IN THE MATTER OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE
CAUSE NO. 1
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COLORADO OIL
AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION BY
ORDER NO. 1V-221
DOMAR OIL & GAS INC, BACA COUNTY, COLORADO
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
This cause came on for hearing before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission on March 18, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. in Suite 801, the Chancery Building,
1120 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado after giving notice of hearing as required
by law on why Domar Oil & Gas Inc. is in violation of Rules 302, 304, 319.b. and
709 for the Arthur George No. 1 and Rules 302, 319.b. and 326.b. for the Joe
Ellis No. 1-14 Well, and why the Commission should invoke the provisions of
§34-60-122, C.R.S., as amended, providing for penalties for violations of the
Rules and Regulations of the Commission.
FINDINGS
1. Domar Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Domar”) is an interested party in the subject matter
of the above-referenced hearing.
2. Due notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing has been given in
all respects as required by law.
3. The Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter embraced in said
notice and the parties interested therein, and jurisdiction to promulgate the
hereinafter prescribed order.
4. On May 10, 1989, the Director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission (“COGCC”) approved a Certification of Clearance and/or Change of
Operator, Form 10 for the Arthur George No. 1 Well located in the SE¼ NW¼ of
Section 22, Township 33 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M. The approved Form 10
designated the new operator as Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. (“Domar”). The well has
not produced since September of 1987.
5. On May 4, 1999, COGCC staff by letter requested that Domar provide financial
assurance for plugging and abandonment of the subject well.
6. On April 5, 2000, COGCC staff by letter again requested that Domar provide
financial assurance for plugging and abandonment of the subject well.
7. On October 19, 2000, COGCC staff issued a Notice of Alleged Violation (“NOAV”)
to Domar for the Arthur George No. 1 Well. The NOAV cited violations of Rule
302., failure to provide an updated address and telephone number, Rule 304.,
failure to provide financial assurance in accordance with the 700 Series rules
prior to assuming the operations of a well, Rule 319.b., failure to obtain
Director approval before shutting-in or temporarily abandoning a well, and Rule
709., failure to submit financial assurance in the amount of Five Thousand
dollars ($5,000). The NOAV specified November 20, 2000 as the abatement date.
8. Domar operates the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well located in the NE¼ of Section 14,
Township 32 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M. This well has not produced since May
of 1992.
9. Currently, the financial assurance for the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well is a
Certificate of Deposit with the First National Bank of Liberal. State statutes
require funds held by financial institutions for public entities in the state be
secured from a Colorado Approved Public Depository Bank. First National Bank of
Liberal is not a Colorado Approved Public Depository Bank. On December 5, 2001,
COGCC staff by letter required Domar to provide a new Certificate of Deposit
with an approved Colorado Approved Public Depository Bank or other acceptable
financial assurance.
10. On December 6, 2001, COGCC staff issued a NOAV to Domar for the Joe Ellis
No. 1-14 Well. The NOAV cited violations of Rule 326.b., failure to conduct a
mechanical integrity test (“MIT”), Rule 302., failure to provide an updated
address and telephone number, Rule 319.b.(1), failure to obtain Director
approval before a well can be shut-in or temporarily abandoned.
11. On December 10, 2001, COGCC staff issued an Administrative Order by Consent
(“AOC”) to Domar. Domar received the AOC on December 15, 2001, but did not
respond to the proposed AOC.
12. Domar should be found in violation of Rules 302., 304., 319.b., and 709. for
the Arthur George No. 1 Well. Domar should be found in violation of Rules 302.,
319.b., and 326.b. for the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well.
13. A monetary penalty of Six Thousand dollars ($6,000) for these violations
should be assessed against Domar in accordance with Rule 523.a.
14. Domar should provide financial assurance for the Arthur George No. 1 Well in
accordance with Rules 304. and 706. Domar should either plug, abandon and
reclaim, MIT, or produce the well. Domar should provide an updated Registration
for Oil and Gas Operations, Form 1.
15. Domar should provide a new Certificate of Deposit with an approved Colorado
Approved Public Depository Bank or other acceptable financial assurance for the
Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well. Domar should either plug, abandon and reclaim, MIT, or
produce the well.
16. If Domar does not plug, abandon and reclaim, MIT, or produce the Arthur
George No. 1 Well, the Commission should authorize the COGCC staff to utilize
the Environmental Response Fund to plug, abandon and reclaim the well.
17. If Domar does not plug, abandon and reclaim, MIT, or produce the Joe Ellis
No. 1-14 Well, the Commission should authorize the COGCC staff to claim the Five
Thousand dollar ($5,000) Certificate of Deposit to plug, abandon and reclaim the
well.
ORDER
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall be found in
violation of Rules 302., 304., 319.b. and 709. for the Arthur George No. 1 Well
located in the SE¼ NW¼ of Section 22, Township 33 South, Range 43 West, 6th P.M.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall be found in violation
of Rules 302., 319.b. and 326.b. for the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well located in the
NE¼ of Section 14, Township 32 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall be assessed a fine of
Six Thousand dollars ($6,000) for the above violations, payable within thirty
(30) days of the date the order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall provide an updated
Registration for Oil and Gas Operations, Form 1 within thirty (30) days of the
date the order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall provide financial
assurance in accordance with Rules 304. and 706. for the Arthur George No. 1
Well within thirty (30) days of the date the order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. shall provide a new
Certificate of Deposit with an approved Colorado Approved Public Depository Bank
or other acceptable financial assurance for the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well within
thirty (30) days of the date the order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar shall either plug, abandon and reclaim, MIT,
or produce the Arthur George No. 1 Well within thirty (30) days of the date the
order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Domar shall either plug, abandon and reclaim, MIT,
or produce the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well within thirty (30) days of the date the
order is entered.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that if Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. does not plug, abandon
and reclaim, MIT, or produce the Joe Ellis No. 1-14 Well within thirty (30) days
of the date the order is entered, COGCC staff shall claim the Five Thousand
dollar ($5,000) financial assurance and plug, abandon and reclaim the well.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that if Domar Oil and Gas, Inc. does not plug, abandon
and reclaim, MIT, or produce the Arthur George No. 1 Well within thirty (30)
days of the date the order is entered, COGCC staff shall utilize the
Environmental Response Fund to plug, abandon and reclaim the well.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the provisions contained in the above order shall
become effective forthwith.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the Commission expressly reserves its right, after
notice and hearing, to alter, amend or repeal any/or all of the above orders.
ENTERED this 25th day of March, 2002, as of March 18, 2002.
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 25, 2002.
(1V#221)