BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND                         )                       CAUSE NO. 300

ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN                      )                      

OPERATIONS IN THE BEECHER ISLAND FIELD,                        )                       DOCKET NO. 0403-AW-04

YUMA COUNTY, COLORADO                                                    )                      

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

 

            On August 22, 1978, the Commission issued Order No. 300-5, which established 160-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation underlying the below-listed lands, with the permitted well to be located no closer than 900 feet from the boundaries of the quarter section upon which it is located.

 

Township 1 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 32 and 33: S½

 

Township 2 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Section 2: W½

Sections 3 through 5: All

Section 6: E½

Sections 7 through 10: All

Section 11: W½

Sections 14 through 23: All

Sections 26 through 34: All

 

Township 2 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 12 and 13: All

Section 14: E½

Section 23: E½

Sections 24 and 25: All

Section 36: All

 

Township 3 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Section 3: N½

Sections 4 through 6: All

Sections 7 through 9: N½

 

Township 3 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

Section 1: All

 

            On November 4, 1996, the Commission issued Order No. 300-7, which allowed an additional well to be drilled on each 160-acre drilling and spacing unit in the Beecher Island Field, at the option of the operator, for production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, with the subsequent permitted well to be no closer than 560 feet from the outer boundaries of said drilling and spacing unit for the above-listed lands.  The Order further allowed the Director to grant exceptions to the permitted well locations without prior notice or hearing upon an adequate showing by the operator that topography makes it unreasonable to drill a second well within the 560 feet setback, but no closer than 380 feet from the boundary of the driling and spacing unit, and requests for any other exception location may be granted in accordance with Rule 318.

 

            On January 26, 2004, Mountain Petroleum Corporation (“Mountain Petroleum”), by its attorney, filed with the Commission a verified application for an order to allow up to four (4) wells to be drilled within each 160-acre drilling and spacing unit for the below-listed lands for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niobrara Formation, with the permitted well to be located no closer than 560 feet to the outer boundary of the unit and that the Director be allowed to grant an exception to the permitted well location without prior notice or hearing upon an adequate showing by the operator that topography makes it unreasonable to drill the second well within a 560-foot setback, but no closer than 380 feet from the boundary of the drilling and spacing unit, and requests for any other exception location may be granted in accordance with Rule 318.

 

Township 1 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Sections 32 and 33: S½

 

Township 2 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Section 2: W½

Sections 3 through 5: All

Section 11: W½

Section 14: All

Section 16: All

Sections 19 through 21: All

Section 23: All

Section 26: All

Sections 28 through 31: All

Section 34: All

 

 

Township 2 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

Section 12: All

Section 13: NW¼, S½

Section 14: E½

Section 23: E½

Section 36: E½

 

Township 3 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.

Section 3: N½

Section 6: All

Sections 7 through 9: N½

 

Township 3 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

Section 1: All

 

            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, March 15, 2004

 

                        Time:                                        10:00 a.m.

 

                        Place:                                       Suite 801, The Chancery Building

                                                                        1120 Lincoln Street

                                                                        Denver, CO 80203

 

            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 March 1, 2004, 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 March 1, 2004, the Applicant may request that an administrative hearing be scheduled for the week of March 1, 2004.

 

                        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                                            Thomas W. Niebrugge                           

Denver, Colorado 80203                                      Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.

February 12, 2004                                              600 17th Street, Suite 1800 South

                                    Denver, CO 80202                                             

                                                                        (303) 573-5900