BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS                     )                     CAUSE NO. 1

OF THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF                       )                    

THE STATE OF COLORADO                                                                     )                    ORDER NO. 1R-81

 

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

 

           Pursuant to a hearing before the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on September 16, 1997, in the La Plata County Commissioner Hearing Room, 1060 E. 2^nd Avenue, Durango, Colorado, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission promulgated amendments to its Rules and Regulations to amend certain rules in the 300-Series and 900-Series to read as shown below.

 

335.     COGCC Form 15.  APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO USE UNLINED EARTHEN PIT

             An Application for Permit to Use Unlined Earthen Pit, Form 15, shall be submitted for approval by the Director in accordance with Rule 903.a. and 904.b.  Form 15 shall be submitted for drilling pits used in conjunction with oil-based or salt-based drilling fluids, new unlined production pits and special purpose pits in sensitive areas put into service after July 1, 1995 and existing unlined production pits and special purpose pits in sensitive areas kept in service after the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect.

 

904.     PRODUCTION PITS

a.         Sensitive Area Identification for production pits.

             (1)        For all existing unlined production pits to be kept in service after the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, operators shall make a determination using the Sensitive Area Identification Decision Tree and Guidance Document as to whether the pit is located inside or outside a Sensitive Area and submit data evaluated and analysis used in the determination on a Sundry Notice, Form 4, or a permit application, by such date.

 

b.         Production pit permit requirements.

             (1)        Production pits inside Sensitive Areas.

                          B.         A permit shall be required for existing unlined production pits in Sensitive Areas which are not closed prior to the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect pursuant to Rule 904.e.(2).

 

                          C.         No permit shall be required for existing unlined production pits in Sensitive Areas in which liners are installed on or before the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, in accordance with the lining requirements of Rule 904.d.(2).  A Sundry Notice, Form 4, shall be submitted for all such pits containing the information set forth in Rule 904.d.(1) including the date the lining was installed.

 

905.     SPECIAL PURPOSE PITS

a.         Sensitive Area Identification for special  purpose pits.

             (1)        For all existing unlined special purpose pits kept in service after the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, operators shall make a determination using the Sensitive Area Identification Decision Tree and Guidance Document as to whether the pit is located inside or outside a Sensitive Area and submit data evaluated and analysis used in the determination on a Sundry Notice, Form 4, or a permit application.

 

e.         Interim pit closure requirements.  Prior to the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, the operator of any production or special purpose pit existing on July 1, 1995 which is closed before the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, shall submit a Sundry Notice, Form 4, after closure of a pit.  The Sundry Notice, Form 4,  shall include the following:

 

g.         Exemption from spill/release requirements.  Rule 907. does not apply to pits closed between July 1, 1995 and the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect.

 

h.         Interim and final pit closure requirements.  All pit(s) closed prior to the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect shall be reclaimed in accordance with the 1000 Series rules.  All pits closed after the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect shall be closed and reclaimed in accordance with the 900 and 1000 Series rules.

 

i.           Interim requirements for buried tanks and vessels.  Prior to the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, all operators of  steel, fiberglass, concrete, or other similar produced water vessels that are buried or partially buried and located in Sensitive Areas shall test such vessel for integrity, unless a monitoring or leak detection system is in place.  The operator shall repair or replace any such vessel found to be leaking.  The operator shall submit a Sundry Notice, Form 4, after such activity, describing the test results and action taken.

 

j.           Final closure requirements for buried tank and vessels.  All removal or replacement of vessels after the date the revised 900-Series rules take effect, shall be done in accordance with the revised 900-Series rules.

 

                        Attached, as Exhibit A, is a statement giving the basis and purpose of the revisions and additions, and such statements are incorporated herein by reference.

 

                   DONE AND PERFORMED by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission of the State of Colorado this   24^th  day of    September    , 1997.

 

                                                         OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

                                                               OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

                                                         By                                                                           

                                                         Patricia C. Beaver, Secretary

Dated at Suite 801

1120 Lincoln Street

Denver, Colorado 80203

September 25, 1997