Leak coats 10 acres near South Heart in oil mist

Dickinson Press
April 13,2012

SOUTH HEART — As employees of a Denver-based drilling company vigorously sprayed down oil-glazed equipment on a rig northwest of South Heart on Thursday, a concerned landowner sat quietly in a nearby pick-up and gazed at the discolored chunk of his land blanketed by an oil spill that took place the previous afternoon.

Mike O’Bach of South Heart said he was told a plug or gasket failed at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday, causing pressurized oil to shoot out from the rig and become airborne. He believes strong winds then carried oil mist over to his fields.

O’Bach added that he is worried the spill could have harmful effects on the surrounding environment because oil settled on both sides of 34th Street, near a dam and wetlands.

“I’m kind of concerned there about water contamination,” O’Bach said. “This will eventually drain into the Heart River.”

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FIVE O&G SPILL(S) OF THE DAY - NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC WELD COUNTY COLORADO

The 15th annual selections were announced Aug 3rd 2011 at the Colorado Oil and Gas Association's annual conference. One of the environmental protection category winners was: Noble Energy Inc. -- Employed closed-loop systems at all 600 wells drilled statewide in 2010. The move has eliminated reserve pits, reduced land use impacts, sped up land reclamation and resolved concerns associated with hard to dispose of pit liners.

We'd really like people to know that Noble energy had seven reported spills this week in Weld County alone. In the formula that is used for selection,  does the COGCC evaluate the number of contaminant spills a company has had for the year?  Is one part of the formula: total volume of contaminant spilled versus the amount recovered?  Do spills on feed lots carry extra weight as far as not being selected for the COGCC award?  What about contaminant discharges in both moving and standing bodies of water? Does a company lose points when that happens? The concerned citizens would like to know why your selection algorithm does not include these very basic issues?

It appears that the formula to select an O&G company under any category appears to be hyperbole. Right back at ya' Gov.  A self-purported 'scientific' industry lacks evaluation criteria to choose the good, the bad and the ugly operators in a comprehensive meaningful and accurate fashion. We urge you to create a scientifically fair formula that addresses operator impacts, groundwater contaminations, surface contaminations, human health impacts, repeat spill incidents, alleged notices of violations, lack of wildlife mitigation procedures, faulty equipment, and numerous other variables.

We also urge the state to impose monumental fines for all violations.  We are not talking about your tiny 'in-place' fines of $1,000 -$5,000.  There have been numerous companies that have both accidentally and  purposefully discharged contaminants thus contaminating the surface and groundwater  just like the O&G industry may have, and those polluters have been fined several hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Your imposed fines are arbitrary, weak, and do nothing in regards to punishing a very wealthy industry.  Each violation should start out large and get even larger when an operator is a repeat offender. 

That's not hyperbole.

 

SPILL #1

Date Rec'd:	8/11/2011	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2215313	API number:	05-123 -33202	Facility ID:	422231

Operator Information

Operator:	NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC	Oper. No.	10120
Address:	1625 BROADWAY STE 2200 ATTN: TED BROWN DENVER , CO 80202
Phone:	(303 )389-3600	Fax:	(303 )595-7403
Operator Contact:	TODD CULLUM

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	8/7/2011
Type of Facility:	WELL
Well Name/No.	WELLS RANCH AA 12-08	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: SENE section: 12 township: 6N range: 63W meridian: 6

<><><><>

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls) (bbls= barrel. 1 barrel = 42 US Gallons)
Oil spilled: 127	Recvrd: 117 420 GALLONS UNRECOVERED
Water spilled: 0	Recvrd: 0
Other spilled:	Recved:
GW Impact? N Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? Y
Area and vertical extent of spill: - X -
Current land use: PASTURE
Weather conditions: CLEAR, HOT
Soil/Geology description VONA LOAMY SAND
Distance in feet to nearest surface water:
Depth to shallowest GW:
Wetlands:	Buildings:
Livestock:	Water Wells:
Cause of spill:
HUMAN ERROR
Immediate Response:
PUMPER SHUT WELL IN, CALLED FOR A VAC TRUCK WHICH RECOVERED 117 BBLS, BEGAN DISMANTLING THE TANK TO BEGIN EXCAVATION.
Emergency Pits:
N/A
How extent determined:
VISUAL, EXCAVATION OF IMPACT WILL BE DELINEATED WITH HANBY FIELD TEST KIT AND LAB CONFIRMATION SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED.
Further Remediation
IMPACTED SOILS WILL BE EXCAVATED AND TAKEN TO THE NORTH WELD SANITARY LANDFILL, AULT, CO.
Prevent Problem:
PUMPER WAS REPRIMANDED FOR NOT PUTTING THIS WELL ON THE WEEKEND CHECK LIST.
Detailed Description:
300 BBL OIL PRODUCTION TANK OVERFILLED OVER THE WEEKEND RELEASING 127 BBLS OIL INTO DIRT BERM.

