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SILT - Blame the beaver.
Tests of gas bubbling up in a beaver pond on West Divide Creek south of Silt show it isn't originating from natural gas wells. Instead, it is the result of decomposing organic material that has accumulated due to the pond's creation.
However, the area resident who complained to the state about the bubbles believes the gas still may be related to newly resumed drilling activity near where a well leaked gas into West Divide Creek in 2004.
Lisa Bracken brought her concerns to the attention of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Oct. 22. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) then hired an environmental contractor to take gas samples for testing.
In a report issued this month, Cordilleran Compliance Services, Inc., of Grand Junction said its testing found that the gas came from purely organic sources, and not from natural gas wells. The report also found no traces of benzene, toluene and other "contaminants of concern" that are associated with natural gas production.
The bubbling is occurring in a prime environment for gas generation from organic sources, due to formation of a beaver pond on the creek that has allowed organic material to build up, the report said.
"I think it supports what we had believed to be the case, which is that there's not impact from our drilling activity," said EnCana spokesman Doug Hock.
Bracken said she doesn't doubt the accuracy of the test results, but remains suspicious about the circumstances behind the bubbling.
The COGCC imposed a moratorium on drilling within a two-mile radius after gas escaped from an EnCana well in 2004 and surfaced in West Divide Creek. The state imposed new drilling regulations in the area, including rules aimed at ensuring cementing properly occurs around well casings to keep gas from migrating upward into groundwater. It lifted its drilling moratorium last year.
This year, EnCana began a 40-well drilling program in the area, obtaining permits to drill some wells from the same pad where the faulty well was drilled.
Bracken said she is concerned because she saw bubbling on the creek in 2004 that also was determined to be organic in nature, but coincided with the natural gas seep. This year's bubbling is coinciding with the resumption of drilling. Bracken also wonders why she's not seeing bubbling on other ponds in the area where organically produced gas would also be expected to be generated.
EnCana has capped the 2004 well that had leaked, and Bracken fears that may be causing gas in that well to build up in pressure and seek an outlet, perhaps through the natural geologic faults in the area. She thinks it could somehow be forcing increased bubbling of organically generated gas, which she said has been surfacing at a vigorous rate.
"We need more answers about what's causing it now," she said. "These are things we hadn't seen until they started drilling again."
Bracken said she contacted the COGCC Monday and is waiting to hear back about the status of the complaint she filed.
"I'm not sure if they're just relying on EnCana's data or not," she said.
Hock said EnCana will continue discussions with Bracken in regard to her worries over the bubbling.
"We appreciate her concern. I think those are observations. All we can go by is the science and the facts of the science that indicate that it's no issue," Hock said.
Contact Dennis Webb: 384-9119dwebb@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
Tests of gas bubbling up in a beaver pond on West Divide Creek south of Silt show it isn't originating from natural gas wells. Instead, it is the result of decomposing organic material that has accumulated due to the pond's creation.
However, the area resident who complained to the state about the bubbles believes the gas still may be related to newly resumed drilling activity near where a well leaked gas into West Divide Creek in 2004.
Lisa Bracken brought her concerns to the attention of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Oct. 22. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) then hired an environmental contractor to take gas samples for testing.
In a report issued this month, Cordilleran Compliance Services, Inc., of Grand Junction said its testing found that the gas came from purely organic sources, and not from natural gas wells. The report also found no traces of benzene, toluene and other "contaminants of concern" that are associated with natural gas production.
The bubbling is occurring in a prime environment for gas generation from organic sources, due to formation of a beaver pond on the creek that has allowed organic material to build up, the report said.
"I think it supports what we had believed to be the case, which is that there's not impact from our drilling activity," said EnCana spokesman Doug Hock.
Bracken said she doesn't doubt the accuracy of the test results, but remains suspicious about the circumstances behind the bubbling.
The COGCC imposed a moratorium on drilling within a two-mile radius after gas escaped from an EnCana well in 2004 and surfaced in West Divide Creek. The state imposed new drilling regulations in the area, including rules aimed at ensuring cementing properly occurs around well casings to keep gas from migrating upward into groundwater. It lifted its drilling moratorium last year.
This year, EnCana began a 40-well drilling program in the area, obtaining permits to drill some wells from the same pad where the faulty well was drilled.
Bracken said she is concerned because she saw bubbling on the creek in 2004 that also was determined to be organic in nature, but coincided with the natural gas seep. This year's bubbling is coinciding with the resumption of drilling. Bracken also wonders why she's not seeing bubbling on other ponds in the area where organically produced gas would also be expected to be generated.
EnCana has capped the 2004 well that had leaked, and Bracken fears that may be causing gas in that well to build up in pressure and seek an outlet, perhaps through the natural geologic faults in the area. She thinks it could somehow be forcing increased bubbling of organically generated gas, which she said has been surfacing at a vigorous rate.
"We need more answers about what's causing it now," she said. "These are things we hadn't seen until they started drilling again."
Bracken said she contacted the COGCC Monday and is waiting to hear back about the status of the complaint she filed.
"I'm not sure if they're just relying on EnCana's data or not," she said.
Hock said EnCana will continue discussions with Bracken in regard to her worries over the bubbling.
"We appreciate her concern. I think those are observations. All we can go by is the science and the facts of the science that indicate that it's no issue," Hock said.
Contact Dennis Webb: 384-9119dwebb@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
