BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION                                )          CAUSE NO. 510

AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO                             )

GOVERN OPERATIONS IN THE RULISON FIELD,                       )          DOCKET NO. 0407-SP-10

GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO                                              )

 

                                                                          NOTICE OF HEARING

 

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

 

            On June 9, 1994, the Commission issued Order No. 510-1, which amended Rule 316 (now Rule 318) to establish new setback rules for production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Williams Fork Formation for the below-described lands, with the permitted wells to be located no closer than 400 feet from the boundaries of any lease line and no closer than 800 feet from any existing Williams Fork Formation well or wells:

 

Township 6 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Section 8: All

Section 13: All

Section 17: All

Sections 19 through 22: All

Sections 28 through 33: All

 

Township 6 South, Range 97 West, 6th P.M.

Section 14: All

Sections 23 through 27: All

Sections 35 and 36: All

 

Township 7 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 2 through 11: All

Sections 14 through 23: All

Sections 26 through 35: All

 

Township 7 South, Range 97 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 1 and 2: All

Sections 11 through 14: All

 

            On November 29, 2000, the Commission issued Order No. 510-4, which established 40-acre drilling and spacing units for the below-described lands which were previously unspaced, and authorized the number of wells which can be drilled into and produced from the Williams Fork Formation as the equivalent of one (1) well per 20 acres, with the permitted well to be located no closer than 200 feet from the boundaries of a drilling unit and no closer than 400 feet from any existing Williams Fork Formation well or wells:

 

Township 6 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Section 17: E½, E½ W½

Section 20: N½, SE¼, E½ SW¼

Section 28: S½ NW¼, N½ SW¼,

Section 29: NE¼, NE¼ NW¼, NE¼ SE¼

Section 31: S½ NE¼, N½ SE¼

Section 32: SW¼ NW¼, N½ SW¼, NW¼ SE¼

 

            Rule 318.a. of the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission requires wells drilled in excess of 2,500 feet in depth to be located not less than 600 feet from any lease line, and not less than 1,200 feet from any other producible or drilling oil or gas well when drilling to the same common source of supply.  The below-listed lands are under the provisions of Rule 318.a.:

 

Township 6 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Section 4: That portion of the section west of Parachute Creek

Section 5 through 7: All

Section 18: All

 

Township 6 South, Range 97 West, 6th P.M.

Section 12: All

Section 13: All

 

            On May 24, 2004, Petroleum Development Corporation (“PDC”), by its attorney, filed with the Commission a verified Application for an order to increase the number of wells which can be optionally drilled into and produced from the Williams Fork Formation to the equivalent of one (1) well per 10 acres, with all future wells to be located downhole anywhere in the drilling and spacing unit but no closer than 100 feet from the boundaries of the unit without exception being granted by the Director for the below-listed lands:

 

Township 6 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Section 4:  That portion of the section west of Parachute Creek

Sections 5 through 7:  All

Section 8:  NW¼, E½ NE¼

Section 17:  W½ W½, E½ W½

Section 18:  All

Section 19:  SW¼

Section 30:  S½

Section 31:  W½

 

Township 6 South, Range 97 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 12 and 13: All

 

 

Township 7 South, Range 96 West, 6th P.M.

Section 5:  W½, NE¼

Section 6:  S½, NE¼

Section 7:  N½, SE¼

Section 17:  NW¼

Section 18:  N½

 

Township 7 North, Range 97 West, 6th P.M.

Section 1: W½

Section 12: NE¼

 

            In addition, in cases where the above-described lands abut or corner lands where the Commission has not at the time of drilling permit application granted the right to drill 10-acre density wells, the well should be located downhole no closer than 200 feet from the boundary or boundaries of the drilling unit so abutting or cornering such lands without exception being granted by the Director.

 

            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:                                        Monday, July 12, 2004

 

                        Time:                                        9:00 a.m.

 

Place:                                       Suite 801, The Chancery Building

                                                1120 Lincoln Street

                                                Denver, CO 80203

 

            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 June 28, 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.).  Anyone who files a protest or intervention must be able to participate in a prehearing conference during the week of June 28, 2004.   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 June 28, 2004, the Applicant may request that an administrative hearing be scheduled for the week of June 28, 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                                             Representative for Applicant:

1120 Lincoln Street                                            William A. Keefe

Denver, Colorado 80203                                      Gorsuch Kirgis LLP

June 4, 2004                                                      Tower 1, Suite 1000

                                                                        1515 Arapahoe Street

                                                                        Denver, CO 80202

                                                                        (303) 376-5000