Other Notifications
Date	Agency	Contact	Response
8/9/2011	COGCC	JOHN AXELSON	LEFT JOHN A MESSAGE

Field Visit/Follow Up
Name	Phone	Date
No Field Visit data found.

SPILL# 2

AMOUNT SPILLED: UNKNOWN
 GROUNDWATER IMPACTED: YES
Amount of contaminant spilled: UNKNOWN

Date Rec'd:	8/11/2011	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2215312	API number:	05-123 -14056	Facility ID:	246259

Operator Information

Operator:	NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC	Oper. No.	10120
Address:	1625 BROADWAY STE 2200 ATTN: TED BROWN DENVER , CO 80202
Phone:	(303 )389-3600	Fax:	(303 )595-7403
Operator Contact:	TODD CULLUM

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	8/9/2011
Type of Facility:	WELL
Well Name/No.	WILLIAMS PM F 15-8	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: SENE section: 15 township: 5N range: 65W meridian: 6

<><><><> <><><><>

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls) (bbls= barrel. 1 barrel = 42 US Gallons)
Oil spilled:	Recvrd:
Water spilled:	Recvrd:
Other spilled:	Recved:
GW Impact? Y Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill: - X -
Current land use: PASTURE
Weather conditions: CLEAR, HOT
Soil/Geology description AQUALLS & AQUENTS, GRAVELLY SUBSTRATUM, 0-3% SLOPE
Distance in feet to nearest surface water: 180
Depth to shallowest GW: 3
Wetlands:	Buildings: 190
Livestock:	Water Wells: 850
Cause of spill:
EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Immediate Response:
TANK BATTERY HAD BEEN SHUT IN PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK. CEMENT WATER VAULT HAD BEEN SUCKED DRY.
Emergency Pits:
N/A
How extent determined:
EXCAVATION OF IMPACT WILL BE DELINEATED WITH HANBY FIELD TEST KIT AND LAB CONFIRMATION SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED.
Further Remediation
IMPACTED SOILS WILL BE EXCAVATED AND TAKEN TO THE NORTH WELD SANITARY LANDFILL, A GROUNDWATER AMENDMENT WILL BE ADDED AND MONITORING WELLS WILL BE PLACED.
Prevent Problem:
BATTERY WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED WITH NEW OIL AND WATER LINES AND WATER VAULTS.
Detailed Description:
DURING BATTERY UPGRADE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CEMENT WATER VAULT HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK.

Other Notifications
Date	Agency	Contact	Response
8/10/2011	COGCC	JOHN AXELSON	LEFT MESSAGE AT 1535 MT

Field Visit/Follow Up
Name	Phone	Date
No Field Visit data found.

SPILL#3

Date Rec'd:	8/11/2011	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2215311	API number:	05-123 -12989	Facility ID:	245194

Operator Information

Operator:	NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC	Oper. No.	10120
Address:	1625 BROADWAY STE 2200 ATTN: TED BROWN DENVER , CO 80202
Phone:	(303 )389-3600	Fax:	(303 )595-7403
Operator Contact:	TODD CULLUM

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	8/3/2011
Type of Facility:	WELL
Well Name/No.	LARSEN 1	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: NENE section: 32 township: 6N range: 64W meridian: 6

