HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.04 Application Narrative finalOXY USA WTP LP
Pond 10
Application Narrative
Garfield County Limited Impact Review, 2014 Page 1 of 5
Pond 10 Water Impoundment and Storage Site
OXY USA WTP LP
Limited Impact Review Application Narrative
OXY USA WTP LP (OXY) is pursuing a Limited Impact Review (LIR) in Garfield County for the
development of a water storage pond, the Pond 10. The proposed site will be located on private
property, owned by OXY USA WTP LP, approximately 12 miles north of DeBeque, Colorado. The site
will be defined as a Water Impoundment with storage as an accessory use. TheAfacility’sAmainA
function will be to store produced water in a location centralized to OXY’sAproduction field.
1.1 Description
The purpose of the proposed Pond 10 site is to increase efficiency in the transportation and use of
produced water within the OXY Cascade Creek field. The proposed water impoundment site will
reduce overall heavy traffic on county roads by allowing vehicles to transport produce water to a
pond within OXYs property. The parcel is currently owned by OXY USA WTP LP.
Pond 10 will eliminate the need to transport fresh water for natural gas extraction and the
transportation of produced water to a disposal facility. The produced water will have several
stages of treatment prior to storage at the proposed Pond 10 facility. When a natural gas well is
drilled, water from the drilled formation is extracted along with the natural gas and classified as
produced water. The produced water will contain natural gas and other products and must be
treated by a separation process on the well pad. 2- and 3-phase separators will initially treat the
produced water by gravity separation and skimming inside storage tanks. After the separation
phase, the produced water is transported in a water hauling truck or pipeline to the centralized
water facility. The Central Water Handling Facility, OXY’sAcentralizedAwaterAfacilityAtreats the
produced water to remove additional solids and oil. Once the produced water has been treated it
will be transported to the Pond 10 water impoundment site for storage. The water will be stored
until it is required for completions activities. Anticipated completion activities will take
approximately 5 days to complete. OXY will be the sole operator and user of the subject site.
Oxy will install a loading/unloading station (or equivalent delivery/retrieval system) next to the
multi-well/production pit, to deliver fluids or to remove fluids from the pit by truck. The
loading/unloading station shall be designed and utilized to prevent hoses from being dropped into
the pits and dragged over the liner, which could lead to liner damage. The loading/unloading
station will be the only permitted access for manual fluids transfers to or from the pit. Vehicles will
not be allowed to approach the pit any closer than the loading/unloading station. Each station will
have a catch basin in case a leak occurs while operations personnel are connecting or disconnecting
hoses. Signs clearly marking the truck loading/unloading station shall be provided and maintained
by the operator.
Pond 10 will be 1.47 acres and have a storage capacity of 90,000 barrels. Hydrocarbons on the fluid
surface of the Facility will be removed and recovered within 24 hours of discovery. Recovered oil
will be stored in oil tanks which will go to market for sale, while solids separated from the
produced water will be disposed of in accordance with applicable COGCC regulations.
Safety containment systems for Pond 10 include a geosynthetic clayAliner,AaAdoubleA60‐milAHDPEA
liner system with sandwiched geonet and two site wells to check for seepage through the primary
liner. The pump pad adjacent to the south edge of Pond 10 will consist of a concrete pad with an
exterior lip to ensure containment in case of spills.
OXY USA WTP LP
Pond 10
Application Narrative
Garfield County Limited Impact Review, 2014 Page 2 of 5
The Pond 10 site has been designed to mitigate potential risks to wildlife. Mitigations efforts
include netting and fencing. Netting would exclude birds from entering the produced water storage
impoundment and would eliminate the harming of birds protected under the Migratory Bird
Protection Act. Fencing, specifically a chain link fence with 1 foot below grade and 2 feet above
grade mesh prevent both large mammals (including game species) and small mammals from
entering the produced water storage impoundment. The Environmental Impact Assessment is
located in the Impact Analysis tab. The Wildlife Habitat Report for the water impoundment use is
located in the Standards tab.
The site location was previously developed as a water impoundment site. Two ponds were located
on the site and will be removed prior to the installation of Pond 10. Pumps, natural gas generator,
and other use specific equipment exist on site. The subject application includes previously installed
equipment and structures that were previously unaddressed to bring the site into compliance with
the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code. The As-Built figure is located in the Maps and
Plans tab.
