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 WATTENBERG GAS SPACED AREA, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO

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CAUSE NO. 232

 

ORDER NO. 232-27

 

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

 

This cause came on for hearing before the Commission on May 17, 1982 at 9:00 a.m., in Room 110, State Centennial Building, Denver, Colorado, and was continued to June 21, 1982, in order to give proper Notice of Hearing as required by law, on the application of Excel Energy Corporation, for an order pooling all interests in the 320-acre drilling and spacing unit consisting of the W½ Section 6, Township 4 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M., Wattenberg Gas Spaced Area, for the development of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the "J" Sand underlying said unit.

 

FINDINGS

 

The Commission finds as follows:

 

1.      Excel Energy Corporation, 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 November 17, 1970, the Commission issued Order No. 232-1 which established 320-acre drilling and spacing units for the production of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the "J" Sand underlying certain lands in the Wattenberg Field.  By subsequent Order Nos. 232-2, 232-3, and 232-5, the spaced area was expanded and the area became known as the Wattenberg Gas Spaced Area.  Order Nos. 232-20 and 232-23 allowed the drilling of an additional well on each 320-acre unit in the spaced area.

 

5.      Effort has been made to obtain the voluntary pooling of all interests in said drilling unit for the development and operation thereof, but that it has not been possible to secure the agreement of all owners of interest in said unit; therefore, in the absence of such a voluntary agreement, the provisions of the statute should prevail.

 

6.      Applicant is an "interested person" within the meaning of 34-60-116 (6), C.R.S. 1973, as amended, of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act of the State of Colorado.

 

7.      In order to insure proper and efficient development of said drilling unit and to promote conservation of the gas resources of the State, an order should be made pooling all interests in the 320-acre drilling unit described herein.

 

8.      An order of the Commission pooling all interests in said drilling unit is necessary in order to afford each owner of interest in said drilling unit the opportunity to recover and receive his just and equitable share of the gas from the common source of supply underlying said drilling unit.

 

9.      Production obtained from said drilling unit should be allowed to each tract therein on the basis of the proportion that the number of acres in each tract bears to the total number of acres within said drilling unit.

 

10.      Evidence presented at the hearing indicates that no development has occurred on the unit to date and by Order Nos. 232-20 and 232-23, two (2) wells are allowed to be drilled on the unit, one on each 160-acre tract; however, it was stipulated and agreed to at the time of the hearing by the operators in the unit that the first well to be drilled on the unit, should be at a location in the SW¼ of said Section 6, in accordance with the permitted well locations as provided for in the orders of Cause No 232.

 

ORDER

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that pursuant to the provisions of 34-60-116, C.R.S. 1973, as amended, of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act of the State of Colorado, all interests in the drilling unit consisting of the W½ Section 6, Township 4 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M., Wattenberg Gas Space Area, Weld County, Colorado, are hereby pooled for the development of gas and associated hydrocarbons from the "J" Sand underlying said unit.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the production obtained from said drilling unit shall be allocated to each tract therein on the basis of the proportion that the number of acres in such tract bears to the total number of acres within said drilling unit, and each owner of interest in said tracts in said drilling unit shall be entitled to receive his share of the production of the well located on said drilling unit, applicable to his interest in said drilling unit.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that in absence of a voluntary pooling agreement, the provisions of the statute shall prevail.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that this order shall become effective forthwith.

 

ENTERED this day 1982, as of June 21, 1982.

 

OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

 

 

By 

Frank J. Piro, Secretary