Earthworks OGI Camera Set Up for Field ObservationOn June 6, the Larimer Alliance co-hosted an Earthworks Fracking Action Tour with 350 Colorado and Green Latinos
We hosted a tour group of twelve to joing Andrew Klooster, Earthworks Colorado Field Advocate, on a tour of two active oil and gas operations outside of Windsor, Colorado. Andrew demonstrated their Optical Gas Imaging camera, which uses FLIR branded infrared photography to make emissions from oil and gas facilities visible. Following the observations at the active sites, our group took a look at the proposed Century site where Verdad Resources is planning a 22-well pad with associated infrastructure in near proximity to residential areas and schools. Although nominally outside of the 2,000 foot legal setback from homes and other vulnerable structures, we all know the emissions and other deleterious effects of such an operation will range much farther than that. Ā
Emissions observed from the flaring stack on the left. Nominally an enclosed combustion device, this one’s igniter was not working, so the burning of extraneous methane was not happening.Even when operating properly, emissions can still be observed from oil and gas operations
The image seen above, showing emissions from the combustion stack of a separator unit, was captured the day before our tour. Upon our arrival on site, he focused again on the same stack and saw the emissions were still happening. He explained that the separators are what will divide what is drawn up from a wellbore into oil, the "produced water" or waste fracking fluid, and extraneous methane deemed unusable. Each separator has a flaring device which burns off the methane, which is a greenhouse gas even more problematic than carbon. In this instance, the igniter for the flare is not functioning, so the methane is just drifting off into the atmosphere. . . it disperses fairly quickly, but is more pervasive. Andrew explained he encounters this frequently, and brings such instances to the attention of the operators and Colorado's Air Pollution Control Division. However, the operators feel no obligation to respond to his reports of such violations until the regulatory agency leans on them, and they are given a grace period to respond before it is actually treated and fined as a violation. Beyond that, the combustion processes in the flaring devices are imperfect at best, so you are still getting both carbon and unburned methane out of these stacks. He also observed some emissions from the tank battery on site that held produced water. This site was going to get a violation report presented to the APCD. The enforcement processes are slow, and the division relies on the companies to self-monitor and report as their staff is stretched thin across all the 45,000 plus active wells in the state of Colorado. Andrew also made clear that the air pollution monitoring is only brought on line when the well goes into production. Emissions of all sorts from the bore and the equipment used in drilling and hauling away waste are not monitored during the drilling phase.
Andrew Klooster of Eathworks setting up his OGI camera at first field observation site
Everyone on the tour had the opportunity to view the emissions through the OGI camera
Andrew is a ready font of information on the processes, and what he encounters when making his observations.
The second site observed was viewed from the sidewalk right outside a residential neighborhood. While nominally beyond the setback limit, that is still clearly too close for comfort!Following the tour we met to discuss what we had learned at Peculier Ales in Windsor
Well, this was actually before the tour, but we were on the front porch of Peculier Ales.We had been by the site of the proposed Century pad on the West side of Windsor, at the intersection of County Road 15 and Harmony Road. We had a few concerned Windsor residents on hand for this expedition, and they are seeking support for their efforts to stop this 22-well monstrosity from going in near their homes and schools. Sandra Duggan of 350 Colorado gave us a briefing on their Safe and Healthy Colorado communications program as well as the upcoming Here and Now Tour in support of their Make Polluters Pay campaign. This is seeking to establish a state level climate superfund to get polluters of all sorts to pony up for the damage to our health and environment they have caused. Patricia Garcia Nelson spoke to the continued efforts of Green Latinos to rein in the egregious pollution of the Suncor refinery in Commerce City, as well as pushing back against ongoing oil and gas development around our state, and the harm it brings to disproportionately impacted communities.
