GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.—A geological consultant for Garfield County is questioning whether a natural gas seep in West Divide Creek south of Silt is originating from just one gas well, as state officials maintain, and if repairs to the well are adequate.
Geoffrey Thyne says the seep, discovered in 2004, isn’t subsiding.
County commissioners voted Monday to urge the state to estimate how long the seep will last if it’s coming from only one well, or identify other sources and address them.
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission staff say they don’t share Thyne’s concerns but will consider the county’s request.
The seep resulted in gas and benzene surfacing in the creek. The state blamed the problem on difficulties that EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) had sealing the outside of the well with cement. Officials said remedial cement work stopped the leak, but previously escaped gas is still surfacing.
EnCana spokesman Doug Hock said EnCana doesn’t believe residual leakage from the 2004 incident is more than expected, or that there is an ongoing problem with area wells. But he said EnCana welcomes further study.
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Information from: The Daily Sentinel,
