HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090964.tiffSTATE OF
COLORADO
OIL&
OAS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor
1120 Lincoln St. Suite 801
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 894-2100
FAX: (303) 894-2109
www.colorado. gov/cogcc
Weld County Commission
C/O Bruce T. Barker
Weld County Local Government Designee
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, Colorado 80632
Mr. Barker.
I thought that it would be helpful to provide your County Commissioners and staff with an
update on our ongoing investigation of the presence of methane gas in water wells in
Laramie/Fox Hill Aquifer water wells in southern Weld County. We would be happy to meet
with the Commissioners or County staff to discuss our work or to answer any questions that the
Commissioners or staff may have regarding this subject.
The Ellsworth Water Well
We are continuing to investigate the presence of thermogenic methane gas in the water well
owned by the Ellworths. The presence of methane in a water well often raises complex
causation issues, and our understanding of them frequently evolves over time as additional
analysis is undertaken and additional information is considered. At the present time, we have not
yet reached a final conclusion on the cause of the methane in the water well.
One possibility is that the gas is associated with nearby oil and gas development. However, our
review of bradenhead tests, mechanical integrity tests, completion records, and production
reports from all gas wells located within one-half mile of the water well, and our comparison of
gas samples from those wells with gas samples from the water well, has failed to establish a link
between these gas wells and the water well. The gas composition and isotopic test results for the
gas wells do not match those for the water well, nor do the other test results and records reflect
well defects that could be the source of the methane gas found in the water well.
Another possibility is that the gas is not associated with oil and gas development, but is coming
directly from the Pierre Shale, where, we have recently learned, the bottom of the water well is
located. The Pierre Shale is a very thick formation that covers much of Colorado and contains
thermogenic natural gas.
Still other possibilities are that the gas is associated with an active gas well that is located more
than one-half mile away or with a nearby gas well that was abandoned in 1947, the Powers #1
well (see below). The situation is further complicated because the gas in the water well could be
a mixture: naturally -occurring biogenic gas from the Laramie Fox -Hills aquifer mixed with
thermogenic gas that could be either naturally occurring or associated with oil and gas
development. We are continuing to assess and evaluate all of these possibilities.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Harris Sherman, Executive Director
�/�a CO4GCC COMM'?A�ard Alward - Thomas L. Compton - DeAnn Craig Mark Outright Michael Dowling Joshua B. Epel - Tresi Houpt -Jim Martin - Harris Sherman
/ i I, �, 1,„4. 2 �tLeC (.�'+ COGCC STAFF. David Neslin, Director - Debbie Baldwin . Environmental Manager David K Dillon, Engineering Manage,
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e/ /L 2009-0964
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Weld County Commissioners
C/O Bruce Barker
04/13/2009
Page 2
Other Water Wells
In addition to the Ellsworth water well, we have sampled 13 other individual water wells in
Southern Weld County in response to requests from the well owners. The sampling was
conducted between March 25, 2009 and April 7, 2009, and the wells in question arc located
approximately 2 to 10 miles from the Ellsworth water well. To date we have received gas
composition and stable isotopic results for 10 of the 13 water wells we have sampled. Nine of
the water wells contain biogenic, or biological generated methane gas. One water well contains
only trace amounts of methane gas that are too small for isotopic analysis. The biogenic gas
occurs naturally in the Laramie/Fox Hills Aquifer and is not the result of impacts from oil and
gas operations.
To expedite the collection and analysis of this information, we arranged to have the sampling
done by Terracon Inc., of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and the gas analysis done by Isotech
Laboratories, Inc., of Champaign, Illinois. Both Terracon and Isotech are experienced,
independent firms that we have previously used for similar work.
Noble Energy and Anadarko/Kerr McGee have separately collected 15 individual water well
samples in response to water well owner requests. With one exception, these water wells are all
within 1 mile of the Ellsworth water well. To date, we have received gas composition and stable
isotopic results for 1 of the 15 sampled water wells. This water well contains biogenic or
biological generated methane gas.
All of these water wells (total of 28) were also sampled for general water quality. To date
laboratory results have been received on 1 water well. All other sample results are pending
completion of laboratory analysis which is anticipated within the next 2 weeks. The received
sample results arc currently being supplied to the individual water well owners.
To summarize, while our investigation into the cause of the methane in the Ellsworth water well
continues. the test results received to date indicate that 11 of the 28 other wells sampled by the
COCCI', Noble, and Anadarko arc not contaminated by oil and gas operations.
Further Work
We have recently contacted the owner of the land on which the Powers #1 well is sited and
obtained verbal permission to access the well. Once we have written permission to access the
well, we will solicit bids from drilling contractors to re-enter the well, conduct tests, and ensure
that it is properly plugged. If gas is present in the well, the samples will be collected for
composition and stable isotopic analysis. We are also continuing our investigation of gas wells
located from one-half to one mile from the Ellsworth water well as well as the possibility that the
thermogenic methane gas in the water well is attributable to the completion of the well in the
Pierre Shale and not to oil and gas operations.
Weld County Commissioners
C/O Bruce Barker
04/13/2009
Pane 3
Going forward, we expect to receive additional sampling results in the coming weeks and will
share them with you when they become available. We appreciate Weld County's interest in this
important matter and welcome the opportunity to answer any questions that the County
Commissioners or staff may have regarding this update or our ongoing work.
For your convenience I have enclosed a copy of the most recent status report that we provided to
the Ellsworths.
