cassie ali-fracking in colorado

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Hydraulic  Fracturing  in  Colorado:    

Fracking’s  History  and  Importance  to  The  Centennial  State    Cassie  Ali  

BannerID:  872556478  

Geography  Independent  Study  

Spring  2015  

May  15,  2015  

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Table  of  Contents    

Introduction  

Colorado’s  Natural  Resource  History  

Fracking:  Process  &  Procedures    

Fracking:  Regulations  

Natural  Gas  Statistics  

Disadvantages  and  Controversy  

Conclusion  

Appendix  

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Introduction  

  Fracking  is  an  issue  that  is  dripping  with  controversy.  It  crosses  economic,  

environmental  and  societal  spheres  and  is  polarized  by  avid  supporters  and  angered  

foes.  Energy  companies  support  fracking  due  to  its  high  output  of  natural  gas  and  oil  

production;  however,  environmental  organizations  are  opposed  to  the  practice  

because  of  the  damage  and  pollution  it  leaves  behind.  The  purpose  of  this  report  is  

to  inform  the  reader  on  the  history,  procedures,  statistics  and  concerns  associated  

with  fracking  in  Colorado.  It  explores  The  Centennial  State’s  natural  resource  

extraction  history,  outlines  the  logistics  of  fracking,  and  presents  the  statistics  and  

development  of  a  practice  that  has  been  used  in  Colorado  for  over  forty  years.  This  

report  is  based  on  research  gathered  from  a  variety  of  sources  including  the  United  

States  and  Colorado  State  Government,  energy  companies,  educational  institutions,  

and  news  outlets  on  the  city  and  county  level.  Even  though  fracking  is  a  highly  

controversial  issue,  this  report  is  not  rooted  in  any  bias,  but  rather  presents  the  

facts  and  history  to  provide  one  with  the  information  and  interest  to  form  one’s  own  

opinion.    

Colorado’s  Natural  Resource  History  

In  the  1800’s  people  flocked  to  Colorado  with  hopes  of  profiting  from  the  rich  

mineral  resources  found  in  the  undiscovered  west.  In  1859,  gold  was  found  in  gravel  

deposits  in  Denver’s  Cherry  Creek  and  the  Black  Hawk-­‐Central  City  area.  Gold;  

however,  was  just  the  beginning  and  people  began  to  discover  the  state’s  precious  

minerals  and  gemstones  such  as  silver,  zinc,  lead,  aquamarine  and  rhodochrosite  

(Cappa).  As  the  United  States  became  more  industrialized,  Colorado’s  rock  

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materials:  sand,  gravel,  gypsum  and  limestone,  became  essential  to  supporting  

infrastructure  and  factory  production.  Around  this  time,  coal  also  became  an  

essential  need  for  the  increasing  energy  demand.  While  the  majority  of  Colorado’s  

mining  history  occurs  in  its  mountains,  most  of  the  hot  spots  for  energy  resources  

like  coal,  oil  and  natural  gas  are  found  on  the  western  slope  near  the  Utah  border  as  

well  as  on  the  eastern  plains,  an  area  known  as  the  Denver-­‐Julesburg  Basin.    

The  Denver-­‐Julesburg  Basin  stretches  from  Crowely  County  in  the  

southeastern  part  of  Colorado  up  through  Nebraska,  Wyoming  and  the  

southwestern  tip  of  South  Dakota.  The  basin’s  geologic  material  consists  of  

Paleozoic,  Mesozoic,  and  Cenozoic  sedimentary  rock  layers  that  make  up  the  

Niobrara  Shale  Formation.  These  rocks  can  be  dated  back  300  million  years  ago—an  

uplifting  period  known  as  the  Colorado  Orogeny  that  created  the  Ancestral  Rockies  

(Lilis  Energy).  

The  Niobrara  Shale  Formation  has  more  than  20,000  wells  that  drill  3,000-­‐

14,000  feet  below  the  earth’s  surface  to  reach  oil  and  natural  gas  reserves  (Oil  &  Gas  

Financial  Journal).  The  typical  image  of  these  wells  is  the  pumpjack  drill,  a  technique  

that  has  been  used  for  over  one  hundred  years.  The  pumpjack  drill  is  a  hammer  like  

beam  that  pounds  a  piston  into  the  earth  to  release  oil  and  gas.  Another  technique  of  

drilling  is  hydraulic  fracturing  or  as  it  is  referred  to  in  basic  terms—fracking.      

