Western Slope
Reasons for State’s Drilling Slump Depend on Who (and WHERE) You Ask
One can understand why energy stakeholders on the West Slope are particularly sensitive to the drilling regulations issue. In fact, the divide in thinking on the subject between the eastern and western halves of the state seems at times nearly as large as the mountains and passes that geographically divide Colorado.
3Mar2010 | admin | 3 comments | Continued
Shell Abandons Quest for Yampa Water Rights
Citing project delays due to the global recession as the primary reason, the energy giant still left open the possibility of pursuing the project down the road. Water advocates say oil shale extraction would require too much of the precious resource in Western Colorado.
2Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Mesa County Drained by Loss of Energy Jobs
Oil and gas job loses rippled through other businesses. Unemployment spiked from 3.7 percent in the fall of 2008 to 9 percent today, but there are signs of an upturn; some companies are starting to hire back workers after nothing but layoffs for some time.
11Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Garfield County Set for Gas-Well ‘Intervention’
But the “intervention,” as it is formally called, would strictly be aimed at Antero’s request to be allowed to drill wells at a higher density than currently is permitted, in an area that apparently is outside the boundaries of Battlement Mesa.
2Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Williams Challenges GarCo Authority on Cuttings
The energy company contends the county requirement runs contrary to COGCC rules allowing burial of the cuttings on site if they don’t exceed state standards for contaminants. It argues that state authority preempts county authority in the case.
17Jan2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Drilling Activity to Remain Flat in Garfield County for 2010
According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Garfield County produced more than 390 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas through the month of October, 2009, compared to more than 520 bcf for all of 2008.
11Jan2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
BLM Gives OK for Drilling Near Rulison Blast Site
In its environmental assessment of the Noble drilling plan, the agency said both the state and the DOE are adequately addressing issues surrounding the natural gas development near Project Rulison. It will, however, ask the Energy Department to provide long-term monitoring of one of the proposed wells.
22Dec2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Geothermal Part of Colorado Lease Sale
for First Time
The February 11th auction includes one parcel of 799 acres with subsurface Federal mineral rights which will be offered for geothermal development in Chaffee County, near the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort west of Buena Vista.
21Dec2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Western Slope O&G Update –
>> WILLIAMS TO EXPAND PICEANCE BASIN OPERATIONS
Company upping rig count from eight to 12 in 2010.
>> COGCC: BATTLEMENT HEALTH STUDY NOT PRESSING
Neslin says it’s too early to commit to baseline health study.
>> NO AGREEMENT ON ROAN GAS DEVELOPMENT
Another meeting is planned prior to January 15.
EnCana, COGCC Defend Investigation of Seep Near Silt
The company’s researchers and consultants have taken samples from eight locations, installed 23 monitoring wells and sampled water on Lisa Bracken’s property, much of it on a quarterly basis, EnCana spokesman Doug Hock said.
20Nov2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Colorado Hub Connection Pipeline Now in Use
Phil Wright, the President of Williams’ gas pipeline business, says the completion of the Colorado Hub makes it possible for the company to connect supplies from Colorado’s Piceance Basin with markets in the western United States.
12Nov2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Ritter Holding on to Severance Tax Grant Funds –
Oil & Gas Communities May Lose Millions
The grants being held back originate from taxes on energy production and are supposed to help communities pay for additional services required by oil and gas workers. Some towns say they will urge Ritter to use federal stimulus funds not yet spent to replace any diverted severance tax funds.
30Oct2009 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Colorado Drilling Permits to Drop Nearly 40% in ‘09
3,360 drilling applications had been approved by August 6th, and the agency expects that number to climb to 5,000 by the end of the year. Still, it’s almost a 40% drop from the record 8,027 drilling permits approved in 2008. What’s more, the COGCC report also says the number of active drilling rigs has dropped 60% from the 2008 peak.
2Sep2009 | admin | 2 comments | Continued
From “Bridge Fuel” to Major Player in
New Energy Economy
Natural gas is getting new found respect from the Ritter Administration, as evidenced by what it’s head of economic development told a Grand Junction business audience on Monday. The Governor sees natural gas as a clean source of power for electricity generation in the New Energy Economy. West Slope Republicans remain skeptical.
1Sep2009 | admin | 2 comments | Continued-
Colorado is NOT Arizona
His critics will never acknowledge it, but executive leadership like the kind provided by Colorado’s governor can make a critical difference in a state’s economic well-being, even in the depths of a severe recession. Think we’re overstating the case? Take a look at what recently took place in Arizona, a state never known for consistent legislative policy-making.
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Thank you Govenor Ritter for helping place Colorado among the Nations leaders in Renewable energy! 
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