1. 1
Hydraulic
Fracturing
in
Colorado:
Fracking’s
History
and
Importance
to
The
Centennial
State
Cassie
Ali
BannerID:
872556478
Geography
Independent
Study
Spring
2015
May
15,
2015

2. 2
Table
of
Contents
Introduction
Colorado’s
Natural
Resource
History
Fracking:
Process
&
Procedures
Fracking:
Regulations
Natural
Gas
Statistics
Disadvantages
and
Controversy
Conclusion
Appendix

3. 3
Introduction
Fracking
is
an
issue
that
is
dripping
with
controversy.
It
crosses
economic,
environmental
and
societal
spheres
and
is
polarized
by
avid
supporters
and
angered
foes.
Energy
companies
support
fracking
due
to
its
high
output
of
natural
gas
and
oil
production;
however,
environmental
organizations
are
opposed
to
the
practice
because
of
the
damage
and
pollution
it
leaves
behind.
The
purpose
of
this
report
is
to
inform
the
reader
on
the
history,
procedures,
statistics
and
concerns
associated
with
fracking
in
Colorado.
It
explores
The
Centennial
State’s
natural
resource
extraction
history,
outlines
the
logistics
of
fracking,
and
presents
the
statistics
and
development
of
a
practice
that
has
been
used
in
Colorado
for
over
forty
years.
This
report
is
based
on
research
gathered
from
a
variety
of
sources
including
the
United
States
and
Colorado
State
Government,
energy
companies,
educational
institutions,
and
news
outlets
on
the
city
and
county
level.
Even
though
fracking
is
a
highly
controversial
issue,
this
report
is
not
rooted
in
any
bias,
but
rather
presents
the
facts
and
history
to
provide
one
with
the
information
and
interest
to
form
one’s
own
opinion.
Colorado’s
Natural
Resource
History
In
the
1800’s
people
flocked
to
Colorado
with
hopes
of
profiting
from
the
rich
mineral
resources
found
in
the
undiscovered
west.
In
1859,
gold
was
found
in
gravel
deposits
in
Denver’s
Cherry
Creek
and
the
Black
Hawk-­‐Central
City
area.
Gold;
however,
was
just
the
beginning
and
people
began
to
discover
the
state’s
precious
minerals
and
gemstones
such
as
silver,
zinc,
lead,
aquamarine
and
rhodochrosite
(Cappa).
As
the
United
States
became
more
industrialized,
Colorado’s
rock

4. 4
materials:
sand,
gravel,
gypsum
and
limestone,
became
essential
to
supporting
infrastructure
and
factory
production.
Around
this
time,
coal
also
became
an
essential
need
for
the
increasing
energy
demand.
While
the
majority
of
Colorado’s
mining
history
occurs
in
its
mountains,
most
of
the
hot
spots
for
energy
resources
like
coal,
oil
and
natural
gas
are
found
on
the
western
slope
near
the
Utah
border
as
well
as
on
the
eastern
plains,
an
area
known
as
the
Denver-­‐Julesburg
Basin.
The
Denver-­‐Julesburg
Basin
stretches
from
Crowely
County
in
the
southeastern
part
of
Colorado
up
through
Nebraska,
Wyoming
and
the
southwestern
tip
of
South
Dakota.
The
basin’s
geologic
material
consists
of
Paleozoic,
Mesozoic,
and
Cenozoic
sedimentary
rock
layers
that
make
up
the
Niobrara
Shale
Formation.
These
rocks
can
be
dated
back
300
million
years
ago—an
uplifting
period
known
as
the
Colorado
Orogeny
that
created
the
Ancestral
Rockies
(Lilis
Energy).
The
Niobrara
Shale
Formation
has
more
than
20,000
wells
that
drill
3,000-­‐
14,000
feet
below
the
earth’s
surface
to
reach
oil
and
natural
gas
reserves
(Oil
&
Gas
Financial
Journal).
The
typical
image
of
these
wells
is
the
pumpjack
drill,
a
technique
that
has
been
used
for
over
one
hundred
years.
The
pumpjack
drill
is
a
hammer
like
beam
that
pounds
a
piston
into
the
earth
to
release
oil
and
gas.
Another
technique
of
drilling
is
hydraulic
fracturing
or
as
it
is
referred
to
in
basic
terms—fracking.
Fracking
uses
a
mixture
of
water
and
chemicals
to
create
fissures
in
shale
rock
to
release
the
embedded
oil
and
gas.
Fracking
is
more
powerful
than
pumpjack
drilling
and
thus
has
a
higher
production
level;
however,
the
processes
and
environmental
affects
associated
with
fracking
put
the
practice
into
question.

