BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
IN THE MATTER OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ) CAUSE NO. 1
OF THE COLORADO OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION )
COMMISSION, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ) ORDER NO. 1‑45
(Formerly 1-161)
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
This cause came on for hearing before the Commission on November 15, 1993 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 318, State Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado, after giving Notice of Hearing as required by law, on the application of Eugene L. Habrock and Pamela A. Habrock to establish the NW1/4 of Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M., Weld County as a high density area. Further, the Applicants requested the order to establish the NW1/4 of said Section 24 as N1/2 and S1/2 80-acre exploratory drilling and spacing units for production from the Sussex and Shannon Formations, with the permitted wells to be located in the center of the quarter-quarter with a tolerance of 200 feet in any direction, and authority for the Director to grant exception well locations with proper waivers provided.
FINDINGS
The Commission finds as follows:
1. Eugene L. Habrock and Pamela A. Habrock, as applicants herein are interested parties in the subject matter of the above‑referenced hearing.
2. Due notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing has been given in all respects as required by law.
3. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter embraced in said notice and of the parties interested therein, and jurisdiction to promulgate the hereinafter prescribed order.
4. Effective May 20, 1992, the Commission adopted Rule 127. into the Rules and Regulations of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission which allows tracts of land to be designated as high density areas upon application, notice and hearing before the Commission.
5. That evidence presented at the hearing indicates that the applicant applied for and was granted subdivision zoning by the Weld County Planning Committee for the application lands. The median lot size has an average platted density of 2.5 acres, and the applicant has spent approximately forty thousand ($40,000) dollars on the development of the subdivision.
7. That additional rules should be adopted to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens in the subdivision.
8. That evidence was insufficient to support the establishment of two 80-acre exploratory units in the NW1/4 of said Section 24.
9. That an order of the Commission should be entered designating the NW1/4 of Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M. as a high density area.
O R D E R
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that the NW1/4 of Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M., Weld County, is hereby designated as a high density area.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that, 1. Any well drilled in the above-described area shall comply with the following rules:
A. Surface locations of wellheads shall be located not less than 350 feet from any dwelling or facility as defined above.
B. Production tanks and/or associated on-site production equipment shall be located not less than 350 feet from any dwelling or facility as defined above.
C. All pumps, pits, wellheads and production facilities shall be adequately fenced to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
D. Each survey plat accompanying an Application for Permit-to-Drill shall, in addition to the requirements of Rule 303, include the following information:
1. All visible improvements within 350 feet of a well location must be physically tied in and plotted on the survey plat with a horizontal distance to the well location. Visible improvements include all dwellings and facilities as described above, public roads, major above-ground utility lines, railroads, pipelines, mines, oil or gas wells, injection wells, water wells, bodies of water, and natural channels through which water may flow. Surface uses must be described, and all surface property boundaries defined.
2. An 8.5" x 11" copy of the most current 1:24,000 scale topographic map of the area.
3. A lease map showing all individual leases in the drilling unit, identifying the lessee, lessor, and surface ownership.
E. Any equipment used in the drilling, completion or production of a well shall comply with C.R.S. 25-12-103, Maximum Permissible Noise Levels.
F. All operations associated with the drilling, completion or production of a well shall comply with C.R.S. 25-7-101, Colorado Air Quality Control Act, as it applied to fugitive dust and venting or flaring of natural gas.
G. If applicable, and where possible, development or multiple reservoirs by drilling on existing pads or by multiple completions or commingling in existing wellbores is required.
H. All other setbacks or safety requirements set out in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rules and Regulations shall apply.
2(a). Exceptions to the location requirements set out in 1(A) and 1(B) may be granted by the Director if a copy of waivers from each owner of a dwelling or facility within 350 feet of the proposed location is submitted as part of the Application for Permit-to-Drill, and the proposed location complies with other safety requirements of the Rules and Regulations. An election by the owner to build a house less than 350 feet from an existing well, constitutes an election to waive the 350 foot setback rule.
2(b). This rule supersedes the existing Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rule 603.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the provisions in the above order shall become effective forthwith.
Entered this day of , 1993, as of November 15, 1993.
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By
Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary
Dated at Suite 380
1580 Logan Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
December 3, 1993