Week Three - October 08-14

Sound abatement panels (note the heavy equipment and wooden structures lined up on the ground to the bottom left in the photo) have been installed due to two neighbors complaining about noise coming from the rig. The wooden panels are the outer layer. There is a primary layer of different material also installed on the rig floor.

A landowner meeting was held on the 9th of October. Approximately 30 people were in attendance. Of these, 11 were representatives of EnCana, including: Joel Fox (Team Lead, South Pieceance), Dave Grisso (Field Operations Supervisor, South Pieceance), and Sher Long together with four of her team from the Land Owner Relations department. 16 landowners were present representing 9 families. At my request, Tresi Houpt (Garfield County Commissioner);  Judy Jordan (Garfield County Oil and Gas Liaison) and, Jim Rada (Garfield County Environmental Health Manager) were also present.

At the meeting, EnCana revealed their projections for the following fifteen months, which includes the development of 40 wells in the nearby vicinity (map forthcoming). I am waiting to receive a letter and map from Sher Long which should confirm and better determine their specific locations and number.

Various landowners voiced a number of concerns regarding EnCana's operations, to which Joel Fox  and Dave Grisso, responded by briefing landowners on a number of recent improvements to operations. Those improvements include the installation of a new type of combustor (Type: TBD) on all local well pads with their condensate tanks plumbed to gather and capture escaping VOCs. Dave Grisso noted that the combustors are 98% effective. He further assured landowners that EnCana uses a type of gas separator which, because of the use of telemetry monitoring equipment, is required not to leak. Dave assured me, in particular, that EnCana was not going to use drilling pits in their operations here. They were further going to utilize a new coil rig (one of only two currently available) on at least some of their operations. The coil rig is apparently faster and will emit less emissions. Of the facing pits, Tim Baer (Drilling Manager) noted that EnCana recycled it's fracing fluids, reclaiming approximately 40-60%. Dave noted that EnCana has in place and is adding more water pipelines at pad sites in order to reduce some of the greatest truck traffic impacts.

In my opinion, these advances demonstrate EnCana's new-found commitment to better practices and places them light years ahead of where they were in terms of both physical operations and philosophy four years ago. Even though 40 wells are, in my opinion, an atrocity - given the associated, anticipated air pollution and its unknown health effects - I stated during the meeting that we as landowners were damn lucky that EnCana is the operator developing these wells. I believe this for two reasons: They are a company 1) savvy enough to recognize the end-value of good relations and best practices, and 2) in a position to invest in that corporate strategy. A company with lesser resources might presume a greater value in cutting corners and disregarding landowner concerns.

I truly hope this translates into more concern for the wildlife that share our environment, but to date, there appear to be no plans to delay development of the Schwartz site - despite a letter I sent asking EnCana and the state to take the migrating elk herd into consideration. To read the letter, click here.

I noted to Joel, that given the stage he set during the meeting - that is, recounting EnCana's commitment to better practices - my expectations of EnCana are high.

Despite EnCana's assurances of better practices and an investment in state-of-the-art equipment, there remained persistent landowner concerns, voiced by an array of neighbors. These included: water well pollution; air emissions; traffic (volume and reckless behavior) and dust; the potential for drug use among contractors; the need for 'third-party' water sampling (that is, sampling performed by a service provider not retained by EnCana); noise pollution; light pollution; and littering.

Joel and Dave both acknowledged that contractor management is a shared concern, but Sher noted that EnCana has instituted a program with other operators whereby word of poor performers is communicated with the hope of discouraging this type of contractor from simply relocating to a new job site under a new operator. Dave also noted that EnCana engages in drug testing. Dave suggested dust control by means of MagChloride. I raised the question of an alternative due to the toxic effects of MagChloride and its tendency to erode vehicle undercarriages. Dave noted a pine tar substance which contained approximately 80% MagChloride.  He also stated that EnCana had tested soy bean oil applications and found them to be ineffective. Joel noted that efforts would be made to mitigate light pollution by installing cone-like baffles over the rig lights, but noted the importance of worker's safety and the need to maintain appropriate lighting directed at pad activities.

Relative to neighbor's concerns of water well contamination, Joel pointed out that fracing operations were generally conducted hundreds of feet below the level of domestic wells. However, as we have seen in the Divide Creek Seep situation, fracing operations can unintentionally extend beyond computer models and contribute to communication with surface areas. Tim noted that in local fracing operations, EnCana planned to use a fracing fluid which contained a biocide; an anti-scale agent; a surfactant; polyacrylamide ( used to increase viscosity); sand; and, water. I have long been concerned that the practice of fracing can contribute to unintended subsurface-to-surface disturbance and consequently a greater potential for seep creation, the creation or exacerbation of existing fault networks, etc. I've asked to review the hazardous information sheet on each agent.

Relative to air emissions, I raised the question of pipelines installed to carry condensate out of the area, thereby reducing the chance of escaping emissions from storage facilities. Several years ago, we were told that EnCana was planning to go "tankless". Dave said they are considering this as a possibility.

In discussing possible sources of air pollution during the course of this proposed intense development, it became apparent that a very important weak link in emission control remains flaring (the practice of igniting raw natural gas during operations). Joel noted that flaring is the agreed upon industry standard to reduce, by as much as currently possible, emissions during a particular phase of operations. 

