BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE                  )           CAUSE NO. 1V

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COLORADO OIL                )

AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION BY                           )           DOCKET NO. 0304-OV-04

FREDERICK I. SHAFFER JR., KIOWA COUNTY, COLORADO     )          

                                                                                               

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

 

On July 7, 1998, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”) staff conducted an onsite inspection of the State Pyles #1 Well located in the NW¼ SE¼ of Section 6, Township 20 South, Range 48 West, 6th P.M. and the State-Pyles-Calvert #1 Well located in the SW¼ NE¼ of Section 11, Township 20 South, Range 49 West, 6th P.M. and found the wells to be temporarily abandoned with equipment on location.  The owner of the wells, Frederick I. Shaffer Jr. (“Schaffer”) was required to either perform a mechanical integrity test (“MIT”), produce or plug and abandon the wells by May 15, 1999.

 

On May 26, 1999 COGCC staff issued Notices of Alleged Violation (“NOAV’s”) to Shaffer, alleging violations of Rule 326.b.(1), requiring wells shut-in longer than two (2) years to be tested for mechanical integrity.  The NOAV’s required Shaffer to perform MIT’s by November 1, 1999, on both the State Pyles #1 and the State-Pyles-Calvert #1 Wells.  No response to these NOAV’s was received from Schaffer.

 

On January 24, 2000, an Administrative Order by Consent (“AOC”) was drafted and sent to Shaffer.  Mr. Tim Schaffer (Frederick Shaffer’s son) responded to the AOC’s by phone on February 23, 2000, stating his father was in poor health, the notices were slow in reaching him and he requested more time to bring the wells into compliance.  COGCC staff tried contacting Mr. Tim Shaffer several times.  Mr. Shaffer was finally contacted again on January 2, 2003.  Mr. Shaffer sent COGCC staff a letter stating that these wells were no longer owned by Frederick Shaffer but were now owned by other parties.  The COGCC staff believes that wells are still operated by Frederick Shaffer.  The letter also stated that Mr. Frederick Shaffer has passed away.

 

As of January 31, 2003, MIT’s had not been performed on these wells, the wells have not been returned to production, and the wells have not been plugged and abandoned.

 

Schaffer should be found in violation of Rule 326.b.(1) for failure to either perform a mechanical integrity test (“MIT”), produce or plug and abandon the State-Pyle #1 Well and the State-Pyles-Clavert #1 Well and should be assessed a find of Four Thousand dollars ($4,000) in accordance with Rule 523.a.

                                          

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, April 21, 2003

 

                                    Time:                            10:00 a.m.

 

                                    Place:                           City of Arvada Council Chambers

                                    8101 Ralston Rd.

                                    Arvada, CO 80002

                       

            In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations for this hearing as a result of a disability, please contact Audra Serlet at (303) 894-2100, extension 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 and necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare and to prevent the waste of oil and gas, either or both, in the operations of said field, and carry out the purposes of the statute.

 

In accordance with Rule 509., any interested party desiring to protest or to intervene should file with the Commission a written protest or a notice to intervene no later than April 7. 2003 briefly stating the basis of the protest or intervention.  Such interested party shall, at the same time, serve a copy of the protest or notice to intervene to the person filing the application.  An original and nine (9) copies shall be filed with the Commission.

 

            IN THE NAME OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

                                                                        OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

                                           OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

 

                                    By_________________________________

Dated at Suite 801                                                                                 Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary

1120 Lincoln Street

Denver, Colorado, 80203

March 21, 2003