BEFORE
THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF
THE STATE OF
IN THE MATTER OF THE
PROMULGATION AND ) CAUSE
NO. 146
ESTABLISHMENT
OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN )
OPERATIONS
IN THE
TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES
AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
On September 30, 1960, the Commission issued Order No.
146-1 which approved the project for the storage of natural gas in an
underground reservoir situated in the Laramie Formations in what is commonly
known as the Leyden Coal Mine, Jefferson County, Colorado, as proposed by the
Public Service Company of Colorado situated in all or parts of Sections 21-22,
26-28, and 33-35 of Township 2 South, Range 70 West, 6th P.M. Public Service has operated the Leyden
Facility since 1960, injecting and withdrawing natural gas to support its
natural gas distribution and delivery operations in the
In the Spring of 2000, Public Service announced its decision
to close the Leyden Facility due to the increasing incompatibility of its
continued gas storage operations with the encroaching residential and
commercial development of the surrounding area.
Public Service obtained authority from the Colorado Public Utilities
Commission to abandon the Leyden Facility in January, 2001. Injection of gas into storage ended on
In July 2001, the Colorado General Assembly amended the
Oil and Gas Conservation Act to give exclusive authority to the Oil and Gas
Conservation Commission to regulate the closure of underground gas storage
caverns (“Closure Statute”). Prior to
closure of the Leyden Facility, Public Service is required to obtain a
certificate of closure from the Commission.
To obtain a certificate of closure, Public Service must demonstrate that
its closure plan reasonably protects public hearth, safety and welfare,
including protection of the environment.
On
The Closure Plan is submitted in
accordance with the requirements of the Closure Statute to protect the
public health, safety and welfare, including the environment, relating to the
closure of the Leyden Facility. Section
III of the Closure Plan provides for the recovery of residual natural gas
reasonably recoverable from the underground caverns. Section IV of the Closure Plan provides for
the transfer of certain wells and well sites to
The closure plan is available on the COGCC website at www.oil-gas@state.co.us by clicking on “Hearings”, then
“2003 Hearing Schedule”, then
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Oil
and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of
Date:
Time:
Place: City of
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
IN
THE NAME OF THE STATE OF
OIL
AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OF
THE STATE OF
By
Patricia
C. Beaver, Secretary
Dated at
March 21,
(303)376-5000