Stricter rules for oil and gas drilling approved in Colorado
Friday, November 27, 2020
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) recently approved stricter rules for oil and gas drilling within the state, according to OilPrice.com.
The new guidelines included extending the setbacks for oil wells from homes and schools to 2,000 feet, four times the current buffer, and banning routine flaring as of January 15, 2021.
The COGCC had been considering making changes to oil and gas drilling regulations in Colorado after Senate Bill 181, which says that public health and welfare should be prioritized in the regulation of oil and gas drilling, passed in 2019.
Learn more: OilPrice.com > Colorado approves stricter rules for oil & gas drilling
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.