  Fracking  uses  a  mixture  of  water  and  chemicals  to  create  fissures  in  shale  

rock  to  release  the  embedded  oil  and  gas.  Fracking  is  more  powerful  than  pumpjack  

drilling  and  thus  has  a  higher  production  level;  however,  the  processes  and  

environmental  affects  associated  with  fracking  put  the  practice  into  question.    

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Fracking:  Process  &  Procedures  

  Society  presents  itself  as  either  pro  or  anti  fracking  and  there  is  little  

discussion  about  the  actual  process.  As  defined  by  Energy  and  Capital,  fracking  is  the  

process  of  injecting  water  mixed  with  sand  and  chemicals  into  horizontal  wells  

within  shale  formations.  The  high-­‐pressure  injection  creates  fissures  in  the  rock,  

held  open  by  the  grains  of  sand,  which  release  the  natural  gas  trapped  inside  

(Brommely).  As  stated  in  a  report  by  the  Colorado  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Producers,  

this  liquid  mixture  is  99.5  percent  water  and  sand  and  .5  percent  chemically  based  

additives.  By  regulation  of  rule  205A  of  the  Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  

Commission,  all  oil  and  natural  gas  production  companies  are  required  to  disclose  

the  chemicals  used  in  hydraulic  fracturing  fluid,  as  well  as  the  amount  of  water  used  

in  the  process  (America’s  Natural  Gas  Alliance).  All  of  this  information  is  public  

record  and  can  be  accessed  online;  however,  few  people  seek  out  the  facts.    

The  fracturing  activity  happens  thousands  of  feet  underground  in  a  fracking  well.  

The  drilling  well  begins  at  2,500-­‐7,500  feet  (1,000  feet  below  the  water  table)  and  

the  fracturing  of  the  shale  occurs  at  7,000-­‐8,000  feet  beneath  the  earth’s  surface  

(America's  Natural  Gas  Alliance).  Once  the  drill  is  at  the  appropriate  depth,  it  takes  a  

ninety-­‐degree  turn  into  the  shale  to  release  the  natural  gas  trapped  in  the  sediments.  

Several  casings  of  steel  and  cement  contain  the  drill  to  ensure  its  power  remains  

directed  at  the  targeted  shale.  It  also  protects  the  ground  water  from  interference  

and  contamination.  From  the  surface,  fracking  wells  appear  as  large  cement  slabs  

with  steel  structures  supporting  the  drill  and  are  often  un-­‐amusing  to  any  one  

passing  them  by.    

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Once  the  oil  and  gas  are  released  from  the  shale,  it  is  pumped  back  to  the  surface.  

The  oil  and  gas  are  separated  to  storage  tanks  where  they  are  processed,  refined  

and  shipped  off  for  sale.  The  water  mixture,  often  called  “flowback  water”  is  sent  to  

waste  water  plants  to  be  treated  and  filtered.  The  wastewater  is  regulated  like  any  

other  waste  in  the  state,  and  is  overseen  by  several  different  agencies  and  regulators.  

The  Environmental  Protection  Agency  (EPA),  The  Ground  Water  Protection  Council  

(comprised  of  multi-­‐state  water  pollution  control  officials),  and  The  Colorado  Oil  

and  Natural  Gas  Conservation  Commission  all  oversee  the  treatment  and  disposition  

of  the  flowback  water  (Clean  Water  Action).    

Oil  and  natural  gas  are  sometimes  used  interchangeably  in  discussions  and  

statistics  of  hydraulic  fracturing.  However,  natural  gas  is  the  primary  resource  that  

is  desired  and  marketed  from  the  fracking  process.  In  the  earth’s  surface,  oil  floats  

on  water  and  natural  gas  floats  on  oil;  because  of  this  contrasting  density  they  are  

found  together  in  “traps,”  which  is  where  fracking  wells  drill.  In  most  cases,  gas  is  

always  found  with  oil,  but  natural  gas  can  also  be  found  without  oil  (Colorado  

Geological  Survey).  Fracking  has  allowed  a  powerful  way  for  energy  companies  to  

access  this  natural  resource  that  is  often  considered  more  advanced  and  “cleaner”  

than  other  fossils  fuels  like  coal  and  oil.    

