BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER THE PROMULGATION AND                                     )                 CAUSE NOS. 139, 440, 479,    

ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN                           )                                           510

OPERATIONS IN THE RULISON, PARACHUTE, AND                       )                   

GRAND VALLEY FIELDS, GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO          )                 DOCKET NO. 0308-SP-05

                                                                       

                                                                        NOTICE OF HEARING

 

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

 

           On March 8, 1990, the Commission issued Order No. 139-14 establishing 320-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the upper portion of the Mesaverde Formation and the lower portion of the Mesaverde Formation including the Cameo, Rollins, Cozzette and Corcoran Sands, and the Coalbed Methane horizons underlying the below-listed lands:        

 

Township 6 South, Range 93 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 5 through 8: All

Sections 17 through 20: All

 

Township 6 South, Range 94 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 1 though 3: All

Sections 8 through 24: All

Sections 27 through 33: All

 

                        On March 9, 1990, the Commission issued Order No. 440-11, which among other things, established 320-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the upper portion of the Mesaverde Formation and the lower portion of the Mesaverde Formation including the Cameo, Rollins, Cozzette and Corcoran Sands, and the Coalbed Methane horizons underlying the below-listed lands:         

 

Township 6 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 7 through 20: All

Sections 22 through 28: All

Sections 31 through 36: All

 

Township 7 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 5 and 6: All

                       

                        On June 9, 1994, the Commission issued Order No. 510-1 which amended the Commission’s Rule 316 (now Rule 318) to provide that permitted wells be located no closer than 400 feet from the boundaries of any lease line and no closer than 800 feet from any existing well drilled into and producing from the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde Group for the below-listed lands:

 

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

Section 19: N½, SE¼

Section 20: W½ SW¼

Section 29: NW¼ NW¼, N½ SW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 30: NE¼

Section 32: NW¼ NW¼, S½ S½

Section 33: S½ SW½

 

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

Section 3: S½, NW¼

Section 4: S½, NW¼, S½ NE¼, NW¼ NE¼

Section 5: SE¼

Section 8: E½

Section 9: N½

Section 10: N½, SE¼

Section 11: W½, W½ E½, SE¼ NE¼

Section 14: NE¼, W½, NW¼ SE¼

Section 15: S½, NE¼

 

                        On March 15, 1995 (corrected February 17, 2000), the Commission issued Order Nos. 440-16, 479-5 and 139-28 allowing up to eight (8) wells to be drilled into and produced from the existing 320-acre drilling and spacing units from the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde group for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Mesaverde Formation for the below-listed lands:

 

Township 6 South, Range 94 West, 6th P.M.

Section 2: S½ SW¼, NE¼ SW¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 3: S½ S½, NE¼ SE¼, NW¼ SW¼

Section 9: All

Section 10: N½, SW¼, S½ SE¼

Section 11: E½, N½ NW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 12: W½ W½, SE¼ NW¼

Section 13: N½ NW¼

Section 16: S½ SW¼

Section 17: SE¼ SE¼

Section 20: S½, NE¼ NE¼, S½ NE¼

Section 26: NW¼, N½ SW¼

Section 27: N½, N½ S½, SE¼ SE¼

Section 28: NE¼, N½ SE¼, W½ W½

Section 31: N½, SW¼, N½ SE¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 32: NW¼, N½ NE¼, SW¼ NE¼

 

Township 7 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Section 6: NW¼ NW¼

 

                        On March 15, 1995 (corrected February 17, 2000), the Commission issued Order Nos. 479-5, 440-16 and 139-28 allowing up to four (4) wells to be drilled into and produced from the existing 160-acre drilling and spacing units from the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde group for the below-listed lands:

 

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

Section 36: N½

 

                        On May 2, 2001, the Commission issued Order Nos. 139-35, 440-20, 479-8 and 510-5 which allowed additional wells to be drilled for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons in certain lands from the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde Group on the basis of one well per 20 acres; provided that as to the lands which constitute an existing drilling and spacing unit, the permitted well shall 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; provided that in cases where the lands constituted only a portion of an existing drilling and spacing unit that each Williams Fork well shall be located no closer than 200 feet from the boundaries of the drilling unit and no closer than 200 feet from the boundary of the application lands and no closer than 400 feet from any existing Williams Fork well; and provided that, as to those lands which are no part of an existing drilling and spacing unit, the permitted well shall be no closer than 200 feet from the boundaries of any lease line and no closer than 400 feet from an existing Williams Fork well, including the below listed lands:

 

Township 6 South, Range 94 West, 6th P.M.

Section 2: S½ SW¼, NE¼ SW¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 3: S½ S½, NE¼ SE¼, NW¼ SW¼

Section 7: SE¼

Section 8: S½

Section 9: All

Section 10: N½, SW¼, S½ SE¼

Section 11: E½, N½ NW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 12: W½ W½, SE¼ NW¼

Section 13: N½ NW¼

Section 16: W½ NW¼

Section 17: N½, SE¼, N½ SW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 18: W½, NE¼, NE¼ SE¼

Section 19: N½, SE¼, N½ SW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 20: E½ NW¼

Section 21: N½ NW¼

 

Township 6 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Section 16: S½ SW¼

Section 17: SE¼ SE¼

Section 20: S½, NE¼ NE¼, S½ NE¼

Section 21: All

Section 26: NW¼, N½ SW¼

Section 27: N½, N½ S½, SE¼ SE¼

Section 28: NE¼, N½ SE¼, W½ W½

Section 29: All

Section 30: S½, NE¼, S½ NW¼

Section 31: N½, SW¼, N½ SE¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 32: NW¼, N½ NE¼, SW¼ NE¼