<><><><>

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls) (bbls= barrel. 1 barrel = 42 US Gallons)
Oil spilled: 90 bbls, or 3,780 gallons	Recvrd: 62  bbls or 2,604gallons
Approx. 1,176 gallons of contaminants  unrecovered Water spilled: 0	Recvrd: 0
Other spilled:	Recved:
GW Impact? N Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? Y
Area and vertical extent of spill: - X -
Current land use: AGRICULTURE
Weather conditions: CLEAR, DRY AND HOT
Soil/Geology description KIM LOAM, 1-3% SLOPES
Distance in feet to nearest surface water: 4775
Depth to shallowest GW:
Wetlands:	Buildings: 1500
Livestock:	Water Wells: 1000
Cause of spill:
HUMAN ERROR
Immediate Response:
PUMPER SHUT THE WELL IN AND CALLED FOR A VAC TRUCK. VAC TRUCK RECOVERED 62 BBLS AND PUT IT INTO THE 2ND TANK ON SITE.
Emergency Pits:
N/A
How extent determined:
EXCAVATION OF IMPACT WILL BE DELINEATED WITH HANBY FIELD TEST KIT AND LAB CONFIRMATION SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED.
Further Remediation
IMPACTED SOILS WILL BE EXCAVATED AND TAKEN TO NORTH WELD SANITARY LANDFILL.
Prevent Problem:
PUMPER WAS REPRIMANDED FOR NOT OPENING THE THIEF HATCH WHILE UNLOADING THE WELL INTO THE TANK.
Detailed Description:
PUMPER OVER PRESSURED 300 BBL OIL PRODUCTION TANK WHILE UNLOADING THE WELL AND THE 4" X 2" SWEDGE ON THE BACK DRAIN LINE SPLIT, CAUSING THE OIL IN THE TANK TO LEAK INTO DIRT BERM.

Other Notifications
Date	Agency	Contact	Response
8/4/2011	COGCC	JOHN AXELSON	LEFT JOHN MESSAGE ON VOICE MAIL 0954 MT

Field Visit/Follow Up
Name	Phone	Date

SPILL#4

Date Rec'd:	8/11/2011	Report taken by:	JOHN AXELSON
DocNum:	2215310	API number:	05-123 -33324	Facility ID:	422611

Operator Information

Operator:	NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC	Oper. No.	10120
Address:	1625 BROADWAY STE 2200 ATTN: TED BROWN DENVER , CO 80202
Phone:	(303 )389-3600	Fax:	(303 )595-7403
Operator Contact:	TODD CULLUM

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	8/4/2011
Type of Facility:	WELL
Well Name/No.	WELLS RANCH USX AE 29-68HN	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: NWNW section: 29 township: 6N range: 62W meridian: 6

<><><><> <><><><>

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled: 4	Recvrd: 3  1 BARREL, 42 GAL UNRECOVERED
Water spilled: 20	Recvrd: 15   5 BARRELS, 210 GAL UNRECOVERED
Other spilled:	Recved:
GW Impact? N Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill: 50-FT X 150 -FT
Current land use: PASTURE
Weather conditions: CLEAR, HOT, HEAVY RAIN NIGHT BEFORE
Soil/Geology description OLNEY LOAMY SAND
Distance in feet to nearest surface water:
Depth to shallowest GW:
Wetlands:	Buildings:
Livestock:	Water Wells:
Cause of spill:
HUMAN ERROR
Immediate Response:
WAITED FOR THE WELL TO DIE ENOUGH TO BEGIN PUMPING MORE KCL DOWN HOLE TO FINISH KILLING THE WELL.CALLED FOR 3 VAC TRUCKS AND HOISTED THE RIG OFF. DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE GROUND WAS SATURATED AND HAD NUMEROUS WATER PUDDLES ON LOCATION, THE VAC TRUCKS SUCKS UP ALL OF THE STANDING WATER AND OIL.
Emergency Pits:
N/A
How extent determined:
VISUAL, SOIL SAMPLES WILL BE TAKEN AND REMEDIATION WILL COMMENCE WHEN FINISHED WORKING ON THE WELL.
Further Remediation
SOIL SAMPLES WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE SPILL AREA AND TESTED FOR BTEX AND TPH, THE REMEDIATION WILL BE DRIVEN BY THE RESULTS OF THESE TESTS.
Prevent Problem:
CONFIRM THE WELL IS DEAD BY PUMPING MORE KCL WATER DOWN HOLE.
Detailed Description:
WHILE NIPPLING UP THE BOP`S THE WELL CAME AROUND RESULTING IN THE WELL TO BLOW OUT 20 BBLS OF KCL WATER AND 4 BBLS OF OIL.

Other Notifications
Date	Agency	Contact	Response
8/5/2011	COGCC	JOHN AXELSON	LEFT MESSAGE AT 1220 MT

Field Visit/Follow Up
Name	Phone	Date
No Field Visit data found

SPILL#5

GROUNDWATER IMPACTED: YES

Date Rec'd:	8/11/2011	Report taken by:	BOB CHESSON
DocNum:	2215307	API number:	05-123 -12393	Facility ID:	244598

Operator Information

Operator:	NOBLE ENERGY PRODUCTION INC	Oper. No.	10120
Address:	1625 BROADWAY STE 2200 ATTN: TED BROWN DENVER , CO 80202
Phone:	(303 )389-3600	Fax:	(303 )595-7403
Operator Contact:	TODD CULLUM