Regulations  

Laws  and  regulations  surrounding  oil  and  natural  gas  are  found  under  the  

Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Act  that  was  passed  in  1951  and  amended  in  

2014.    It  regulates  all  aspects  of  energy  production  from  public  and  private  land  

rights,  waste  treatment,  economic  production  and  environmental  protection.  The  

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Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Commission  is  the  responsible  agency  for  

enforcing  the  statues  of  the  law  and  monitoring  all  oil  and  gas  production  sites.  Both  

the  act  and  the  commission  strive  to  “manage  oil  and  gas  operations  in  a  manner  

that  balances  development  with  wildlife  conservation  in  recognition  of  the  state's  

obligation  to  protect  wildlife  resources  and  the  hunting,  fishing,  and  recreation  

traditions  they  support,  which  are  an  important  part  of  Colorado's  economy  and  

culture”  (COGCC).    The  commissions  website  provides  a  place  for  the  public  to  

communicate  concerns  and  gain  knowledge  of  the  state’s  oil  and  gas  industry.  Oil  

and  gas  statistics,  drilling  locations  and  regional  staff  contact  information  are  all  

public  record  for  Colorado  citizens.    

The  hope  is  that  this  accessible  information  will  allow  more  people  to  

become  educated  on  the  oil  and  gas  industry  and  work  with  the  Colorado  Oil  and  

Gas  Conservation  Commission  to  advance  together  in  energy  industry.  

Natural  Gas  Statistics  

As  political  tensions  continue  to  increase  surrounding  oil,  and  coal  productions  

decrease,  The  United  States  is  relying  more  on  natural  gas  for  its  energy  needs.  

Natural  gas  is  second  to  coal  in  Colorado’s  energy  consumption,  but  it  is  first  in  

production  (U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration).  When  hydraulic  fracturing  

technology  was  applied  to  the  Niobrara  Shale  Formation’s  rich  natural  gas  reserve,  

natural  gas  became  essential  to  Colorado’s  economy  and  energy  use.  From  1990  to  

2010,  the  state’s  natural  gas  production  tripled—  ranking  Colorado  sixth  in  the  

nation  (Colorado  Geological  Survey).  Natural  Gas  is  measured  in  thousand  cubic  feet,  

or  abbreviated  by  Mcf.  In  applicable  terms,  one  Mcf  of  natural  gas  can  supply  the  

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average  American  home  with  its  energy  needs  (ventilation,  water-­‐heating,  cooking,  

etc)  for  four  days  (Coon  Rapids  Municipal  Utilities).  This  may  not  seem  to  be  an  

efficient  energy  use;  however,  Colorado’s  natural  gas  production  statistics  show  just  

how  profitable  natural  gas  can  be  for  both  the  economy  and  energy  consumers.  

As  reported  by  the  Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Commission,  in  2005  

Colorado  produced  1,154,424,767  Mcf  of  natural  gas,  which  is  enough  to  supply  

many  households  and  businesses  with  energy  needs  for  an  impressive  amount  of  

time—much  longer  than  four  days.  La  Plata  County  was  the  highest  in  production  

with  457,912,820  Mcf  for  the  2005  calendar  year,  followed  by  Garfield  County  with  

270,784,334  Mcf  and  Weld  County  with  188,606,614  Mcf  (Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  

Conservation  Commission).  In  2014,  Colorado  produced  1,633,959,995  Mcf  of  

natural  gas  with  Garfield  County  jumping  ahead  in  production,  followed  by  Weld  

and  La  Plata  County  (Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Commission).    

The  increase  Colorado  has  experienced  within  the  past  nine  years  has  allowed  

several  rural  counties  to  experience  a  great  boost  in  economic  activity  and  wealth.  

Garfield  County,  the  leader  in  natural  gas  production,  is  located  in  the  northwestern  

part  of  the  state  including  the  mountain  towns  of  Glenwood  Springs  and  Carbondale.  

Energy  has  surpassed  tourism  and  agriculture  for  the  county’s  top  industries  

boosting  the  median  household  income  to  $63,929  as  reported  in  2014  (Garfield  

County).  This  is  higher  than  both  Denver  County  and  the  state’s  median  household  

income,  which  were  $50,313  and  $58,433  as  reported  by  the  2013  United  States  

Census.  Both  Weld  County  and  La  Plata  County  had  median  household  incomes  that  

were  equitable  with  Garfield’s  County,  surpassing  several  of  their  neighboring  rural  

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counties.  It  is  clear  that  the  fracking  industry  has  allowed  counties  to  be  competitive  

with  the  Front  Range’s  economic  hotspots  like  Fort  Collins,  Denver,  and  Colorado  

Springs.  Natural  gas  seems  to  have  replaced  gold  in  Colorado’s  attractive  resources;  

however,  thankfully  it  is  under  much  more  regulation  than  the  mining  booms  the  

state  experienced  during  the  Wild  West.    

