News & Alerts
May 11, 2020 COGCC HOLDS SPECIAL COMMISSION HEARING AND RELEASES WHITEPAPER TO ADDRESS COGCC READINESS TO REGULATE OIL & GAS OPERATIONS IN COLORADO
On May 11, 2020, the COGCC released a Whitepaper and held a Special Hearing to address a request from several environmental groups for the COGCC to address its readiness to regulate oil and gas operations in Colorado under current conditions. During the Special Hearing, Director Robbins and several COGCC engineering managers provided an overview of engineering standards for shut-in, temporarily abandoned, plugged and abandoned and drilled but not completed wells with the overall message that these operations are safe. COGCC Staff also discussed how they evaluate potential orphaned wells and monitor compliance with day-to-day rules. The Commission discussed the allocation of funding to address the orphan well backlog in Colorado, how the COGCC can continue to ensure safe and protective operations and also how the COGCC can look at measures to relieve some of the stress conditions faced by operators in Colorado. The COGCC Readiness Whitepaper, Readiness Whitepaper FAQs and the Director’s PowerPoint Presentation from the May 11, 2020 hearing can be found here: