BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND                         )                       CAUSE NO. 318

ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN                      )                      

OPERATIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN FIELD,                               )                       DOCKET NO. 0402-AW-02

YUMA COUNTY, COLORADO                                                    )                      

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

 

            On August 22, 1978, the Commission issued Order No. 318-3, which established 160-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation underlying the below-listed lands, with the permitted well to be located no closer than 900 feet from the boundaries of the quarter section upon which it is located, with the existing producing wells or wells capable of producing to be the permitted wells for the units upon which each is located. On September 9, 1981, the Commission issued Order No. 318-4, which reaffirmed its position that 160-acre drilling and spacing units is the proper spacing for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation underlying the lands described in Order No. 318-3.

 

Township 1 North, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

Section 7: All

Sections 18 and 19: All

Sections 30 and 31: All

 

Township 1 North, Range 45 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 7 through 36: All

 

Township 1 South, Range 45 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 3 through 5: All

 

            On July 17, 1994 (amended August 19, 1994), the Commission issued Order No. 318-5, which allowed an additional well to be drilled on each 160-acre drilling and spacing unit in the Republican Field, at the option of the operator, for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, with the subsequent permitted well to be no closer than 560 feet from the outer boundaries of the unit.  The order also allowed the Director to grant exceptions to the permitted well locations without prior notice or hearing upon an adequate showing by the operator that topography makes it unreasonable to drill a second well within the 560 feet setback, but no closer than 380 feet from the boundary of the drilling and spacing unit and requests for any other exception location may be granted in accordance with Rule 318.

 

            On September 26, 1994, the Commission issued Order No. 318-6, which affirmed Order No. 318-5, allowing an additional well to be drilled on each 160-acre drilling and spacing unit for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation for the lands described in Order No. 318-5.

 

            On December 22, 2003, Petroleum Development Corporation (“PDC”), by its attorney, filed with the Commission a verified application for an order to allow up to a total of three (3) wells to be drilled within each 160-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-listed lands for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, at the option of the operator, with the permitted location to be anywhere within the 160-acre drilling and spacing unit upon which it is drilled provided it is located no closer than 560 feet from the outer boundaries of the unit.  In addition, PDC requests that the Director be allowed to grant an exception to the permitted well location without prior notice or hearing upon an adequate showing by the operator that topography makes it unreasonable to drill any additional well within a 560 foot setback, but no closer than 380 feet from the boundary of the drilling and spacing unit and requests that any other exception location may be granted in accordance with Rule 318.

 

Township 1 North, Range 45 West, 6th PM

Sections 25 through 28: All

 

            NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado, pursuant to the above, has scheduled the above‑entitled matter for hearing on:

 

                        Date:                                        Tuesday, February 10, 2004

 

                        Time:                                        9:00 a.m.

 

                        Place:                                       Garfield County Courthouse Plaza

                                                                        108 8th Street, Room 100

                                                                        Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

 

            In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Audra Serlet at (303) 894-2100 ext. 114, prior to the hearing and arrangements will be made.

 

            Pursuant to said hearing in the above-entitled matter at the time and place aforesaid, or at any adjourned meeting, the Commission will enter such orders as it deems appropriate to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and to prevent the waste of oil and gas, either or both, in the operations of said field, and to carry out the purposes of the statute.

 

            In accordance with Rule 509., any interested party desiring to protest the granting of the application or to intervene on the application should file with the Commission a written protest or intervention no later than January 26, 2004, briefly stating the basis of the protest or intervention.  Such interested party shall, at the same time, serve a copy of the protest or intervention to the person filing the application.  An original and nine (9) copies shall be filed with the Commission (Rule 503.f.).  Pursuant to Rule 503.e., if a party who has received notice under Rule 503.b. wishes to receive further pleadings in the above-referenced matter, that party must file a protest or intervention in accordance with these rules.  In accordance with the practices of the Commission, should no protests or interventions be filed in this matter by January 26, 2004, the Applicant may request that an administrative hearing be scheduled for the week of January 26, 2004.

 

                        IN THE NAME OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

                                                                        OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

                                                                             OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

                                                                        By                                                                        

                                                                                 Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary

 

Dated at Suite 801                                             Attorney for Applicant:                           

1120 Lincoln Street                                            William A. Keefe                                   

Denver, Colorado 80203                                      Gorsuch Kirgis LLP

January 9, 2004                                                 Tower 1, Suite 1000

                                    1515 Arapahoe Street

                                                                        Denver, CO 80202                                             

                                                                        (303) 376-5000