|
Gas Facts
• Emergency Preparedness
• Sound
• Methane Seeps
• Methane Safety
• Water Quality and Domestic Water Well Protections
• Air Quality
• Air Quality and Natural Gas Development
• Soil
• Impact to Wildlife
• Road Use
Companies rigorously train and prepare for any potential hazard. On average each employee working in the natural gas industry receives approximately one week's worth of safety training each year. The training includes CPR, defensive driving, first aid training, as well as training in specific gas related areas. Some companies regularly conduct training with La Plata County fire departments and emergency personnel.
Monitoring and emergency shut-off equipment is routinely installed to avoid dangerous situations should an accident occur. Companies strictly adhere to federal, state and local safety and environmental regulations to protect employees and the area in which they work.
Every gas well is required to be identified by a sign, which contains the well name and the phone number of the operator. Each company has an emergency phone system that alerts personnel, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, should a emergency call come in regarding any well or gas facility. The county requires operators to submit an emergency preparedness plan along with contact phone information updated annually or as conditions change.
[back to top]
There are various aspects of natural gas development that produce sound such as pumpjacks, compressors or safety valves. Natural gas production sound is regulated by the COGCC and the total sound from a facility must fall within state prescribed limits that ensure hearing safety and reasonable levels of overall sound. Sound produced during construction is allowed at higher levels for a short duration, but still limited for hearing-safety purposes. Sound mitigation measures, such as sound walls or sound-insulted buildings are often installed to lower the levels of sound produced at natural gas facilities to comply with state regulated limits.
Unusually loud and/or inconsistent sounds, such as hissing, banging, whistling, grinding, creaking, rattling, etc., can mean that some piece of equipment is malfunctioning. Some of the loud and inconsistent sounds are safety "pop-offs." A pop-off occurs when a safety valve releases gas so that equipment and surrounding areas are protected from a gas build-up that could become dangerous if contained or unattended for long periods of time. This type of safety valve typically connects to well monitoring equipment that alerts operators of the incident so that the can respond quickly. If nearby residents hear these types of sounds they should be reported to the operator as soon as possible so that repairs can be made (see the "SAFETY/Emergency Preparedness" section of this page for contact information).
Some pumpjacks are operated using the produced natural gas as fuel and the engine can make some sound. Other pumpjacks are operated using electricity, which makes them quieter.
As mentioned in the production section, compressors can be on-site or at a centralized facility. Natural gas engines or electric motors power compressors. The type of compression and the power source are dependent on the closeness of a well site to centralized facilities and/or electric power sources. Centralized compression creates the lowest sound impact because it removes onsite compression at various well locations to one central facility, which can be located and built to significantly diminish sound. On-site compression utilizing an electric power source may lower sound impacts, if a well site is not near a central compression facility. However, some remote locations do not have electric power available to them and must utilize natural gas. On-site natural gas-powered compressors can be equipped with mufflers to lessen the sound. In appropriate circumstances, sound walls or buildings are sometimes installed to further reduce sound emissions.
In every case, compressors are regulated for sound by the COGCC. The COGCC requires that sound measured 25 feet from the property line of a gas facility must be below 50 decibels, a level often described as the sound in a quiet residential area. Further, the COGCC regularly responds to sound complaints by measuring sound at facilities and issuing notices to operators that are out of compliance. Penalties can include fines and shutdown if sound limits are not reduced within a reasonable time frame.
COGCC Sound Study
The COGCC completed a sound study on natural gas compression and made recommendation to operators regarding sound mitigation. The study was requested by La Plata County and contains sound guidelines that are used by the industry and the COGCC. Copies of "Compression Facility Noise Guidelines" are available through the COGCC.
[back to top]
Because a portion of La Plata County is within the gas-rich San Juan Basin, methane has always leaked to the surface. Gas seeps were noticed as soon as settlers first came to the area in the 1880s. Colorado School of Mines Professor Arthur Lakes documented the first seep in 1888 near Carbon Junction.
Seeping gas was an indication to early settlers of the potential for oil and gas beneath the ground. Many Texas oil wells were found by drilling into a gas seep area. Although limited amounts of oil were found in the La Plata County area, seeping gas was still a valuable natural resource. There are many anecdotal stories about methane seeps in the area.
Seeps often are easily discovered near water because seeping gas must bubble through the water to dissipate into the air. Seeps occur all around the San Juan Basin regardless of the proximity to water.
The first documentation of vegetation death due to methane seeps was in 1901, long before natural gas production began in the area. Methane displaces oxygen, eventually killing affected trees and grasses. The methane seeping into the soil eventually dissipates into the air. Methane seeps naturally migrate from one location to another.
A third party consultant hired by the COGCC, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), natural gas industry and La Plata County has mapped methane seeps in the county. The seep maps are available at the county. Currently, the BLM and the natural gas industry are conducting seep testing to determine any changes in specific seeps.
