Reported by Staff

DENVER - The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has honored five oil and gas operators for their efforts to improve Colorado’s environment, protect rare species and support the communities in which they work.

Williams Production Company, Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Rosetta Resources Operating and EnCana Oil and Gas Inc. each won recognition for their efforts during a luncheon earlier this month at the Colorado Oil & Gas Association Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference and Investment Forum.

The 13th annual awards, which recognized work done during 2008, were presented by Harris Sherman, director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and chair of the COGCC.

“Oil and gas companies are working every day to protect Colorado’s environment and maintain good relations with neighboring landowners,” said David Neslin, COGCC director. “We are pleased to recognize these five companies for their efforts.”

Williams Production received two awards for its efforts to improve the environment. The company won recognition for a collaborative study with Colorado State University and the Bureau of Land Management to study the best methods of reclamation for well sites in northwestern Colorado. The ongoing study is evaluating 55 reclaimed drilling pads for the success of their reclamation methods.

Williams was also honored for its work to control tamarisk, an invasive, thirsty tree species, on more than 1,300 acres owned by the company and adjacent to federal lands. The project, which began in 2006, involves the physical removal of remove tamarisk, also known as salt cedar, and the planting of native species such as cottonwood. Williams has also partnered with the Palisade Insectary to release tamarisk leaf beetles which feed and the leaf of the tamarisk plant.

Efforts to protect one of the rarest plants in North America received an important boost from Occidental Oil and Gas Corp., which was also recognized for its efforts. Three of the five known viable populations of the Parachute penstemon, a wildflower, are found on an Oxy property near Parachute. The company was recognized for steps it has taken to avoid disturbing the penstemon. Occidental established Best Management practices to be used during oil and gas operations, including fencing, reduced vehicle speeds, and the training and monitoring of Oxy personnel

The state gave Noble Energy an award for working with partners to develop a sampling and analysis plan in connection with drilling near the site of the 1969 underground nuclear blast site south of Rulison.

During 2008 Noble drilled 21 wells and completed 11 wells in the area under with zero Project Rulison-related incidents and a strong performance during a COGCC audit.
EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) was recognized for its work to keep residents in the Erie area informed of its activities in their community. The company mailed “Courtesy Notices” to any resident within a half mile of EnCana activity which describe the proposed operation and provide a “Feedback Phone Line” with cell phone numbers of EnCana employees who can answer questions in person. EnCana also established a Google-based activity map is available through Google that provides additional information,

Since initialing these programs, EnCana has experienced an 80% reduction in complaint calls in this area. EnCana has conducted similar outreach in northwestern Colorado.

Also honored was Rosetta Resources Operating LP for the closure and reclamation of 22 unlined production pits in Yuma County and replacement of the pits with tanks. Cleanup involved soil testing and removal of contaminated material.