Mineral Rights
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Are the gas wells noisy?
Answer: They could be depending on the life cycle of the well. When wells are first installed and there is no power poles close by and or if they are not hooked up to the power, then they use methane powered motors to run the pumps to remove the water from the coal beds so that the methane gas will escape. After such time as the coal beds are dewatered then they no longer need the motors or pumps. They tell us this dewatering could happen in a few months or years depending on the well. Most of the time we have seen the gas companies hooking into the power grid and trying to be good neighbors but every situation is different.
What do they do with the water from the coal beds?
Answer: It depends on the quality of the water. In many cases they put it in to a surface pond to evaporate or soak into the ground. If the water is of a quality that meets Federal standards the EPA will allow them to leave it on the surface or put into a surface creek or runoff. If there are too many totally disolved solids, too alkaline, too saline etc then they have to dispose of the water in other methods such as in deep injection wells. If this is the case they will remove the water from the well site on the property in water trucks. Many owners are interested in making arrangements to secure the water for water livestock or for surface ponds but the quality of the water will determine if they can do this.
After the well is drilled how often do they check on it or access it?
Answer: For the most part they check the wells once or twice a day unless they need to do service or repairs to it. Occasionally they will have to rework or frac the well in order to help it produce better but for the most part activity is minimal after the well is producing.
Are the wells or pipelines dangerous?
Answer: To date there haven't been any known problems in this area that we are aware of but research could most likely indicate that problems could arise such as gas leaks from the pipelines or in an extreme case an explosion or fire. But aren't these the same concerns that you might have in any city that has natural gas piped to each home?
This is a pipeline that comes above the surface and from what I understand this is called a P.I.G. launching station. P.I.G. stands for Pipe Inpection Gadget I think and it is an variety of instruments that clean and inspect the pipelines for damages and corrosion. You will see these in numerous places around in the county.
How close can I build to a gas well or how close can they build to my home?
Answer: From what we understand the setbacks are about 150 feet from a home, water well or structure.
What areas of Las Animas County will have Gas Wells?
Answer: Any property located west of Interstate 25 in Las Animas County is subject to potential Gas Well Drilling, as well as some properties east of the Interstate. The BLM created group unit areas named the Sangre de Cristo, Cottontail Pass and the Spanish Peaks and leased the minerals for this type of gas exploration and production.
Are there any ranches in this area that won't be affected by gas well drilling?
Answer: Yes there could be one that we know of and that is the Santa Fe Trail Ranch. Presently the property owners and the Property Owners Association own and/or control their mineral rights on this ranch. Drilling could happen on this ranch if 60% or more of the property owners voted to allow drilling or unless something changes with the rules of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission. So to say that there will never be drilling on this ranch is not practical but the likely hood of it happening is lower than most area ranches. This ranch is also installing a central water system with City supplied water from Trinidad making it a great ranch to consider. Also many Silver Spurs Ranch properties have their minerals and some owners will be willing to sell their minerals with their properties. Also there are some other ranches and properties that the owners own a portion of their minerals and are at least willing to pass these to the new owners. Contact us for details.
Another Gas well site with only one gas well on the site pad.
If you would like to learn more about Mineral Rights check out the information and links below.
Colorado Oil and Gas Commission Is the organization responsible for Oil and Gas development in Colorado. Their phone number is (303) 894-2100.
Pioneer Natural Resources is one of the major Gas Companies in Las Animas County. Their Phone number in Denver is (303) 298-8100.
Petrogulf Corporation is another of our local Oil and Gas Companies and their phone number is (303) 893-5400.
Oil & Gas Accountability Project Is a wonderful group of hard working concerned people that work with local communities throughout the Rocky Mountain West and across the country to reduce the social, economic and environmental problems caused by oil and gas development. Get the free information booklet "A Landowner's Guide to Oil and Gas Development" . It's a 3mb file, so be prepared if you have a slow connection.
Title 43, Chapter 7, Subchapter X, Section 299 Reservation of coal and mineral rights
BLM GeoCommunicator A joint project between the BLM and the US Forest Service in partnership with States, Counties and Private Industry. A set of online tools for collection, management, and sharing of land survey data and land record information including Land and Mineral Use Leases, Federal Land Stewardship and Land Survey Information. This is a wealth of information if you like this kind of data.
Do you have other questions concerning minerals or coal bed methane in regards to properties in this area? If so please let us know and we will do our best to answer your questions or point your in the right direction.
We hope that this information has been helpful to you and that it shows our deep seated commitment to helping you in your land search in a professional straight forward honest manner.
We have been the only Real Estate Company in this area, that we know of, to openly discuss this issue on their web page up to now but we hope that changes. We feel if you have the facts you can make a good decision in your land purchase for you and your family!