In the past two weeks, several spills have been reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. These spills were documented on Form 19, which is required by operators to report any leakage or spill events that may impact the state’s waters. While most spills and leaks are discovered during routine maintenance on existing wells, some actual spills do occur among the thousands of wells in the county.
One of the recent spills was reported by KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP on September 13th near Weld County roads 49 and 32, about 13 miles east of Platteville. Between 1 and 5 barrels of oil, condensate, and produced water were spilled, along with approximately 10 cubic yards of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soil due to a truck rollover. The assessment of this spill is still ongoing.
On September 12th, KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP reported two historical spills. The first spill occurred near Weld 41 1/2 and Essex Road Street, about 8 miles east of Platteville. The volume of the spill is unknown, but it involved oil, condensate, and produced water. Historically impacted soil was discovered during wellhead plugging and abandonment. The second historical spill reported by the same company took place near Weld 39 and 32, about 7 miles east of Platteville. An unknown amount of oil and condensate spilled, and historically impacted soils were found during facility decommissioning.
Another historical spill was reported by KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP on September 12th near Weld 34 and 31, approximately 4 miles northeast of Platteville. The spill involved oil, condensate, and produced water, and historically impacted soil was discovered after removing the flowline associated with the wellhead. Excavation and assessment are still ongoing.
On the same day, KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP reported another historical spill near Weld 39 and 38, about 7 miles southeast of Gilcrest. Again, the volume of the spill is unknown, but it included oil, condensate, and produced water. Historically impacted soil was found following facility decommissioning, and excavation and assessment are currently underway.
Noble Energy Inc also reported two historical spills. The first occurred on September 11th near Weld 57 and 46, about 9 miles southeast of Kersey. Lab analysis revealed a historical release at the decommissioned tank battery. The soil samples exceeded standards for various petroleum hydrocarbons. This location is situated within a high-priority habitat.
The second historical spill reported by Noble Energy Inc took place on September 8th near U.S. 34 and Weld 57, about 3 miles east of Kersey. Lab analysis indicated a historical release at the decommissioned tank battery, with soil samples exceeding standards for particular chemicals.
Lastly, on August 25th, PDC ENERGY INC reported a historical spill near Weld 74 and 39 in Eaton. The spill involved an unknown amount of produced water, and a historical release was found during abandonment near the produced water vault.
It is important for operators to report any spills to the authorities so that proper assessment, cleanup, and mitigation measures can be taken to minimize environmental impact.
Definitions:
– Spill: Accidental release or leakage of a substance.
– Wellhead: The point at the surface where a well is drilled to access oil or gas reserves.
– Decommissioning: The process of removing equipment and restoring a site to its original condition once an oil or gas well is no longer productive.
– Petroleum Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds derived from crude oil or petroleum.
– Assessment: Evaluation to determine the extent and impact of a spill on the environment.
Sources: Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, KERR MCGEE OIL & GAS ONSHORE LP, Noble Energy Inc, PDC ENERGY INC.