The Pond 10 will not require personnel to be staffed at the site on a regular basis. Personnel will
only be on-site during completions of a well and access the site for transportation of the produced
water. A copy of the Emergency Response Plan is provided in the Maps and Plans Tab. Certifications
of training can be provided upon request.
The subject site will be permitted as a Centralized E&P Waste Management Facility under Colorado
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rules 908. Currently a Form 15 and Form 2A has
been submitted to the COGCC. Copies of the COGCC applications are provided in the Supporting
Documents tab.
The site will be inspected regularly to identify potential conditions that could cause a release. To
monitor for impacts to the subsurface at the Pond 10, three site-specific monitoring wells will be
installed, two monitoring wells will be installed down gradient and one installed up-gradient. The
location and sampling plan of the monitoring wells will be determined once the COGCC has
reviewed the Form 28. The monitoring wells will be installed at least 20 feet below ground
surface. These wells will be monitored to detect possible releases from the water impoundment
operations.
Proposed storage sites, an accessory to the subject application, will be located within the perimeter
of the subject site. Storage site locations are identified on the Site Plan, provided in the Maps and
Plans tab. Three storage sites are proposed, with Storage Site 3 strictly for the use of the proposed
water impoundment. The two additional storage sites, north of the pond, are proposed for
additional storage sites for the Cascade Field. Details and standards for the proposed storages sites
are located in the Storage tab.
A majority of the site was previously graded and developed. The site is located within the 7732 acre
parcel. An access road to the site location is maintained and owned by OXY. Access roads details are
located in the Standards tab. A site plan is located in the Maps and Plans tab.
The construction phase will be approximately 13 weeks for the site grading and construction of the
water impoundment pond. Average daily traffic during this construction period will be eight
vehicles. Approximately 5 percent of these vehicles will consist of large trucks.
OXY USA WTP LP
Pond 10
Application Narrative
Garfield County Limited Impact Review, 2014 Page 3 of 5
The traffic report determined that the increase in traffic is negligible and no significant
improvements to the county roads are warranted. The site will generate 4-14 vehicles on average
per daily, 33% of vehicles are classified as trucks. A traffic report is located in the Impact Analysis
tab and the access route figure is located in the Maps and Plans tab.
OXY will obtain all necessary permits (building, electrical, etc.) from the Garfield County Building
and Planning Department as required before the start of any future construction activities at the
Pond 10 site.
1.2 Purpose and Need
The proposed water impoundment site will result in improved efficiency in transportation and use
of produced water. The proposed site is located on OXY’sAproperty and within the Cascade Creek
field. Pond 10 will support existing wells in the Cascade Creek field and the completion of future
wells on Cascade Creek acreage for the Mesa, Valley, and Logan Wash areas. The Pond 10 site is
critical to OXY’sAabilityAtoAproduceAnaturalAgasAinAGarfieldACounty.
Facilities and Equipment Summary
The following section summarizes the structures and equipment that are currently existing and
proposed for the subject site.
Existing:
-Natural Gas Fueled Generator with Building
-Two Water Storage Ponds (to be removed prior to installation of proposed Pond 10)
-Pipe Assembly
-Pump Pad (To be relocated on-site)
-2 inch Pipe Metal Fencing
- Two Graded storage areas
-Storage #1 (270 ft X 103 ft)
-Storage #2 (202 ft X 111 ft)
The As-Built figure is located in the Maps and Plans tab.
Proposed:
-Water Impoundment Pond (308 ft X 216 ft, 63,897 square feet), with liners
-8 foot Fencing with attached meshing
-Bird Netting
-Storage Area #3 (279 ft X 44 ft)
The water impoundment site plan is provided in the Maps and Plans Tab.
1.4 Location
The proposed Pond 10 site plan is designed to be approximately 9. 836 acres and will be southerly
located on parcel 2169-214-00-026, the Southeast ¼ of the Southwest ¼ of Section 5, Township 7
South, Range 97 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, Garfield County. The subject parcel is
approximately 7732 acres. OXY USA WTP LP, the applicant, is the owner of the property. OXY is the
sole owner of mineral rights for the subject parcel. A complete of list of mineral owners is located in
the Impact Analysis tab. The Garfield County Assessors map, legal description, surface use
OXY USA WTP LP
Pond 10
Application Narrative
Garfield County Limited Impact Review, 2014 Page 4 of 5
agreement, and the deed for the property are provided in the Impact Analysis Tab. The subject
parcel is zoned resource lands-gentle slopes. All adjacent parcels are zoned resource lands or public
lands.
