While a drop in oil prices has reduced interest in some oil and gas operations, a company has acquired a state permit to conduct seismic testing for petroleum reserves in Larimer and Weld counties.
The company, Extraction Oil & Gas LLC, plans to conduct 3-D seismic surveys through contractor Geokinetics Inc. on about 8 square miles in the Loveland and Windsor area. The work should be complete by March 31.
“The seismic surveys cause minimal disturbance to the local community and take a short time to complete,” according to a letter to residents from Jamie Luckenbill of Purple Land Management — working on behalf of Extraction Oil.
City of Loveland Development Services Director Greg George said because of the potential impacts within the city’s rights of way, city engineer Dave Klockeman came up with a list of 11 recommended requirements, which the operator has agreed to meet.
Since the city has never received an application for seismic testing in the past, George said there wasn’t a city code that could be used.
The requirements are: a right-of-way permit, information on hours of work and compliance with city code, a detailed map of the proposed locations for testing, size and weight restrictions on equipment on city streets, lower intensity testing, sensors placed without conflicting with city maintenance operations, demonstration of testing before starting work, weekly schedules and daily updates, a public meeting, information to address property owner concerns and a letter to adjacent property owners.