Disadvantages  and  Controversy  

A  Google  search  of  “fracking  in  Colorado,”  displays  1,270,000  results  from  

various  energy  companies,  political  organizations  and  news  outlets.  There  is  an  

abundance  of  information  about  fracking  on  the  Internet;  however,  these  webpage  

titles  are  polarized  in  two  distinct  categories—pro  or  anti  fracking.  Energy  

companies  present  the  facts  and  benefits  of  fracking  while  environmental  

organizations  reveal  the  disadvantages  of  fracking  and  hope  to  gain  supporters  to  

ban  the  practice.    

Fracking’s  controversy  is  centered  on  the  potential  pollution  of  ground  and  

surface  water  from  the  well’s  flowback  water.  Energy  companies  abide  by  the  strict  

structural  and  waste  treatment  regulations  set  in  place  by  state  and  federal  

governments;  however,  sometimes  these  protective  casings  and  treatment  systems  

fail.  According  to  Clean  Water  Action,  fracking  removes  millions  of  gallons  of  

freshwater  from  the  earth  and  disturbs  the  water  cycle.  Each  well  uses  two  to  five  

million  gallons  of  local  water  in  the  fracking  process  that  turns  into  contaminated  

water.  Efforts  are  made  to  contain  this  toxic  liquid;  however,  as  in  the  case  of  sludge  

from  landfills,  some  of  it  makes  its  way  back  into  the  water  supply  (Clean  Water  

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Action).  Colorado  is  among  eight  states  have  reported  ground,  surface  and  drinking  

water  contamination  due  to  fracking.    

Several  Colorado  towns  have  made  headlines  over  the  past  decade  because  

their  drinking  water  was  contaminated  with  fracking  fluid  or  natural  gas.  These  

instances  attracted  high  publicity  and  are  known  to  many  as  “Fraccidents.”    

Water  protection  campaigns  lead  the  march  to  expose  these  fraccidents  and  

gain  lobbyists  to  outlaw  fracking  all  together.  One  of  the  most  well  known  

fraccidents  happened  in  February  of  2009  in  the  rural  town  of  Fort  Lupton,  

Colorado.  Strange  smells  were  coming  from  one  resident’s  tap  water  and  when  he  

held  a  lighter  next  to  the  water  stream  it  ignited  into  a  flame  (Earthjustice).  Two  

years  later,  a  family  residing  in  the  town  of  Silt  Mesa,  located  in  Garfield  County,  

experienced  severe  nosebleeds,  blackouts  and  body  rashes  that  were  linked  to  air  

and  water  pollution  from  a  nearby  gas  development.  They  sought  medical  help  and  

were  advised  by  doctors  to  leave  their  home  (Colson).  Other  Colorado  fraccidents  

include  the  discovery  of  toxic  chemicals  in  streams  and  well  explosions  causing  fire  

and  infrastructure  damage.    

These  events  make  headline  news  because  of  their  severity;  however,  they  

should  not  be  overlooked.  Fracking’s  air  and  water  pollution  present  energy  

companies  and  law  officials  with  a  serious  problem.  One  may  ask:  Why  are  people  so  

concerned  with  fracking  pollution  if  coal  and  other  types  of  mining  result  in  the  

same  degree  of  pollution?  Pollution  from  mining  has  been  around  since  the  early  

1900’s  and  is  monitored  and  regulated  on  several  different  levels  of  government.  

Fracking  is  a  newer  practice  and  due  to  its  rapid  boom  in  the  past  decade,  

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responsible  companies  and  agencies  have  not  perfected  the  exact  infrastructure  and  

regulations  to  accommodate  its  high  production.    

Fracking  presents  Colorado  with  several  environmental  and  societal  issues  

as  well  as  economic  and  energy  benefits.  Both  sides  of  the  argument  need  to  be  

considered  in  order  to  maintain  a  healthy  and  prosperous  living  environment.    

Conclusion  

  Through  my  research  I  have  learned  that  hydraulic  fracking  has  beneficial  

and  harmful  affects  in  Colorado.  Like  any  other  human  interference  with  the  earth,  

there  are  repercussions  from  disturbing  the  environment  that  humans  must  

recognize.  The  strong  opposing  sides  to  fracking  show  that  Colorado  citizens  and  

government  officials  claim  responsibility  for  the  practice  and  are  all  working  

towards  a  common  goal  in  preserving  the  earth—they  just  have  different  views  in  

how  to  achieve  that  goal.  With  advancing  technology  and  research,  the  oil  and  gas  

industry  will  be  able  to  move  forward  in  hopes  of  reducing  the  errors  and  damages  

fracking  causes.    Whether  one  is  pro  or  anti  fracking,  it  is  evident  that  all  citizens  of  

Colorado  share  a  love  and  admiration  for  our  state’s  beautiful  landscape  and  natural  

resource  haven.    