1.5 Section 4-202 Waiver of Submission Requirements
Section 4-203 J. Development Agreement
OXY requests a waiver for the Development Plan, Section 4-203(J) of the Garfield County Land Use
and Development Code. The proposed site is an industrial use and will solely be owned by the
applicant. The Development Agreement is not applicable to the proposed site because the applicant
does not seek to enter into a development agreement.
Section 4-203 K. Improvement Agreement
Oxy requests a waiver for the Improvement Agreement, Section 4-203(K) of the Garfield County
Land Use and Development Code. The site will not require the installation of public utilities nor will
increase demands on public facilities. The site location is remote and is currently used for oil and
gas activities. The Improvement Agreement is not applicable to the proposed site because the
remote location will not require the installation or improvements of public facilities.
1.6 Section 4-118 Waiver of Standards
Section 7-101 Zone District Dimensions
Oxy requests a waiver for the Zone District Use Regulations of the General Use Standards, Section 7-
101 of the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code. The waiver is for the Side Setback
Standard of the Resource Lands-Gentle Slopes Zone District, Section 3-201 of the Garfield County
Land Use and Development Code. The proposed site does not meet the requirement of 10 feet from
theAadjacentApropertyAboundary.ATheAproposedAsiteAisAlocatedAonAtheA pplicant’sApropertyAandAonA
the adjacent parcel owned by JOJO Properties (JOJO). A Surface Use Agreement (SUA) is established
for the JOJO parcel and the Savage Limited Partners (LP) parcel located south of the site location.
Site features located on the adjacent parcel are drainage and stormwater controls that are required
for proper mitigation of surface water and to minimize impacts to the adjacent parcels. A SUA was
established with Savage (LP) to included tract 39, located South of Applicant parcel. Part of the
Tract 39 is now owned by JOJO. The SUA was established under Savage (LP) prior to the
transaction. The SUA remains in effect for the JOJO Properties parcel. The Savage SUA and Special
Warrant Deed are located in the Impact Analysis tab. The JOJO and Savage parcels are zoned
resource lands and natural gas activities are currently located on both parcels. Oxy currently has
stormwater mitigations features located on the Savage and JOJO properties. Oxy currently
maintains access roads located on the JOJO parcel. The nearest residence is located approximately
2000 feet to the South on the Savage property. The figure in the Noise Analysis shows the location
of the nearest residence. The residence will not incur any impacts from noise and is screened by the
natural topography. The Site Plan, showing the Savage property, is located in the Maps and Plans
tab.
Section 7-1001 B. Setbacks of the Industrial Use Standards
Oxy requests a waiver for the Setback Standard of the Industrial Uses Standards, Section 7-1001 (B)
of the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code. The proposed site is 10 feet from the
adjacent property to the south, the JOJO property. The JOJO and Savage parcels are zoned resource
lands and natural gas activities are currently located on the parcels. Oxy has an established SUA
with the JOJO and Savage parcels. Documents are located in the Impact Analysis tab. Oxy currently
has stormwater mitigations features located on the JOJO and Savage properties. The nearest
OXY USA WTP LP
Pond 10
Application Narrative
Garfield County Limited Impact Review, 2014 Page 5 of 5
residence is located approximately 2000 feet to the South on the Savage property. The figure in the
Noise Analysis shows the location of the nearest residence. The residence will not incur any impacts
from noise and is screened by the natural topography. The Site Plan, showing JOJO and Savage
properties, is located in the Maps and Plans tab.
Section 7-1001 D (3) Storage of the Industrial Use Standards
A waiver is being pursued for Standard 7-1001 D. 3. of the Garfield County LUDC, which states
storageA“Shall be a minimum of 100 feet from an adjacent property line.” Three storage sites are
proposed for the site. Storage areas #1 and #2 will be located more than 100 feet from adjacent
property line. Storage Area #3 is less than 100 feet from the adjacent parcel to the south. Storage
Area #3 is approximately 32.5 feet from the JOJO parcel. The applicant has an established SUA with
the JOJO and Savage properties. Natural gas facilities exist on the adjacent JOJO and Savage
properties and Oxy (the Application) has stormwater features located on the adjacent parcels. The
Savage SUA and Special Warranty Deed are located in the Impact Analysis tab. The Site Plan
detailing Storage Area dimensions is provided in the Maps and Plans tab.