[back to top]
Methane is a gas that is created naturally from decomposition. It is not toxic, not poisonous and does not cause cancer. However, methane gas is highly flammable and/or explosive under certain conditions. If methane is confined in an area with little or no ventilation and exposed to a heat source it can explode and will burn. Good ventilation will lessen the danger of any confined gas.
Methane gas in its natural state does not smell. The odor you smell from gas coming from a home stove has been treated with a chemical smell, mercaptan, so that gas leaks can be detected for safety reasons.
On rare occasions, some natural gas equipment at a well or facility may malfunction causing a natural gas leak. Leaks in general are not dangerous. If the leaking gas flows into the air, it dissipates rapidly and posses no danger. If the leaking gas is contained and ignited, it can explode and/or burn. Gas leaking from a production facility is under pressure and usually creates some type of noise, such as a hissing. The operator of the gas facility or emergency personnel should be contacted if there is a safety concern about a well.
Every gas well is identified by a sign, which contains the phone number of the operator. Each company has an emergency phone system that alerts personnel, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, should a emergency call come in regarding any well or gas facility.
[back to top]
As residential growth increased in the late 1980s and early 1990s, resident complaints about methane in domestic water wells also increased. In response, the COGCC and BLM began a water-testing program to determine what type of methane was occurring in over 400 water wells near heavy natural gas production in the county. Water samples were collected and isotopically analyzed.
About two-thirds of the methane gas found in domestic water wells contained "biogenic" gas -- caused by bacteria -- which is not related to natural gas development. One third of the methane gas in groundwater was found to have thermogenic gas, which could be related to natural conditions or development or both. Water separators can mitigate thermogenic gas problems.
The water testing also showed that some domestic water wells in the county have other contaminates dangerous to human health such as selenium, fluorine, sulfate or iron. Residents should take precautions to ensure safe drinking water from domestic wells. San Juan Basin Heath Department and water well contractors can test for water problems. Wells should be regularly disinfected to guard against bacteria.
An extensive wellhead-testing program called Bradenhead testing began in the early 1990s to make sure that natural gas wells were not contributing to methane in domestic water wells. When the test was first conducted on all gas wells in La Plata County, some older wells were found to have high pressures that triggered additional investigation. If wells were determined to have problems, work was required by the COGCC to resolve any problems. Some older wells were shut-in or repaired to eliminate any leak possibilities. Bradenhead testing is required annually for every gas well in La Plata County.
All companies working in the natural gas industry must and do comply with state and federal water regulations that guard against produced water leaks and methane leaks. The EPA and COGCC regularly inspect companies for environmental compliance.
H2S - Hydrogen Sulfide
Some local residents complain of a rotten egg smell in the water. That smell is associated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a poisonous and flammable compound not associated with coalbed methane production in La Plata County. Sulfate-reducing bacteria creates H2S. This is a natural occurring event, which can contaminate domestic water wells in the county. Water well testing and regular water well treatment is recommended to reduce the potential for H2S. Contact the San Juan Basin Health Department for more water testing and treatment information (970-247-5702).
The rotten egg smell is common at area hot springs that contain small levels of H2S, without significant health dangers. However, H2S is fatal at certain concentrated levels; at 500 parts per million humans can fall unconscious. The area commonly known as Carbon Junction (Animas River and La Posta Road) has been thoroughly tested by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for H2S contamination. The EPA concludes that the area does contain "very low levels" of the toxic gas but it is not a safety hazard. However, people should always be cautious if and when H2S is smelled in an area.
[back to top]
There have been questions about natural gas flaring affects to air quality in the area. Reflective of gas pressure in formations, the flow of gas can be uneven, sometimes resulting in a gas pressure buildup. Flares safely release gas pressure to avoid a potentially explosive event. Flares do burn natural gas in the process, but natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels in use today. Infrequent flaring is temporary and transient in nature with insignificant effects to air quality.
Some on-site gas compressors use natural gas powered engines, producing some air pollution. However, many compressor engines are equipped with state-of-the-art emission controls. These emission controls can consist of internal modifications built into the engine or exhaust treatment utilizing catalytic technology. Both types of controls are very effective at reducing emissions from 60% to 90%. If a threshold of emissions is exceeded at a given site, the State of Colorado or the EPA requires permits. When possible, some companies power compressors using electric motors to reduce air emissions at well sites and at larger facilities.
The overwhelming majority of air pollution in our area is due to automobile exhaust emissions. The remaining air pollution sources in our area include coal-burning electrical power plants, road dust, residential wood burning stoves and fireplaces. Recent studies show that electric power plants that use natural gas instead of coal, dramatically reduce emissions.
[back to top]
At most natural gas facilities, contaminated soil is not an issue due to the relatively clean nature of methane production. Occasionally, produced water can spill onto the ground, but this must be reported to the COGCC and cleaned up according to specific state rules. Small amounts of common lube oil associated with on-site compressors can drip onto the ground and COGCC rules regulate its cleanup and removal.