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Works  Cited    America's  Natural  Gas  Alliance.  "Oil  &  Natural  Gas  in  Colorado."  Colorado's  Oil  &  

Natural  Gas  Producers.  2010.  Accessed  May  2,  2015.  http://www.oilandnaturalgasincolorado.com/OilandNaturalGasinColorado.html#/2.  

 Brommely,  Richard.  "What  Is  Fracking?"  What  Is  Fracking?  November  15,  2012.  

Accessed  May  2,  2015.  http://www.energyandcapital.com/resources/what-­‐is-­‐fracking.  

 Cappa,  Jim.  "Mining  History  of  Colorado."  Yampa  Valley.  December  2,  2008.  Accessed  

May  2,  2015.  http://yampavalley.info/centers/natural_resources_%26_environment/pages/mining_history_of_colorado.  

 Clean  Water  Action.  "Fracking:  The  Process."  Fracking:  The  Process  |  Clean  Water  

Action,  Fracking:  The  Dangers.  2012.  Accessed  May  4,  2015.  http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-­‐process.  

 Colorado  Geological  Survey.  "Natural  Gas:  Where  Is  It  Found?  |  Colorado  Geological  

Survey."  Colorado  Geological  Survey  |  Colorado  School  of  Mines.  2013.  Accessed  May  3,  2015.  http://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/energy-­‐resources/natural-­‐gas-­‐2/where-­‐is-­‐it-­‐found/.  

 Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Commission.  "Production  by  County  Monthly."  

Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Commission:  Production  and  Sales  by  County  Monthly.  Accessed  May  2,  2015.  

 Coon  Rapids  Municipal  Utilities.  "How  to  Measure  Natural  Gas?"  Natural  Gas.  

December  1,  2013.  Accessed  May  3,  2015.  http://www.crmu.net/PDF  files/Natural  Gas  pdfs/How  to  Measure  Natural  Gas.pdf.  

 Colson,  Jon.  “Silt  Mesa  family  claims  gas  fumes  forcing  them  out.  ”Post  Independent.  

January  4,  2011.  Accessed  May,  5  2015.    Earthjustice.  "Colorado  and  Fracking."  Earthjustice.  April  8,  2011.  Accessed  May  5,  

2015.  http://earthjustice.org/features/colorado-­‐and-­‐fracking.    Garfield  County.  "About  Garfield  County,  Colorado."  Garfield  County,  Colorado.  2014.  

Accessed  May  3,  2015.  http://www.garfield-­‐county.com/about-­‐garfield-­‐county/index.aspx.  

 Lilis  Energy.  "Denver-­‐Julesburg  (DJ)  Basin."  Lilis  Energy.  February  2,  2015.  Accessed  

April  28,  2015.  http://www.lilisenergy.com/dj-­‐basin-­‐land-­‐holdings.    

  13    

U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration."Independent  Statistics  and  Analysis."  USEIA.  August  21,  2014.  Accessed  May  13,  2015.  http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO#tabs-­‐3.  

 Investopdedia."Mcf  Definition  |  Investopedia."  Investopedia.  June  11,  2010.  

Accessed  May  1,  2015.  http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mcf.asp.    Oil  &  Gas  Financial  Journal."Niobrara  Shale  Formation."  Oil  &  Gas  Financial  Journal.  

April  9,  2013.  Accessed  May  3,  2015.  http://www.ogj.com/unconventional-­‐resources/niobrara-­‐shale.html.  

 COGCC.  "Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Act."  Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  

Commission.  June  1,  1951  (Amended  May  31,  2014).  Accessed  May  14,  2015.  http://cogcc.state.co.us/RR_Docs_new/rules/AppendixV.pdf.  

  14    

Appendix    

 This  map  shows  Colorado  counties  outlined  in  orange  with  shale  formations  shaded  in  yellow  and  each  parcel  point  represents  a  fracking  well.  (Map  created  May  5,  2015  by  Cassie  Ali.  Data  source:  FracFocus,  SkyTruth,  US  Census  Bureau,  USDA,  EIA,  FracTracker  Alliance  via  ArcGISonline).      

 This  map  shows  oil  and  gas  permits  from  the  Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Commission  as  of  2014  from  the  Colorado  Natural  Gas  Utility  Service  (cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DORA-­‐PUC/.../1251632608624).  

  15    

 An  example  of  a  Colorado  Fracking  Well  from  a  collaborative  report  by  The  Colorado  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation  Commission  and  America’s  Natural  Gas  Alliance  (http://www.oilandnaturalgasincolorado.com/OilandNaturalGasinColorado.html#/10).