Section 33: NW¼ NW¼, SE¼ NW¼

 

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

Section 19: N½, SE¼

Section 20: W½ SW¼

Section 24: SE¼

Section 25: All

Section 26: SE¼, S½ NE¼, S½ NW¼, NE¼ NW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 27: SE¼ SE¼

Section 29: NW¼ NW¼, N½ SW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 30: NE¼

Section 32: NW¼ NW¼, S½ S½

Section 33: S½ SW¼

Section 34: S½ NE¼, NE¼ NE¼

Section 35: N½, N½ S½, SE¼ SW¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 36: N½, E½ SE¼

 

Township 7 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Section 6: NW¼ NW¼

 

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

Section 1: NE¼ NE¼

Section 3: S½, NW¼

Section 4: S½, NW¼, S½ NE¼

Section 5: SE¼

Section 8: E½

Section 9: N½

Section 10: N½, SE¼

Section 11: W½, W½ E½, SE¼ NE¼

Section 14: NE¼, W½, NW¼ SE¼

Section 15: S½, NE¼

 

                        On July 2, 2003, Williams Production RMT Company (“Williams”), by its attorney, filed with the Commission a verified application requesting an order to increase the number of wells which can be optionally drilled into and produced from the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde Group which constitute existing drilling units (or portions thereof) to the equivalent of one Williams Fork Formation well per 10 acres for the lands described below (“Application Lands”).  The surface estate and the oil and gas mineral estate of the Application Lands are owned by the United States of America.  Williams requests that wells should 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 lands that the Commission has not at the time of the drilling permit application granted the right to drill 10 acre density, 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.  Williams also requests that as to those Application Lands which are unspaced, all future Williams Fork Formation wells should be located downhole anywhere upon the Application Lands but no closer than 100 feet from the boundaries of any lease line unless such lease line abuts or corners lands in respect of which the Commission has no at the time of a drilling application granted the right to drill 10 acre density wills in which event the wells should be drilled downhole no closer than 200 feet form the lease line which so abuts or corners the lands in respect of which 10 acre density downhole drilling for Williams Fork Formation wells has not been ordered by the Commission.  It is not intended by the application to drill more than four (4) Williams Fork Formation wells per quarter quarter section.

 

Township 6 South, Range 94 West, 6th P.M.

Section 2: S½ SW¼, NE¼ SW¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 3: S½ S½, NE¼ SE¼, NW¼ SW¼

Section 7: SE¼

Section 8: S½

Section 9: All

Section 10: N½, SW¼, S½ SE¼

Section 11: E½, N½ NW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 12: W½ W½, SE¼ NW¼

Section 13: N½ NW¼

Section 16: W½ NW¼

Section 17: N½, SE¼, N½ SW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 18: W½, NE¼, NE¼ SE¼

Section 19: N½, SE¼, N½ SW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 20: E½ NW¼, N½ NE¼

Section 21: N½ NW¼

 

Township 6 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Section 16: S½ SW¼

Section 17: SE¼ SE¼

Section 20: S½, NE¼ NE¼, S½ NE¼

Section 21: All

Section 26: NW¼, N½ SW¼

Section 27: N½, N½ S½, SE¼ SE¼

Section 28: NE¼, N½ SE¼, W½ W½

Section 29: All

Section 30: S½, NE¼, S½ NW¼

Section 31: N½, SW¼, N½ SE¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 32: NW¼, N½ NE¼, SW¼ NE¼

Section 33: NW¼ NW¼, SE¼ NW¼

 

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

Section 19: N½, SE¼

Section 20: W½ SW¼

Section 24: SE¼

Section 25: All

Section 26: SE¼, S½ NE¼, S½ NW¼, NE¼ NW¼, SE¼ SW¼

Section 27: SE¼ SE¼

Section 29: NW¼ NW¼, N½ SW¼, SW¼ SW¼

Section 30: NE¼

Section 32: NW¼ NW¼, S½ S½

Section 33: S½ SW¼

Section 34: S½ NE¼, NE¼ NE¼

Section 35: N½, N½ S½, SE¼ SW¼, SW¼ SE¼

Section 36: N½, E½ SE¼

 

Township 7 South, Range 95 West, 6th P.M.

Section 6: NW¼ NW¼

 

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

Section 1: NE¼ NE¼

Section 3: S½, NW¼

Section 4: S½, NW¼, S½ NE¼, NW¼ NE¼

Section 5: SE¼

Section 8: E½

Section 9: N½

Section 10: N½, SE¼

Section 11: W½, W½ E½, SE¼ NE¼

Section 14: NE¼, W½, NW¼ SE¼

Section 15: S½, NE¼

 

                        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, August 18, 2003

 

                        Time:                                       10:00 a.m.

 

                        Place:                                      Petroleum Hall, Green Center, Colorado School of Mines

                                                                        1500 Illinois Street

                                                                        Golden, CO 80401

 

                        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 August 4, 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 intervention to the person filing the application.  An original and nine (9) copies shall be filed with the Commission (Rule 503.f.).  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 August 4, 2003, the Applicant may request that an administrative hearing be scheduled for the week of August 4, 2003.

 

                       

                        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                                          Attorney for Applicant:

1120 Lincoln Street                                         William A. Keefe

Denver, Colorado 80203                                 Gorsuch Kirgis LLP

July 18, 2003                                                   1515 Arapahoe Street

                                                                        Tower 1, Suite 1000

                                                                        Denver, CO 80202       

                                                                        (303) 376-5000