Respectfully,
at/C:1 27e4)(Ab
David S. Neslin
Director
Attachments
cc: Ellsworth Complaint #200196553 file
David Dillon — COGCC w/o attachments
Debbie Baldwin — COGCC w/o attachments
Robert Chesson — COGCC w/o attachments
STATE OF
COLORADO
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor
1120 Lincoln St., Suite 801
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 894-2100
FAX: (303) 894-2109
www.cogcc.state.co.us
Ellsworth Water Well Investigation/Southern Weld County
Methane Gas Investigation
COGCC Complaint Investigation (Ellsworth water well) No. 200196553
April 10, 2009
As the result of concerns regarding the presence of methane gas in water wells completed in the
Laramie/Fox Hill Aquifer in southern Weld County (Ft Lupton — Hudson Area), the COGCC has
sampled the Ellsworth and thirteen (13) other water wells, for a total of fourteen (14) water
wells. Below is the list of water wells sampled by COGCC staff or by Terracon on behalf of the
COGCC:
CITY ZIP LOCATION Sampled Date
Ft Lupton
(Ellsworth) 80621 16 - 2N - 65W
Hudson 80642 4 - 2N - 65W
Ft Lupton 80621 24 - 1N - 66W
Keensburg 80643 33 - 2N - 64W
Keensburg 80643 19 - 2N - 64W
Ft Lupton 80621 6 - 2N - 65W
Brighton 24 - 1N - 66W
Hudson 80642 14 - 1N - 65W
Ft Lupton 80621 27 - 1N - 66W
Ft Lupton 80621 26 - 2N -67W
Ft Lupton 80621 29 - 2N - 65W
Ft Lupton 80621 3 - 2N - 66W
Ft Lupton 80621 18 - 2N - 65W
Ft Lupton 80621 32 - 2N - 65W
Analysis
Received
(ISOTECH)
9/22/08; 2/20/09 10/9/08;3/4/09
03/25/2009 04/01/2009
04/06/2009
04/06/2009
04/02/2009
04/02/2009
04/02/2009
04/06/2009
04/02/2009
04/02/2009
04/03/2009
04/07/2009
04/02/2009
04/03/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
04/09/2009
The thirteen (13) water wells were sampled between March 25, 2009 and April 7, 2009. To date
the COGCC has received gas composition and stable isotopic results for ten (10) of the thirteen
(13) wells. Analytical results indicate that nine (9) of the wells contain biogenic, or biological
generated methane gas. One (1) water well contained only a trace amount of methane and stable
isotope analysis was not performed on this sample.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: Harris Sherman, Executive Director
COGCC COMMISSION: Richard Alward - Thomas L. Compton - Mark Cutright - Michael Dowling - Joshua B. Epel - Trost Houpt - Jim Martin - Harris Sherman
COGCC STAFF: David Neslin, Acting Director - Debbie Baldwin, Environmental Manager - Patricia C. Beaver, Hearings Manager - David K. Dillon. Engineering Manager
Noble Energy and Anadarko/Kerr McGee have collected (jointly) samples from fifteen (15)
water wells at the request of the water well owner. To date, the COGCC has received gas
composition and stable isotopic results on one (1) of the fifteen (15) sampled water well. This
water well contains biogenic or biological generated methane gas.
All of these water wells (total of 28) were also sampled for general water quality. To date
laboratory results have been received for one (1) water well. The analytical (28 wells) are
pending completion of laboratory analysis, which is anticipated within the next two (2) weeks.
The received analytical results are being supplied to the individual water well owners.
Weekly Update April 10, 2009
April 1, 2009 — Gas composition and stable isotopic sample results received for McClure water
well.
April 3, 2009 - Letter from COGCC with gas composition and stable isotopic sample results sent
to the McClures.
April 7, 2009 — COGCC collect production gas samples from two (2) additional production
wells in Section 21, Township 2 North, Range 65 West. The COGCC has previously sampled
nine (9) production wells as part of the investigation. A total of eleven (11) production gas
samples have been collected for this investigation.
April 7, 2009 - COGCC collected GPS location information for the former Powers # 1 oil & gas
well that was drilled and abandoned in 1946/1947 (Located in Section 22, Township 2 North,
Range 65 West).
April 8, 2009 — Water quality sample results for McClure water well received.
April 9, 2009 — Water quality sample results for McClure water well e -mailed to well owner.
April 9, 2009 — Gas composition and stable isotope date received from laboratory for ten (10)
water wells sampled by COGCC (see discussion above).
April 10, 2009 — Meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth and COGCC staff including David
Neslin (Director), Debbie Baldwin (Environmental Manager), David Dillon (Engineering
Manager), Bob Chesson (Area Environmental Protection Specialist). Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth
provided with the written response to their April 6, 2007 email, copy of drillers log for their
water well, and geophysical log from nearby gas well.
Continuing - COGCC Engineering staff reviewing well construction and completion records for
O&G wells within 1 mile radius of the Ellsworth water well.
Continuing — COGCC Engineering staff continuing process to select a drilling contractor for re-
entry of the Powers 41 well borehole to evaluate existing well condition, possible gas/water
sampling, and replugging. COGCC Engineering staffs efforts to contact the landowner and
obtain permission to access the well continue.
Continuing - COGCC staff continuing investigation of possible Cretaceous Age Pierre Shale gas
in Laramie/Fox Hills aquifer water wells.
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