Denver7 reporting from the aftermath of a massive explosion last week in Firestone that completely destroyed a new home, killing two people and severely injuring two others–an explosion that occurred less than 200 feet from a 20-year-old oil well owned by Anadarko Petroleum:
A Houston-based company announced just over a week after a fatal home explosion in Firestone, Colorado that it would shutter production from 3,000 vertical oil wells in the area.
“Words cannot express how saddened we are that this occurred in a community where many of our employees, their families, and friends live and work,” Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Chairman, President and CEO Al Walker said. “We share the community’s gratitude for the courageous response of neighbors and nearby construction crews who quickly came to the aid of the family, as well as the first responders and others who made sure surrounding homes were kept safe.”
Anadarko confirmed the company operates 3,000 units of an older-model vertical well. One such unit, drilled by a previous operator in 1993, is just 200 feet from the site where a home that recently exploded was recently built.
The bodies of two community members were pulled from the rubble days after the April 17 explosion. Two others continue to recover in a hospital.
Anadarko’s acquisition of wells originally drilling by much smaller operators makes them responsible for defects in the drilling process they didn’t commit. It’s critical to keep in mind that the cause of the explosion in Firestone has not been conclusively determined–but the size and power of the blast would seem to rule out residential gas lines. That a new home was built less than 200 feet from an existing oil well is just another example of the problems the rapidly urbanizing Front Range faces dealing with both new and a legacy of oil and gas drilling.
And as the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Peter Marcus reports, the timing of this disaster is notable given debate that took place this year in the state legislature:
“We should take a cautious approach until we know for sure,” said Rep. Mike Foote, D-Lafayette, who sponsored legislation this year that would have required oil and gas operations to be located at least 1,000 feet from schools and other high occupancy buildings.
The legislation died on a Republican party-line vote…
“This whole situation is tragic. My heart aches for the family that lost loved ones and had others injured in the explosion and fire,” said Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, who also sponsored the failed setback bill in the legislature this year.
“Although the cause of the explosion is under investigation, in response Anadarko shut down a gas well only 170 feet from the blown-up home, along with 3,000 area wells. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation needs to get to the bottom of this. And the Colorado General Assembly needs to take action on the results to protect Coloradans.”
As Marcus correctly notes, a bill to increase setbacks between schools and drilling sites died in the Colorado General Assembly this year on a party-line vote. Citizen initiatives to increase setbacks and give local communities greater control over drilling within their boundaries have been stymied in recent years by intense opposition from the oil and gas industry and bipartisan political cover. The passage of Amendment 71 last year makes it much more difficult to use the initiative process going forward.
Overall the oil and gas industry has done a remarkable job suppressing opposition in Colorado, creating a political climate in which no one has the power to move anything unfavorable to the industry. Since Colorado voters weighed in by passing a landmark renewable energy standard in 2004, there’s been much less to celebrate. Small-scale agreements on emissions rules have come largely as a result of federal pressure on the state for noncompliance with air quality standards. And as we all know, federal oversight is no longer something Colorado can depend on. All told it’s a great position for the drillers to be in.
Except, you know, when houses start blowing up. Too much of that, and the politics can change awfully fast.
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It's worth noting that the problem seems to be new housing encroaching existing wells. Isn't this more a matter of slack subdivision standards? In short, if the minefield is already laid, do you really want to zone it for square dancing? Reckless developers are creating a problem for O and G, not vice versa.
There are folks with far more knowledge than I on this, but generally local government's planning and zoning hands have been tied in Colorado by state laws/regs that give great power to the COGCC and little power to local government and local citizens. Just ask the folks in Battlement Mesa in western Garfield County – they have been unable to get new gas infrastructure built a safe distance from their homes. They have no friends among their local elected officials or their Republican state Senator and state Rep.
FYI, realist, Battlement Mesa isn't a town. It's only avenue to local government is Garfield County, where the commissioners are industry friendly. Battlement Mesa is a homeowners association, with bylaws written to be industry-friendly by Exxon, which founded and started construction on the place before Black Sunday. Having no power in the dispute is an understatement.
V-ger actually raises a good point. That was an existing well and houses should have not been approved for the nearby sites. Should note that any power that the oil & gas industry does not have in this state is mostly held by the homebuilders and realtors.
Yes, this was an existing well. But if you say houses should not have been approved for the nearby sites, then new wells should not be approved near existing houses and schools, don't you think? Or is there a double standard here?
More like no standards
.
gaf: obviously setbacks are needed. The question is how far and how much. The double standard, if there is one, comes from those who vehemently oppose oil and gas development. Yet many heat their homes with gas or coal generated electricity; and most drive gasoline powered motor vehicles.
Good progress is being made with development of renewables. The President's desire to revive coal mining, as just one example, is doomed to failure because there is too much momentum built up now towards renewable energy.
How do you know it wasn't gas lines? Are you experts?
Shut the fuck up Moldy. You're out of your element.
BTW, Still waiting for my ACA article.
I'm not an expert on gas line explosions but in my days with public Service Co. I worked with people who are. Believe me, these folks know their business. If they say it wasn't a gas line, it wasn't a gas line.
Moronanus, they don't shut down 3,000 wells unless they know something's up.
, They know what happened and I'd say Anadarko is gonna to get sued! "Gas line go BOOM", is not normal operations.
DERP!
How do you sit up?
Who ties your shoes?
Do you still use a sippy cup?
…Yeah, sure, a gas line. That's why they shut in 3,000 wells. Good god almighty I hope your masters at least buy you cookies.
That's embarrassing.
We all need to hear from State Senator Jerry Sonnenberg on this; "Mr. Oil & Gas" himself.