Lawmaker eyes greater setback for wells

Lawmaker eyes greater setback for wells

Floods bring issue to a head
Workers use a backhoe to replace dirt displaced by recent flooding at a natural-gas extraction well head run by Encana Oil & Gas, in Erie on Sept. 25. In advance of the flooding, Encana says it used a computer-control system to remotely shut down all wells that were in the potential flood zones in Colorado. The firm credits the computer-control system along with other precautions such as securing tanks and fencing off operations for minimizing risk of flood damage.
a crude oil storage tank lies on its side in flood water along the South Platte River, in Weld County. Hundreds of natural-gas and oil wells along with pipelines are shut down by flooding, as state and federal inspectors gauge the damage and look for potential contamination from inundated oil fields.
Oil workers try to lift a storage tank for condensate that was knocked over by floodwaters from the Platte River at an oil well site near LaSalle, Colo., on Friday, Sept. 20. Condensate is the mix of oil and water that is pumped out of the ground. The tank was intact and had not leaked. Numerous gas and oil well sites have been damaged by floodwaters throughout Colorado with several reports of spills.
An oil well pump site is reflected in flood waters near Greeley on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Colorado’s floods shut down hundreds of natural-gas and oil wells, spilled oil from one tank and sent inspectors into the field looking for more pollution.

Lawmaker eyes greater setback for wells

Workers use a backhoe to replace dirt displaced by recent flooding at a natural-gas extraction well head run by Encana Oil & Gas, in Erie on Sept. 25. In advance of the flooding, Encana says it used a computer-control system to remotely shut down all wells that were in the potential flood zones in Colorado. The firm credits the computer-control system along with other precautions such as securing tanks and fencing off operations for minimizing risk of flood damage.
a crude oil storage tank lies on its side in flood water along the South Platte River, in Weld County. Hundreds of natural-gas and oil wells along with pipelines are shut down by flooding, as state and federal inspectors gauge the damage and look for potential contamination from inundated oil fields.
Oil workers try to lift a storage tank for condensate that was knocked over by floodwaters from the Platte River at an oil well site near LaSalle, Colo., on Friday, Sept. 20. Condensate is the mix of oil and water that is pumped out of the ground. The tank was intact and had not leaked. Numerous gas and oil well sites have been damaged by floodwaters throughout Colorado with several reports of spills.
An oil well pump site is reflected in flood waters near Greeley on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Colorado’s floods shut down hundreds of natural-gas and oil wells, spilled oil from one tank and sent inspectors into the field looking for more pollution.