Day: March 28, 2013

‘Water management is 10 percent of a well’s cost’ — Russell C. Fontaine

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From The Greeley Tribune (David Persons):

The oil and gas boom under way in the Niobrara play in Weld County and northeastern Colorado has been greatly aided by hydraulic fracturing.

Oil and gas officials point out that nearly all of the state’s 45,000 producing wells — including those in the Niobrara — were fracked.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that involves injecting fluids consisting of water, sand and various chemicals under high pressure into deep rock formations generally found at a depth of 7,000 to 10,000 feet. The fracturing frees up pockets of natural gas and oil that were once thought unattainable.

The key element in fracking is water. Without it, drilling this deep would be next to impossible.

That’s why water sourcing has become an issue and was the lead topic last Monday at the third annual Niobrara Infrastructure Development Summit in Denver. The three-day event, which drew more than 100 representatives of the oil and gas industry, was held at the Magnolia Hotel.

Finding a source of water for fracking and getting it to the drilling site efficiently and economically is an important issue for oil and gas companies, said Russell C. Fontaine, the principal hydrogeologist for Schlumberger Water Services.

“Water management is 10 percent of a well’s cost,” Fontaine said. “And transportation is 60-80 percent of those water costs. The availability of commercial (water) facilities and trucks is also very important.”

Fontaine said his company specializes in what he called “smart planning.” Essentially, that means developing water sources and water disposal close to oil and gas sites.

He said the total water costs for a Niobrara fracking job (including disposal of flowback and produced water) is about $700,000 over 10 years. However, if a water well can be drilled near a pad site, water costs and truck trip costs can be reduced by 65 percent.

Fontaine said another cost consideration is the water itself. Fresh water is the most expensive and controversial. He said it’s more economical (and practical) to use untreated, non-tributary groundwater resources and even brackish (salt) water for fracking. Non-tributary groundwater is considered water found underground that does not interact or affect surface water (rivers, streams, lakes, etc.).

Fontaine added that by recycling flowback water from fracking, oil and gas companies could reduce their water usage costs by another 10 percent. It also reduces truck trips.

Clay Terry, Halliburton’s water liaison for the U.S. Northern Region, said his company puts great emphasis on acquiring water rights at the outset, too. He said Halliburton looks at a number of sources: municipalities, water districts, private sources, industrial waste water and water co-produced by oil and gas operations.

He also suggested that water can be legally obtained from mineral owners, hydrologists, engineers, water commissioners, water haulers, town governments and even elementary schools.

Once the water is secured, Terry said there are other considerations. Among those are storage, diversion and transportation.

Eli Gruber, the president and CEO of Ecologix Environmental Systems, reiterated what others had said about the ecological and economical reasons to recycle water and use brackish water when possible.

“The proper water management can save you $70,000 to $100,000 per well,” Gruber said.

Matt Smith, the director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Worldwide Liquid Solutions, said treating fracking water “is not rocket science. Hell no, it’s a lot more complicated.”

Smith said there are many considerations. Among those: mobile wastewater treatment, stationary water treatment and reinjection waste water disposal.

When talking about mobile waste water treatment, Smith said the goal is to deliver the produced water that can be treated for fracking and identify the problem elements that need to be taken out of the water. The result will be a decrease in the need for fresh water, a reduction in water truck trips, a reduction in waste streams and byproducts, and a reduction or elimination of disposal wells.

Stationary water treatment facilities offer different benefits. They can be engineered for multiple users within a region. Its placement would allow for piping for water delivery and waste/byproduct production. It can also treat multiple waste chemistries. It can also aid in plant-wide air and water compliance.

The considerations associated with reinjection wastewater disposal involves the public’s perception of just how safe the process it, Smith said.

He pointed out that while the process is relatively inexpensive and that it is regulated by federal and state laws, concerns remain about earthquakes caused by this disposal method and the possibility that these waste products might leak into good water sources.

More oil and gas coverage here and here.

Parachute Creek spill update: ‘…to get to the creek the contamination would have to go uphill’ — Matt Lepore

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From The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Dennis Webb):

The elevation of the water table below Parachute Creek is higher than at the site of a nearby hydrocarbon leak, helping protect the creek from contamination, the director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said Wednesday.

“So the groundwater flow direction should be away from the creek. Put it differently, to get to the creek the contamination would have to go uphill,” Matt Lepore said in an interview.

An investigation into a leak of an unidentified liquid hydrocarbon in a pipeline corridor near the creek northwest of Parachute continues to focus on a valve box associated with a Williams natural gas liquids line coming from its nearby gas processing plant. A 30-inch-diameter gas pipeline leading to the plant also is being excavated and inspected in a process that Lepore said can’t be rushed.

Todd Hartman, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources, said Wednesday that results of water samples taken by the COGCC show no signs of contamination in the creek.

Bob Arrington, a retired engineer in Battlement Mesa who is active with the Western Colorado Congress and Battlement Concerned Citizens groups, questions how groundwater wouldn’t go into a stream located at the center of a valley.

