A plan by CO2 producer Kinder Morgan to conduct seismic testing west of Pleasant View and Cahone was recommended for approval by the Montezuma County Planning Commission Thursday.
A final decision will be made by the county commission following a public hearing next month.
Parts of the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument are within the 93-square mile Cow Canyon Project map, but BLM officials are only allowing seismic study activity on the monument under the agency’s “casual use” regulations.
Tracy Perfors, a BLM natural resource specialist, explained that casual use limits what can be done on monument land by seismic crews. Workers must place receivers by foot or by light trucks using existing roads only.
“So at this point they will not be using thumper trucks or shot-holes on the monument. Casual use means they will be backpacking the receivers into monument locations,” Perfors said. “If they decide they need to expand seismic activity on monument land to include heavy vibrator trucks and explosives, then it would trigger a much larger analysis, an environmental assessment, and there would be opportunity for public comment.”
Monument manager Marietta Eaton, said that at this point, no plan has been submitted to conduct seismic work on the monument beyond the scope of the casual use regulation.
“We have not received any official notification of work beyond that standard,” Eaton said. “They have given us a heads up that they are working on a larger seismic proposal for the monument.”
A more comprehensive gas exploration plan using seismic technology on Canyons of the Ancients would require an EA and have to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, she said.
Monument land, including Lowry Pueblo and parts of Cross, Hovenweep, Ruin, Cow, Papoose, Sandstone and Cahone canyons, lies within the seismic project boundary. Protecting the dense archeological sites on the monument is a priority.
“One of the priorities of the EA would be to make sure the shot holes do not drill through cultural sites,” Eaton said, adding that “it can take several months to complete the EA.”
In layman’s terms, geophysical seismic studies use a combination of explosives and vibrator trucks to “make a loud noise,” explained Perfors. Thousands of wireless receivers are arranged in a grid across the study area, “and work as headphones recording the soundwaves as they bounce off underground rock formations.”
The explosives are positioned 45 feet underground are then set off to record a 3D image of underground geology. The combination of strategically placed vibrator trucks and explosives create and record the final image. The sensors are then removed and drill holes reclaimed.
“The receivers might be in a location for a month before they are removed and placed in a new location,” Perfors said.
Noisy for hunters
Meanwhile, seismic operations on private land within the project area could move ahead, pending approval by the county commission.
Larry Smith, of Geophysical Services, a Kinder Morgan subcontractor for the study, explained that the time frame has been delayed by a fatal helicopter crash at the nearby Doe Canyon seismic project. As a result of the crash, helicopters will not be used.
“We had hoped to begin the heli-portable drilling, but the start was pushed back due to a change in contractor equipment,” Smith said.
Right-of-way agreements with private landowners are ongoing, and the seismic work, at least for those areas, is expected to begin this year. Special care will be taken to avoid disrupting hunting season.
“It is not perfect timing to start a large project during hunting season,” Smith said. “The drilling of shot holes is noisy for hunters, and we had hoped to get that done before November.”
Smith added that shot holes on land leased for hunting will be done first to reduce impacts on hunting season.
During the meeting, several landowners expressed concerns about the project, including the likelihood of increased truck traffic due to no helicopter use.
“I feel we need more information,” said landowner Richard McClellan. “What are the setbacks for using explosives from our domestic water wells?”
He added that drill holes bring Mancos shale to the surface, which damages his farming soil.
Smith responded that shot holes are kept 300 feet away from homes, wells and other structures. Cuttings from the drill hole will be put back into the hole at the request of the landowner, he said.
Planning commissioner Dennis Atwater said he was hesitant when seismic studies occurred on his land as well, but found it was not a problem.
“It is not military ordnance all going off at once. I did not even notice it when the charge went off on my land,” he said.
Officials stressed that the use of explosives is only a portion of the study and is done in tandem with seismic vibrator trucks. The company expects to install and use approximately 2,000 shot holes for the project.
“What assurances do people have that their land will be repaired?” asked planning commissioner Kelly Belt.
Smith said the company is bonded and every effort is made to avoid disrupting agricultural operations and restore land impacted by the study.
“The best avenue if there is a problem is to contact us and we will do our best to come back in,” he said.
Legal access
Alice Wise lives on Road EE within the project area. She feels the project is disruptive to residents.
“You seem more concerned about hunters than those of us who live there and elect you,” Wise said.
Others expressed their support.
“We need energy development as a nation,” commented Gordon Steves. “I signed off (on the access agreement) because this industry is all we have here now that the drought has really hurt farming. They are not going to disregard property and destroy things.”
Mary Alexander has had a positive experience with CO2 activities on her land.
“They have always worked well with me. I have deep respect for Kinder Morgan and their employees,” she said. “They provide a tremendous employment base for our area.”
Right-of-way agreements are sought with landowners to access property for the study. But some landowners wondered what would happen if they did not sign off on the agreement.
Geophysical Services officials said they would try to go around the property, but ultimately the industry has legal right to access private land in order to study and extract federally leased oil and gas reserves underneath.
“We’re allowed to do this and are operating within the laws of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission,” said Bob Clayton, a Kinder Morgan field supervisor.
Industry officials emphasized that the seismic work is temporary. Crews may be on a landowner’s property for one to three weeks and then move on.
“I understand your concerns and was also apprehensive, but I was amazed at the end of it. It works well and is done in a safe manner,” Atwater said.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com