It was good talking with you this morning regarding this subject.  Justin Hall with WPX Energy Rocky Mountain, LLC asked that I send him an e-mail stating that Xcel Energy dba Public Service Company of Colorado did not have an objection to a fall distance setback variance request.  The variance would reduce the distance of a drill rig to our 230kV electric transmission line from 11/2 the drill rig height (229.5 feet) to 208.77 feet.  The tallest rig in the WPX fleet is 153 feet in height.  If the rig fell directly toward our electric transmission line, it would be approximately 55.77 feet away from our line.  This is acceptable to us.  The electric line is approximately 60 feet in the air near the rig’s location and there is a support structure for the electric line there as well.  My reference to “blow out” refers to the movement of the electric line in windy conditions.  The electric line is slack, so when the wind blows the line will travel horizontally a bit.  An issue would be if the wind was blowing strongly on a hot day, blowing our line closer to the rig, would there still be safe rig-fall distance.  The fact that the rig is near a transmission line support structure, and the electric line is attached to the support structure, there is minimal, if any, blow out near the rig, so that is not an issue.  Even with maximum horizontal blow out conditions the 55.77 foot safety distance would more than address any blow out issues.  I think I covered what we discussed on the phone.  I hope I’ve explained the circumstances in an understandable way.  Please let me know if you need further clarification.  Again, the proposed circumstances are acceptable to us as described.

 

 

Michael E. Diehl, Manager

Siting and Land Rights

Xcel Energy l Responsible By Nature

1800 Larimer Street, Suite 400

Denver, CO  80202

(Office) 303-571-7260

(Cell)  303-810-9707

(Fax)  303-294-2088

(e-mail) michael.diehl@xcelenergy.com

 

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From: Westerdale - DNR, Barbara [mailto:barbara.westerdale@state.co.us]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 10:37 AM
To: Diehl, Michael E
Subject: WPX REQUEST FOR WAIVER IN GARFIELD COUNTY AT PARACHUTE SUBSTATION

 

Good Morning, Michael,

 

WPX is proposing to use a rig with a height of 149' to re-enter three existing wells located 206-208' (second survey's distance) northeast of an Xcel transmission line. WPX has forwarded the topple exhibits for two different size rigs and a copy of your email to Justin Hall in which you state that the transmission line will not experience blow-out. I'm not sure what you are referencing. The COGCC requires a safety setback of 1 1/2 times rig height to overhead transmission lines. This rig requires 224'. Our Director must approve a variance to this setback requirement in order for WPX to re-enter these wells.

 

Would you be able to send me an email waiver discussing any issues Xcel would have with the rig falling over and explain the blow-out issue in more detail? I would also like to get an idea of how high above ground the transmission line is.

 

I really appreciate your time in helping me understand the potential risks in this situation.

--
Barbara Westerdale

Permit/Completion Technician

Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

Phone: (303) 894-2100 ex.t 5159

FAX: (303) 894-2105

E-mail: barbara.westerale@state.co.us