“That groundwater is seeking its way to the stream and it’s got more head (pressure) coming off the hillsides than the stream (groundwater) going up the hillsides,” he said. ” … The whole flow profile is just going to slowly pour into that gully and go down to the (Colorado) River.”

A monitoring well has found liquid hydrocarbons on the surface of groundwater 30 feet from the creek, between the creek and a trench dug to try to intercept the contaminants. Lepore said the trench appears to be creating a vacuum pressure that draws groundwater toward it.

On Tuesday, the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance called on authorities from the COGCC and other government agencies to be more forthcoming regarding information related to the spill, saying a lack of transparency has raised fears that the extent of environmental damage is being kept hidden.

Lepore the investigation is ongoing and “very dynamic,” but the COGCC has talked about what’s being done to identify the source, about the “hot spot” at the valve box, and about monitoring wells and other developments.

“Can we do more, better, faster all the time? Always, yeah, but I’m not quite sure what we’re withholding or are perceived to be withholding,” he said.

More oil and gas coverage here and here.

Colorado State University to Train Denver Area Weather Observers to Monitor Drought, Long-term Climate #codrought

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Here’s the release from Colorado State University (Emily Narvaes Wilmsen):

Colorado State University’s award-winning volunteer precipitation monitoring network will train Denver metro area weather observers during April to monitor drought and long-term climate conditions.

In a year where drought conditions conjure up thoughts of a long fire season with dwindling water supplies, the saying “because every drop counts” might mean more now than ever before, said Nolan Doesken, founder of the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network and state climatologist based at Colorado State University.

“Because every drop counts” is the tagline for the network, known as CoCoRaHS. When the organization was founded 15 years ago at Colorado State University’s Climate Center, no one knew just how crucial it would become in monitoring long-term climate conditions.

“CoCoRaHS was intended to help measure precipitation in real time by providing warning during potentially dangerous flood events, like the one that hit Fort Collins in July 1997,” Doesken said.

“Now we’re monitoring drought conditions, water supplies, tropical storms, snow, hail and even evapo-transpiration, not just here in Colorado, but across the entire country and even portions of Canada.”

CoCoRaHS is making a push this spring and summer to expand this volunteer network. The goal is to have at least one person per square mile taking observations along the Front Range and as many as possible elsewhere in the state to better track the remarkable variability in local precipitation.

Schedule of upcoming CoCoRaHS training events:

• April 3 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch
• April 6 (10 a.m.-noon), Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora
• April 13 (12:30-230 p.m.) Castle Rock Library, 100 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock
• April 16 (6:30-830 p.m.) Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora
• April 25 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) SE Aurora Library (Tallyn’s Reach), 23911 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora
• April 27 (10 a.m. to noon), Adams County Regional Park (Fairgrounds), 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton

“We know it’s a lofty goal, but in a place like Denver, where there are literally thousands of backyard weather enthusiasts, it’s obtainable,” said CoCoRaHS National Coordinator Henry Reges. “Of course it will be difficult where there are wide open spaces, like the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, but if we can get as close to that goal as possible, we will be happy.”

Training materials are available online for volunteers who can’t attend. Additional classes will be offered in May around the Denver area.

For more information, or to sign up to volunteer, go to http://www.cocorahs.org or contact Chris Spears at chris.spears@colostate.edu.

CSU to offer low-cost irrigation efficiency audits for farmers #codrought

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From the Loveland Reporter-Herald:

A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to CSU’s Center for Agricultural Energy will pay for reduced-cost irrigation efficiency audits for growers with center pivot systems. Center pivot irrigation is common on Colorado’s Front Range and Eastern Plains. Water is pumped onto fields by impact sprinklers mounted on overhead pipes that roll in sweeping arcs across farmland.

For $250, a fourth of the usual $1,000 cost, university technicians will conduct up to three pumping plant audits to gauge efficiency of farmers’ systems, recommend changes and estimate potential savings.

Information and a brief application can be found at www.ext.colostate.edu/cae/audits.html, or by calling Cary Weiner at 970-491-3784.

More conservation coverage here.

Forecast news: Warm with isolated mountain showers today #codrought #cowx

From the National Weather Service Grand Junction office:

Above normal temperatures can be expected across the region through this weekend with isolated to scattered afternoon and early evening showers each day. Most of the showers will be confined to the higher mountains. The chance for rain and snow will be on the increase Sunday night and Monday as a Pacific storm moves into the Great Basin and another push of cooler air drops south out of Canada. This will eventually drop temperatures back to more seasonal values by early next week.

From the National Weather Service Pueblo office:

here is a chance for thunderstorms Friday afternoon across the far southeast plains as well as possibly a few mountain showers. Forecast models are still in disagreement with the strength and timing of a low pressure system Tuesday morning. The latest model runs have weakened the system and show a less precipitation in our area. Forecast models could revert back to their original solutions however, which would mean more precipitation for our region. Temperatures will stay at or above average levels through the weekend with a cool down Monday and Tuesday.

