The following spills were reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in the past two weeks.
Information is based on Form 19, which operators must fill out detailing the leakage/spill events. Any spill release which may impact waters of the state must be reported as soon as practical. Any spill of five barrels or more must be reported within 24 hours, and any spill of one barrel or more which occurs outside secondary containment, such as metal or earthen berms, must also be reported within 24 hours, according to COGCC rules. Spills and leaks are typically found during routine maintenance on existing wells, though some actual “spills” do occur among the 22,000-plus wells in the county.
Noble Energy Inc., reported on March 12 that a leak in a flowline was discovered during maintenance activities outside of LaSalle. Impacted soil was discovered to be above COGCC standards. It is approximated that less than five barrels of condensate and less than five barrels of produced water were spilled. All production equipment was shut in and an excavation will be scheduled.
Noble Energy Inc., reported on March 12 that a hole developed in a flow line outside of LaSalle. It is approximated that less than five barrels of condensate and less than five barrels of produced water spilled. An excavation has been scheduled and production equipment was shut in.
Noble Energy Inc., reported on March 11 that during plugging and abandonment procedures outside of Eaton, soil impacts were noted. It is approximated that less than five barrels of produced water released. The production equipment has been removed an excavation of impacted soil has been scheduled.
Noble Energy Inc., reported on March 11 that a hole developed in a flowline outside of LaSalle, releasing crude oil and produced water. It is approximated that less than five barrels of produced water were released and less than five barrels of oil were released. All production equipment was shut in. An excavation has been scheduled.
DCP Midstream LP, reported on March 11 that soil staining was noticed outside of Keenesburg. An excavation of the contaminated area was conducted to find the suspected leaking pressure line. It is approximated that less than five barrels of condensate spill released. To determine the extent of the contamination a photo ionization detector was used. Soil samples will be submitted for analysis, before backfilling with clean dirt.
Extraction Oil & Gas LLC, reported on March 9 that a valve was left open at the back of a production tank releasing approximately 18 barrels of produced oil outside of Greeley. The spill remained within containment. No product was lost under or outside of containment due to a spray liner in place at the facility.
Noble Energy Inc., reported on March 6 that during water vault removal activities impacted soil was discovered outside of Greeley. It is approximated that less than five barrels of produced water spilled. All production equipment was shut in.
DCP Midstream LP, reported on March 5 that a third party environmental consultant collected soil samples of an area that was suspected to be impacted by a gas leak, outside of LaSalle. Lab analysis indicated that the soil had been impacted. Remediation activities have been scheduled.
Noble Energy Inc, reported on March 4 that a third party environmental consultant conducted a site assessment, outside of Milliken. Soil samples were taken and analyzed at a lab. It was unknown the amount of condensate and the amount of produced water that was released. Groundwater will be assessed and an excavation has been scheduled.