Description of Spill:

Date of Incident:	8/5/2011
Type of Facility:	TANK BATTERY
Well Name/No.	SHELTON RG 26-7	Fac. Name/No.
County Name:	WELD
qtrqtr: SWNE section: 26 township: 4N range: 65W meridian: 6

Volumes spilled and recovered (bbls)
Oil spilled:	Recvrd:
Water spilled:	Recvrd:
Other spilled:	Recved:
GW Impact? Y Surface water impact? N Contained within berm? N
Area and vertical extent of spill: - X -
Current land use: FEED LOT
Weather conditions: CLEAR, DRY, HOT
Soil/Geology description OLNEY FINE SANDY LOAM, 1-3% SLOPES
Distance in feet to nearest surface water: 1635
Depth to shallowest GW: 10
Wetlands:	Buildings: 650
Livestock:	Water Wells: 620
Cause of spill:
EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Immediate Response:
TANK BATTERY HAD BEEN SHUT IN PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK. CEMENT WATER VAULT HAD BEEN EMPTIED.
Emergency Pits:
N/A
How extent determined:
EXCAVATION OF IMPACT WILL BE DELINEATED WITH HANBY FIELD TEST KIT AND LAB CONFIRMATION SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED.
Further Remediation
IMPACTED SOILS WILL BE EXCAVATED AND TAKEN TO THE BUFFALO RIDGE LANDFILL IN KEENSBURG, CO. DURING EXCAVATION A WATER AMENDMENT WILL BE ADDED AND GROUND WATER MONITORING WELLS WILL BE INSTALLED.
Prevent Problem:
BATTERY WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED WITH NEW OIL AND WATER LINES AND WATER VAULT.
Detailed Description:
DURING BATTERY UPGRADE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CEMENT WATER VAULT HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK.

Other Notifications
Date	Agency	Contact	Response
8/5/2011	COGCC	ROBERT CHESSON	LEFT MESSAGE 1205 MT

Field Visit/Follow Up
Name	Phone	Date
No Field Visit data found.

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U.S. Department of Energy Prepares to Take the Floor in the Nation's 'Fracking' Debate

By JOEL KIRKLAND of CLIMATEWIRE
Published: July 26, 2011   
NTTIMES

When talking about his department's role in steering U.S. energy policy, Energy Secretary Steven Chu likes to recall its role in last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It's true that we had no jurisdictional or regulatory authority in the deepwater spill," Chu said in an interview with ClimateWire late last week. "We played a different role. We helped stop the leak."  Chu's behind-the-scenes war room is widely credited with bringing order to chaos in the aftermath of the BP PLC Macondo blowout in April 2010. His team pinned down the oil's flow rate, and it was the joint effort of government scientists and BP engineers that finally stanched the three-month-long seafloor oil gusher.       

In an interview, Chu suggested his department will try to play a similar role in sorting out the entangled mess of misinformation and spin about the environmental impacts of gas drilling.
The top two U.S. gas producers, Chesapeake Energy and Exxon Mobil Corp., are expected to drill tens of thousands of wells through 2020, and plenty of other companies remain lined up behind them despite a prolonged slump in natural gas prices.

The result is nothing short of industrialization in rural areas outside of some of the nation's largest cities.

"The charge from the president was very clear," Chu noted. "We need to develop this, but we need to develop it in an environmentally responsible way."       

Continue reading...

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"States and U.S. EPA have been searching for the right balance that allows companies to expand their drilling operations, ensuring a reliable source of energy, while at the same time government agencies craft a policy that heeds public concern about contaminating water aquifers, toxic waste pits and air pollution."

Why not collaborate your vanity calculator PhDs to kick around reliable methods of discovering and utilizing our natural, renewable resources? Notice we said, 'OUR' natural renewable resources... Maybe your 'Curriculum of Greed' left that chapter out of your books intentionally.

Ever think of constructing a 'reliable' policy? One that is designed to protect our natural resource interests and not destroy them forever? Of course not. Renewable energy is the 'Anti-Christ' to  Capitalism. Why would 'Big Industry' remove silver from its pockets? They wouldn't. That would be contrary to maintaining the Oligarchy that currently exists today.

Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία, oligarkhía^[1]) is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, corporate, or military control. The word oligarchy is from the Greek words "ὀλίγος" (olígos), "a few"^[2] and the verb "ἄρχω" (archo), "to rule, to govern, to command".^[3] Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who pass their influence from one generation to the next.

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