Of course, as some of the photos from the image gallery will show, flaring combustion is often incomplete, resulting in particulate matter and other pollutants released into the atmosphere. Joel was unable to predict the number of flaring operations which may occur with any particular well, but noted that some should be expected. As natural gas development takes on new economic significance, new technologies come on-line continually, improving current practices. Clearly, there is a need for a better method of capturing or disposing of escaping gas. And, probably, there is a financial incentive for industry to do so. Until, however, a greater emphasis is placed upon human health and safety and environmental integrity, this method may remain the inefficient, ineffective and insidious standard.

On discussing issues of air emissions, Jim Rada noted there are no safe ambient air threshold standards set by the EPA for benzene, toluene, and many other related VOC compounds. Garfield County is currently involved in a two year ambient air quality study [more information regarding this study can be found on Garfield County's website: http://www.garfield-county.com. When I first learned of EnCana's plans for this area, I approached Jim and EnCana suggesting that this situation may offer unique opportunities for air monitoring - in that we have a current low-impact area which has become the focus of intense development. All phases of operations could be examined in an effort to better isolate specific activities which contribute the greatest to air quality degradation (which is known to occur at varying levels where drilling and gas recovery activities take place). The results of such  a plan could benefit the environment, the landowners, the county and other regulatory bodies, as well as industry. I am hoping that both EnCana and the county can quickly and cooperatively engage in an air monitoring program, as such an arrangement would help demonstrate industry concern for environmental and citizen health issues -- and, under the best circumstances, yield valuable data in recognizing specific activities which contribute to air quality degradation.

During the meeting, I noted that my mother - a landowner resident - has, in the past (note image gallery), experienced problems with her eyes excreting mucosa and becoming gummy during venting and flaring operations. Fortunately, those events were intermittent and the condition was temporary, though no less disruptive and frightening. In the absence of air monitoring which can pro-actively detect the presence of hazardous constituents and demonstrate a greater need for emission controls, she, unfortunately is the equivalent of our canary in the mine. I hope that the county, the state, the federal government and industry recognize the value in determining the presence of hazardous constituents in an environment shared by humans and wildlife alike. I hope they are prepared to acknowledge the effect these constituents can have on human health. And I hope they are prepared to demonstrate a commitment to mitigating these effects and preserving healthy air quality standards, such as we now enjoy - but that is becoming increasing degraded throughout our broader river valley region - attributable, in large part, I believe, to the proliferation of natural gas drilling and recovery activities.

EnCana Air Emissions Information

Last week, prior to the hearing in Grand Junction, Sher shared information on EnCana's efforts to reduce air emissions. According to the information: "EnCana is a new member of the EPA Natural Gas STAR Program. Gas Star is a voluntary program to reduce methane flaring and venting. To date we have replaced 40% of our pneumatic pumps with solar operated pumps. Reduced flaring and venting volumes by 64% during completion operations through "green completion" practices. 2006 EnCana Diesel Consumption: 78% of diesel combusted in 2006 was low sulfur diesel. 21% of diesel combusted in 2006 was ultra low sulfur diesel. Resulted in an 67% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions. EnCana has installed 36 voluntary combustors which have reduced our VOC's by 30% in the Mamm Creek field."

Oil and Gas Liaison Tours the Area

During mid-week, I and Judy Jordan, (Garfield County Oil and Gas Liaison) toured the region within which the 40 wells have been proposed. During this tour, Judy became acquainted with existing wells, newly proposed well locations, landowner locations and the location of the Divide Creek seep.

Relatively new to the position of liaison (which is a neutral, primarily communication/reporting function), I appreciate Judy's efforts at orienting herself with the physical characteristics of the area and anticipated activities. Should there be an unintended event which negatively impacts residents, Judy is likely to be among the first summoned to the scene. Judy and I shared the view that our time spent surveying the area should help enhance her ability to respond quickly and efficiently.

Tips from Environmental Health Manager on Reporting Odor Events

In a conversation with Jim Rada this week I asked if he could recommend pointers on making citizen reporting of complaints more efficient for responding officials. These are the factors he suggesting making a note of during odor events. I will post these on this site under reporting authority's contact information posted on the Stand Tall page:

Take note of the following as much as possible:

Meteorological Conditions
  temperature
  wind direction
  general wind speed: i.e. calm, breezy, gusty, etc.

Event Specifics
  time of occurrence
  duration of occurrence

Topographical Conditions
  lay of the land, tree density, etc.

Note the presence of any known wells in the vicinity, and type of activity if known

I've not yet spotted the elk

Several times this week I've been out and about at or near dawn; yet, I've not personally seen the elk which have purportedly come down from the high country. It's actually not uncommon for the herd to merely flirt with lower elevations before committing to them for the duration of the winter season.

View a panorama of Summerhawk Valley (just West of the Swartz site under development). In the winter, the elk visit Summerhawk and, there, find water from Divide Creek, some forage and shelter.

Post Independent Article

Midweek, I was contacted by Dennis Webb of the Post Independent regarding news of the 40 proposed wells. His article appeared in the Post [Oct 13, 2007] "Plans for 40 gas wells near 2004 gas seep worry resident".
 

Added to the site this week

A new site map and contact information for landowners potentially affected by EnCana's operations.

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