5. 5
Fracking:
Process
&
Procedures
Society
presents
itself
as
either
pro
or
anti
fracking
and
there
is
little
discussion
about
the
actual
process.
As
defined
by
Energy
and
Capital,
fracking
is
the
process
of
injecting
water
mixed
with
sand
and
chemicals
into
horizontal
wells
within
shale
formations.
The
high-­‐pressure
injection
creates
fissures
in
the
rock,
held
open
by
the
grains
of
sand,
which
release
the
natural
gas
trapped
inside
(Brommely).
As
stated
in
a
report
by
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Natural
Gas
Producers,
this
liquid
mixture
is
99.5
percent
water
and
sand
and
.5
percent
chemically
based
additives.
By
regulation
of
rule
205A
of
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission,
all
oil
and
natural
gas
production
companies
are
required
to
disclose
the
chemicals
used
in
hydraulic
fracturing
fluid,
as
well
as
the
amount
of
water
used
in
the
process
(America’s
Natural
Gas
Alliance).
All
of
this
information
is
public
record
and
can
be
accessed
online;
however,
few
people
seek
out
the
facts.
The
fracturing
activity
happens
thousands
of
feet
underground
in
a
fracking
well.
The
drilling
well
begins
at
2,500-­‐7,500
feet
(1,000
feet
below
the
water
table)
and
the
fracturing
of
the
shale
occurs
at
7,000-­‐8,000
feet
beneath
the
earth’s
surface
(America's
Natural
Gas
Alliance).
Once
the
drill
is
at
the
appropriate
depth,
it
takes
a
ninety-­‐degree
turn
into
the
shale
to
release
the
natural
gas
trapped
in
the
sediments.
Several
casings
of
steel
and
cement
contain
the
drill
to
ensure
its
power
remains
directed
at
the
targeted
shale.
It
also
protects
the
ground
water
from
interference
and
contamination.
From
the
surface,
fracking
wells
appear
as
large
cement
slabs
with
steel
structures
supporting
the
drill
and
are
often
un-­‐amusing
to
any
one
passing
them
by.

6. 6
Once
the
oil
and
gas
are
released
from
the
shale,
it
is
pumped
back
to
the
surface.
The
oil
and
gas
are
separated
to
storage
tanks
where
they
are
processed,
refined
and
shipped
off
for
sale.
The
water
mixture,
often
called
“flowback
water”
is
sent
to
waste
water
plants
to
be
treated
and
filtered.
The
wastewater
is
regulated
like
any
other
waste
in
the
state,
and
is
overseen
by
several
different
agencies
and
regulators.
The
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(EPA),
The
Ground
Water
Protection
Council
(comprised
of
multi-­‐state
water
pollution
control
officials),
and
The
Colorado
Oil
and
Natural
Gas
Conservation
Commission
all
oversee
the
treatment
and
disposition
of
the
flowback
water
(Clean
Water
Action).
Oil
and
natural
gas
are
sometimes
used
interchangeably
in
discussions
and
statistics
of
hydraulic
fracturing.
However,
natural
gas
is
the
primary
resource
that
is
desired
and
marketed
from
the
fracking
process.
In
the
earth’s
surface,
oil
floats
on
water
and
natural
gas
floats
on
oil;
because
of
this
contrasting
density
they
are
found
together
in
“traps,”
which
is
where
fracking
wells
drill.
In
most
cases,
gas
is
always
found
with
oil,
but
natural
gas
can
also
be
found
without
oil
(Colorado
Geological
Survey).
Fracking
has
allowed
a
powerful
way
for
energy
companies
to
access
this
natural
resource
that
is
often
considered
more
advanced
and
“cleaner”
than
other
fossils
fuels
like
coal
and
oil.
Regulations
Laws
and
regulations
surrounding
oil
and
natural
gas
are
found
under
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Act
that
was
passed
in
1951
and
amended
in
2014.
It
regulates
all
aspects
of
energy
production
from
public
and
private
land
rights,
waste
treatment,
economic
production
and
environmental
protection.
The

