In 2023, Weston has been performing site investigations on multiple 1950’s era legacy orphaned oil and gas locations in Logan County, Colorado. These sites include well pads, flowlines, and tank batteries located in scenic family-owned farms and in striking cattle rangelands in eastern Colorado. Many of the landowners in Logan County have not heard from the original oil and gas operators who left behind pump jacks, piping, structures and above and below ground storage tanks in decades and in some cases, had to resort to their own legal action to get the operator to fulfill their lease agreement stipulations. The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (CECMC) Orphaned Well Program identifies, prioritizes, and addresses oil and gas wells, locations, and production facilities statewide for which there are no known responsible parties. If not addressed, these oil and gas locations may impair a surface owner’s farming or ranching activity or other use of the property, including harming wildlife, posing risks to the environment, or presenting a safety hazard to the public.
Using an electronic data management system for sample data collection tracking, photologs and field data measurements, Weston is investigating these sites by installing soil borings using a track mounted drill rig to sample the former oil and gas production operations locations. Our team has faced double the average snowfall for the 2022-2023 season, extreme high wind conditions, remote site work, and minimal historical site documentation to complete these site investigations. By instilling a strong team and safety culture, including employing a caravan system to mobilize to and from sites, and monitoring for changing weather and site conditions, we are ensuring the successful and safe completion of these site investigations. Once the investigation data is compiled, corrective action strategies may be recommended to remove any discovered legacy impacts. Successfully completing these site investigations is the first step in restoring the lands to their intended use, it removes barriers for possible future land uses, and prevents environmental exposure risks to wildlife and the public and for future farm and ranching families.