There have been questions about methane leaks into the soil. As mentioned above, historically methane has leaked to the surface naturally and dissipates into the air leaving the soil unaffected. Regulations require periodic gas well testing to guard against the potential of methane leaks.
[back to top]
It is not uncommon that concerns arise about the various land uses and their impact on wildlife. The industry has been very active in working with wildlife officials to mitigate its presence and has also initiated projects to enhance wildlife habitat in La Plata County.
Wildlife may be impacted by surface disturbance. Surface disturbance associated with natural gas development consists mainly of sites and roads for producing wells, compressor facilities and pipelines. Well site disturbance is minimized to the extent necessary to conduct operations safely. Locations are typically larger during the drilling phase, but are typically reduced in size following completion. The areas no longer used after drilling are revegetated with species of plants beneficial to wildlife. Surface disturbance for pipeline installation is temporary since the right-of-way is reseeded. Wildlife is also disturbed by activity but wells are unmanned and require only minimal visits. Some wells are automated requiring even less activity that might disturb wildlife.
The natural gas industry has developed a number of wildlife mitigation measures with input of federal, tribal and state officials. It is not uncommon for companies schedule construction activities to avert certain areas or times sensitive to wildlife such as eagle nesting areas and mating or calving seasons.
Gas companies in La Plata County have initiated a number of projects designed to assist wildlife such as re-establishment of ponds or the installation of rainwater collectors so that habitat is enhanced. Companies also sponsor environmental and nature awareness programs in the area. Finally, some companies have received recognition for wildlife consideration in operations from various organizations and state agencies.
It is important to note that a number of different land uses place a strain on available wildlife habitat in La Plata County. For instance, home development is a land use, which requires new surface disturbance. A typical home disturbs an area of 1/4 to 1/2 acre or more. During the last five years there have been over 3,000 permits issued for new home construction totaling 800-1,600 acres of disturbance in La Plata County. In contrast, a well site uses approximately one acre and 255 drilling permits were issued in the last five years totaling 255 acres of disturbed land due to natural gas development. Consequently, all land uses must share a responsibility for managing wildlife habitat to maintain this resource.
[back to top]
Natural gas production operations use county and state roads in several ways. The first way roads are used to transport construction equipment. This is a temporary road use that is limited to once or twice in the life of a well or facility -- just like construction equipment used for building a home or commercial facility. Some wells require water trucks to haul produced water to a treatment plant or disposal well. Depending upon site-specific circumstances, some wells are connected to a water gathering pipeline system, which eliminates the need for water trucks.
The most common road use is periodic visits to wells by operation personnel. These visits can be daily (one trip in and one trip out per day), weekly or even monthly. The main purpose for well visits is to monitor operations such as the production flow of natural gas and checking equipment. These trips are typically made in one-ton pickup trucks, commonly used by ranchers, contractors and county personnel.
Many people point out that gas wells utilize heavy equipment during construction, which damages the road. Heavy construction equipment is only needed during initial construction and then averages only once every five to ten years and only for a few days. In comparison, residential construction requires weeks of heavy equipment such as graders, backhoes, cement trucks, cranes, and lumber trucks.
Comparing the number of building permits with the number of well permits in the county reveals that residential and commercial growth is the primary causes of road damage. Even at the peak of drilling created by the federal tax credit for coal-bed methane production in 1990, only 388 well permits were issued in a single year.
Year Residential and Commercial County Building Permits Only Total County Building Permits Oil and Gas Well Permits
Year Residential and Commercial County Building Permits Only Total County Building Permits Oil and Gas Well Permits
1994 744 1287 40
1995 751 1406 20
1996 666 1305 71
1997 642 1485 40
1998 585 1346 82
1999 710 1435 107
2000 613 1201 127
Regardless of construction road use, daily traffic causes a great amount of damage to roads. Studies show that an average household makes approximately eight trips per day to and from a residence. In comparison a well is visited at most only once per day resulting in two trips.
The amount of road use by the natural gas industry is more than compensated by the higher property tax assessed and collected from natural gas production. One study showed that in a 30+ well project, a natural gas well impacts the roads an average of $10 annually while easily contributing over 100 times that amount annually toward road maintenance and construction through property tax and severance tax payments.
In the late 1990s, the industry’s property tax payments averaged over 37% of the total. The gas and oil industry is the only tax group that pays property taxes based at the highest valuation percentage – over 87%. Residential property valuation percentage is less than 10% and other property at less than 30%. These figures alone demonstrate that the natural gas industry is contributing well above its fair share toward county roads.
Severance taxes paid by the oil and gas industry go to the state, which uses half of that tax to fund the Energy and Mineral Impact Grant program. La Plata County and other counties apply for grants from this fund. La Plata County has been awarded millions of dollars that has been applied to county road projects since the early 1990s.
Traffic Safety
The industry regularly stresses traffic safety and traffic law obedience. Most companies have strict policies that severely punish or dismiss employees who disobey traffic laws while operating company equipment. Traffic offences should be reported to the La Plata County Sheriff or State Police.
[back to top]
|
