearby Animas Fire District station. The soil gas survey showed that every high concentration of flammable gas occur in the vicinity of the Nick Spatter-Bryce Farm #1 Well and in the vicinity of the site of the explosion. High concentrations of flammable gas were detected in the Animas Fire District station. Flammable gas was not detected in the four houses that were surveyed; however previous samples collected from the water wells associated with the four houses and the fire station all contained high concentrations of methane.

                        6. The results of the soil gas survey and the previous water quality sampling indicated that to ensure the safety of the occupants of the four houses and the fire station it was necessary to install monitors that would be capable of detecting flammable gas in the dwellings and in the crawl spaces or basements of these structures. COGCC’s third party contractor was tasked to identify, purchase, and install the most appropriate equipment. The soil gas survey and the installation of the flammable gas detectors are estimated to cost approximately Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)

                        7. COGCC hired another third party contractor to collect water samples from the water wells associated with the nearby structures and any others identified as having potential for impact for analysis of methane, stable isotopes of methane and carbon dioxide, and inorganic constituents. Sample collection was initiated on February 28, 2005 and is estimated to cost approximately Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).

                        8. In addition, it was determined that a complete investigation of the entire affected area was necessary to determine the cause of the methane seepage, to identify mitigation measures, and to develop a detailed mitigation plan. Estimated costs for this work includes Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for geophysical surveys necessary to attempt to identify the exact locations of the two known wellbores and any others, abandoned pipelines, utility corridors, or other conduits for gas and fluid migration; Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for detailed geologic mapping of the approximately 160 acres surrounding and including the trailer/explosion site; and Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000) for excavation and reclamation activities that will require heavy equipment to remove the approximately ten feet of Quaternary gravel terrace deposits that cover the area, obscure the bedrock, and make identification of the exact locations of the existing wellbores impossible.

                        9. The facts set forth in the foregoing paragraphs No. 1 through No. 8 are the reasons that the Commission finds the immediate issuance of this emergency order is imperatively necessary for the preservation of public health and safety; observance of the requirements for notice and hearing pursuant to §§24-4-105 or 34-60-108(2), C.R.S. (2004) would be contrary to the public interest.

                        10. During the fiscal year, which is from July 1st through June 30th, COGCC staff spends One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000) of the ERF to investigate, prevent, monitor, and/or mitigate conditions that threaten to cause, or actually cause a significant adverse impact on public health, safety, or welfare, or adverse environmental impact on any air, water, soil, or biological resource. The COGCC attempts to spend the ERF budget in a systematic, efficient manner on appropriate projects throughout the fiscal year. As a result, there are sufficient funds remaining to cover ongoing work to which COGCC staff and budget are already committed, but there are not sufficient funds to cover the expenses already incurred in responding to this emergency situation nor future anticipated activities.

                        11. In accordance with §34-60-124(7), C.R.S., the Commission should authorize the expenditure of an additional Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) from the ERF balance for the investigation and mitigation of significant adverse impacts to public health, safety, and welfare, and to the environment as the result of the conduct of oil and gas operations.

                        12. Because the likely source of the flammable gas causing this emergency situation is an orphaned gas well(s) a responsible party may not be identified; therefore, the ERF expenditures will not be reimbursed to the COGCC.

Wellbore Completed
Completion Date:	1/1/1938
Measured TD:	2240

Click to enlarge

DOCUMENT LINK



Data Compiled By: Shane Davis
Source: COGCC






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