BEFORE THE OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

IN THE MATTER OF THE PROMULGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FIELD RULES TO GOVERN OPERATIONS IN THE VILAS FIELD, BACA COUNTY, COLORADO

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CAUSE NO. 197

 

ORDER NO. 197-7

 

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

 

This cause came on for hearing before the Commission on May 18, 1981 at 9:00 a.m., in Room 110, State Centennial Building, Denver, Colorado, after giving Notice of Hearing as required by law, on the application of Samson Oil Company, for an order granting an exception to the spacing pattern as established by Order No. 197-1 for the Vilas Field, Baca County, Colorado.

 

FINDINGS

 

The Commission finds as follows:

 

1.      Samson Oil Company, as applicant herein, 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 of the parties interested therein, and jurisdiction to promulgate the hereinafter prescribed order.

 

4.      On June 14, 1966, the Commission issued its Order No. 197-1 which, among other things, established 640-acre drilling and spacing units, for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Topeka Limestone formation underlying the Vilas Field, Baca County, Colorado, with the permitted well located within a radius of 1200 feet of the center of the drilling unit.  Subsequent orders added and deleted lands from the spaced area.

 

5.      Evidence presented at the hearing indicates that a well drilled at the permitted location would unduly interfere with agricultural operations due to the installation of a sprinkler system; therefore, an exception should be granted for a well to be drilled at a location 1200 feet from the west line and 550 feet from the south line Section 8, Township 31 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M.

 

6.      If a commercial well is drilled on the location as set forth in Finding 5 herein instead of on a location as provided for in Order No. 197-1, the Commission should, at the request of interested persons, take such action as will offset any advantage which the person securing the exception may have over other producers by reason of the drilling of the well as an exception.

 

ORDER

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that an exception is hereby granted for a well to be drilled at a location 1200 feet from the west line and 550 feet from the south line Section 8, Township 31 South, Range 44 West, 6th P.M., Vilas Field, Baca County, Colorado, and that it be the permitted well for the unit upon which it is located; however, if a commercial well is drilled on the location as set forth above, instead of on a location as provided for in Order No. 197-1, the Commission shall, at the request of interested persons, take such action as will offset any advantage which the person securing the exception may have over other producers by reason of the drilling of the well as an exception.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the provisions contained in the above order shall become effective forthwith.

 

ENTERED this 15th day of June 1981, as of May 18, 1981.

 

OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

By 

Frank J. Piro, Secretary