Drought news: Grand Valley water providers are preparing for another dry season #codrought

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From KREX (Taylor Kanost):

Several water providers in Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins announced this week that they will be upgrading to Stage II drought, meaning mandatory water restrictions will be enforced.

Grand Valley water providers have yet to make the upgrade, but plan on reevaluating the water supply in a few weeks once Spring snow pack and runoff values are available. “At that point, we’ll have a good indicator if we are going to stay in stage I drought, which is voluntary water restrictions, or if we’ll move into stage II drought, which is mandatory water restrictions,” said External Affairs Manager for Ute Water Conservancy District, Joseph Burtard.

In stage II drought, water rates are adjusted to discourage residents from overusing water, and restrictions are placed on outdoor water use.

Currently, the average snow pack in Colorado is only at 79% of normal, and is 90% of the snow pack the Western Slope had in 2012. Although above normal precipitation is expected in Western Colorado over the next three months, the Climate Prediction Center still believes much of the state will remain under drought conditions through at least June.

Say hello to the Colorado-Big Thompson Headwaters Partnership

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From the Fort Collins Coloradoan (Bobby Magill):

…a group of agencies has come together to help improve watershed health around reservoirs in the headwaters of the Colorado River — the source of about half of Fort Collins’ drinking water supplies.

About 90 percent of the trees in the forests around Grand County lakes supplying water to Horsetooth and other reservoirs have been killed by bark beetles, posing a major risk to water supplies.

The U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Water and the Colorado State Forest Service have agreed to work together to establish a joint program to treat fire-prone forests on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Called the Colorado-Big Thompson Headwaters Partnership, the agencies will work together to improve the watershed health above major Grand County reservoirs that supply water to Horsetooth Reservoir, Carter Lake and other reservoirs that supply water to Front Range cities.

More Colorado River Basin coverage here and here.

EPA: Over half the streams in the U.S. are in poor condition

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From the Associated Press (Dina Cappiello) via The Denver Post:

The Environmental Protection Agency sampled nearly 2,000 locations in 2008 and 2009—from rivers as large as the Mississippi River to streams small enough for wading. The study found more than 55 percent of them in poor condition, 23 percent in fair shape, and 21 percent in good biological health.

The most widespread problem was high levels of nutrient pollution, caused by phosphorus and nitrogen washing into rivers and streams from farms, cities, and sewers. High levels of phosphorus—a common ingredient in detergents and fertilizers—were found in 40 percent of rivers and streams. Another problem detected was development. Land clearing and building along waterways increases erosion and flooding, and allows more pollutants to enter waters.

Conditions are worse in the East, the report found. More than 70 percent of streams and rivers from the Texas coast to the New Jersey coast are in poor shape. Streams and rivers are healthiest in Western mountain areas, where only 26 percent were classified as in poor condition.

The EPA also found some potential risks for human health. In 9 percent of rivers and streams, bacteria exceeded thresholds protective of human health. And mercury, which is toxic, was found in fish tissue along 13,000 miles of streams at levels exceeding health-based standards. Mercury, which is naturally occurring, also can enter the environment from coal-burning power plants and from burning hazardous wastes. The Obama administration finalized regulations to control mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants for the first time in late 2011.

Click here to read the report

More water pollution coverage here and here.

Colorado-Big Thompson Project update: Carter Reservoir 80% full

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From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):

Just a quick e-mail to let you all know that the routine work we were doing down around Flatiron has completed. As a result, Pinewood water levels are on their way back up to more typical elevations for this time of year. Flatiron Reservoir water levels will start to come back up–and begin fluctuating again, as is normal. And, the pump to Carter Lake will go back on before the end of the day Thursday, March 28. As of this afternoon, Carter Lake is 80% full.

More Colorado-Big Thompson Project coverage here.

Reclamation Releases a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities

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Here’s the release from the Bureau of Reclamation (Steve McCall/Justyn Hock):

Reclamation announced today that it released a final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities. The supplemental EA and FONSI augments the 2012 Ridgway Hydropower EA and FONSI and addresses additional details and information on the interconnection and transmission facilities.

Reclamation will issue a license agreement to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association for construction of interconnection facilities to interconnect Tri-County Water Conservancy District Hydropower facilities to the existing 115-kV transmission line that runs along U.S. Highway 550. In addition, a memorandum of agreement will be signed with Tri-County to relocate dry storage facilities and utilities operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as part of Ridgway State Park.

Tri-County is currently constructing the hydropower facilities at Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River in Ouray County, Colo. and operates and maintains Ridgway Dam.

The final EA and FONSI are available on our website under the “environmental documents” heading [or] by contacting Steve McCall with Reclamation in Grand Junction at (970) 248-0638.

More hydroelectric coverage here and here.