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Fracking Session American Planning Association Conference - CO Chapter October 2012
Fracking Session American Planning Association
Conference - CO Chapter
October 2012
PROMOTE THE RESPONSIBLE AND BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF COLORADO’S
OIL & GAS RESOURCES
• Ensure: Exploration and production of oil and gas resources are conducted efficiently.
• Mineral owners’ rights are protected.
• Oil and gas production is conducted in a manner consistent with protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including the environment & wildlife resources.
COGCC MISSIONCOGCC MISSION
REGULATIONS100 Definitions200 General300 Drilling, Development, Procedure, and Abandonment400 Units, Enhanced Recovery, and Storage500 Hearings600 Safety700 Financial Assurance800 Aesthetic and Noise900 Waste Management1000 Reclamation 1100 Pipelines1200 Wildlife
PERMITTING PROCESSAPPLICATION FOR PERMIT
TO DRILL– APD– FORM 2– Provides information
regarding the permitting of the wellbore and its construction.
• Surface & bottom hole location
• Casing• Cementing
OIL AND GAS LOCATION ASSESSMENT
– OGLA– FORM 2A– Provides an assessment
of surface location.• Area of disturbance• Environmental review• Hydrology
– Groundwater– Surface water
• Inter-agency consultation
DRILLING PERMITWell Location
Lease, Spacing, and Pooling Information
Drilling Plans and Procedures
PROTECTING WATER
• Technical reviews of casing and cementing plans.
• Review of surrounding area hydrology, water wells and surface waters.
• Baseline water sampling; post-drilling sampling.
• Review of operator-provided Best Management Practices to protect water, contain potential spills.
COGCC RULES PREVENT WATER/GAS/OIL MIGRATION
1. ENSURE SURFACE CASING IN ALL WELLS IS SET AT LEAST 50 FEET BELOW THE DEPTH OF THE DEEPEST WATER WELL OR AQUIFERS
2. ENSURE PRODUCTION CASING ISOLATES ALL HYDROCARBON BEARING ZONES
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Wellbore ConstructionCOGCC Rule 317 mandates
Concrete and steel casing protect the aquifer and are cemented in place & to the surface
Natural gas producing formations – separated by more than a mile of solid rock with concrete isolation across zones.
Drill with clear water to set surface casing
Add bentonite clay and ph control agent to help thicken bentonite (improve yield)
Drilling reserve pit is reclaimed in the same order it was built – top soil last in.
Many operators currently use closed loop drilling process – no pit.
WATER WATER TANKSTANKS
CHEMICAL CHEMICAL TRUCKSTRUCKS
SAND MOVERSAND MOVER
COMMAND COMMAND CENTERCENTER
FRAC JOB – WELL FRAC JOB – WELL SITESITE
FRAC FLOW BACK FRAC FLOW BACK TANKTANK
Rule 205 Inventory chemicals
Rule 205A Disclosure
Rule 317 Well casing and cementing; Cement bond logs.
Rule 317B setbacks and precautions near surface waters and tributaries that are sources of public drinking water.
Rule 341 monitor pressures during stimulation.
Rule 608 Special requirements for CBM wells.
Rules 903 & 904 pit permitting, lining, monitoring, & secondary containment
Rule 906 requires Commission, CDPHE and the landowner of any spill that threatens to impact any water of the state.
COGCC Hydraulic Fracturing RulesCOGCC Hydraulic Fracturing Rules
WATER DEMAND AND SOURCES
• Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about 1/10 of 1% of Colorado’s annual water use.
• The amount of water used for hydraulic fracturing is roughly comparable to the amount of water used in Colorado for snowmaking.
• Operators can procure water from various sources but must adhere to state water law when obtaining and using it.
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
• More than 90% of oil and gas wells today are hydraulically fractured.
• As of April 1, 2012 operators must disclose all fracturing ingredients and concentrations to FracFocus.org. Operators must file paperwork to certify proprietary claims.
• Rules require cement bond logs and pressure monitoring to ensure integrity of well and cement work.
