Piceance

Hundreds of royalty owners in the natural gas-rich Piceance Basin of Garfield, CO, may benefit from a proposed partial settlement of a class action lawsuit brought against Williams Production RMT.

Fueled by natural gas drilling, the energy boom will more than double the population over the next 30 years in Colorado’s Piceance Basin region, according to a report.

Natural gas drilling in northwestern Colorado’s Piceance Basin is projected to increase through 2015 and remain relatively stable through at least 2035, with gas-related businesses continuing to fuel the local economy, according to a report.

By focusing on three development projects in the Uinta, Piceance and Powder River basins, Bill Barrett Corp. expects to boost its production by almost 20% this year, the company said last week.

By focusing on three development projects in the Uinta, Piceance and Powder River basins, Bill Barrett Corp. expects to boost its production by almost 20% this year, the company said Thursday.

Tulsa-based Williams received four awards from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) for its efforts in the Piceance Basin to apply new drilling technology, establish cooperative relationships with communities and reduce emissions and truck traffic associated with new developments. Williams, which employs 400 in Colorado, received a best management practice award from BLM for integrating a new technology that can drill and complete up to 22 natural gas wells from a single drilling location. Outstanding operations awards were given by the COGCC for a hydrogeology survey to study water quality, road and tunnel construction to shorten the driven distance to a new area, and centralizing the hydraulic fracturing process to eliminate trucking water from the North Rulison field.

Williams’ Northwest Pipeline has received authorization from FERC to place its 30-inch Parachute Lateral Pipeline project in the capacity-constrained Piceance Basin of Colorado into service. The 37.6-mile pipeline and related facilities will provide 450,000 Dth/d from Williams’ production facilities in Garfield County, CO, to the Greasewood Hub. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the pipeline project last year (see NGI, Aug. 21, 2006). Affiliate Williams Power also executed a precedent agreement to provide secure transportation service on the lateral for a 15-year term.

Williams’ Northwest Pipeline has received authorization from FERC to place its 30-inch Parachute Lateral Pipeline project in the capacity-constrained Piceance Basin of Colorado into service.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said it is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment analyzing the potential impacts of the ExxonMobil Piceance Development Project, which is about 15 miles west of Meeker, CO. ExxonMobil proposes expanding its natural gas drilling activities and related infrastructure in the 28,800-acre project area, including the addition of a 150 MMcf/d gas treating facility to handle production from 120 new multi-well pads. The existing gas fields in the area have been in continuous operation since the 1950s. The EA analyzes the potential impacts of drilling up to 1,080 new wells from 120 new multi-well pads, as well as a new gas plant, new pipelines and other associated infrastructure. The White River Field Office will host a public open house meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 in Meeker to share information on the proposed project and alternatives. BLM will accept public comment on the environmental assessment through Nov. 3. For more information visit the BLM’s White River Field Office website at www.co.blm.gov/wrra or contact Carol Hollowed at (970) 878-3800.