7. 7
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission
is
the
responsible
agency
for
enforcing
the
statues
of
the
law
and
monitoring
all
oil
and
gas
production
sites.
Both
the
act
and
the
commission
strive
to
“manage
oil
and
gas
operations
in
a
manner
that
balances
development
with
wildlife
conservation
in
recognition
of
the
state's
obligation
to
protect
wildlife
resources
and
the
hunting,
fishing,
and
recreation
traditions
they
support,
which
are
an
important
part
of
Colorado's
economy
and
culture”
(COGCC).
The
commissions
website
provides
a
place
for
the
public
to
communicate
concerns
and
gain
knowledge
of
the
state’s
oil
and
gas
industry.
Oil
and
gas
statistics,
drilling
locations
and
regional
staff
contact
information
are
all
public
record
for
Colorado
citizens.
The
hope
is
that
this
accessible
information
will
allow
more
people
to
become
educated
on
the
oil
and
gas
industry
and
work
with
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission
to
advance
together
in
energy
industry.
Natural
Gas
Statistics
As
political
tensions
continue
to
increase
surrounding
oil,
and
coal
productions
decrease,
The
United
States
is
relying
more
on
natural
gas
for
its
energy
needs.
Natural
gas
is
second
to
coal
in
Colorado’s
energy
consumption,
but
it
is
first
in
production
(U.S.
Energy
Information
Administration).
When
hydraulic
fracturing
technology
was
applied
to
the
Niobrara
Shale
Formation’s
rich
natural
gas
reserve,
natural
gas
became
essential
to
Colorado’s
economy
and
energy
use.
From
1990
to
2010,
the
state’s
natural
gas
production
tripled—
ranking
Colorado
sixth
in
the
nation
(Colorado
Geological
Survey).
Natural
Gas
is
measured
in
thousand
cubic
feet,
or
abbreviated
by
Mcf.
In
applicable
terms,
one
Mcf
of
natural
gas
can
supply
the

8. 8
average
American
home
with
its
energy
needs
(ventilation,
water-­‐heating,
cooking,
etc)
for
four
days
(Coon
Rapids
Municipal
Utilities).
This
may
not
seem
to
be
an
efficient
energy
use;
however,
Colorado’s
natural
gas
production
statistics
show
just
how
profitable
natural
gas
can
be
for
both
the
economy
and
energy
consumers.
As
reported
by
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission,
in
2005
Colorado
produced
1,154,424,767
Mcf
of
natural
gas,
which
is
enough
to
supply
many
households
and
businesses
with
energy
needs
for
an
impressive
amount
of
time—much
longer
than
four
days.
La
Plata
County
was
the
highest
in
production
with
457,912,820
Mcf
for
the
2005
calendar
year,
followed
by
Garfield
County
with
270,784,334
Mcf
and
Weld
County
with
188,606,614
Mcf
(Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission).
In
2014,
Colorado
produced
1,633,959,995
Mcf
of
natural
gas
with
Garfield
County
jumping
ahead
in
production,
followed
by
Weld
and
La
Plata
County
(Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission).
The
increase
Colorado
has
experienced
within
the
past
nine
years
has
allowed
several
rural
counties
to
experience
a
great
boost
in
economic
activity
and
wealth.
Garfield
County,
the
leader
in
natural
gas
production,
is
located
in
the
northwestern
part
of
the
state
including
the
mountain
towns
of
Glenwood
Springs
and
Carbondale.
Energy
has
surpassed
tourism
and
agriculture
for
the
county’s
top
industries
boosting
the
median
household
income
to
$63,929
as
reported
in
2014
(Garfield
County).
This
is
higher
than
both
Denver
County
and
the
state’s
median
household
income,
which
were
$50,313
and
$58,433
as
reported
by
the
2013
United
States
Census.
Both
Weld
County
and
La
Plata
County
had
median
household
incomes
that
were
equitable
with
Garfield’s
County,
surpassing
several
of
their
neighboring
rural

9. 9
counties.
It
is
clear
that
the
fracking
industry
has
allowed
counties
to
be
competitive
with
the
Front
Range’s
economic
hotspots
like
Fort
Collins,
Denver,
and
Colorado
Springs.
Natural
gas
seems
to
have
replaced
gold
in
Colorado’s
attractive
resources;
however,
thankfully
it
is
under
much
more
regulation
than
the
mining
booms
the
state
experienced
during
the
Wild
West.
Disadvantages
and
Controversy
A
Google
search
of
“fracking
in
Colorado,”
displays
1,270,000
results
from
various
energy
companies,
political
organizations
and
news
outlets.
There
is
an
abundance
of
information
about
fracking
on
the
Internet;
however,
these
webpage
titles
are
polarized
in
two
distinct
categories—pro
or
anti
fracking.
Energy
companies
present
the
facts
and
benefits
of
fracking
while
environmental
organizations
reveal
the
disadvantages
of
fracking
and
hope
to
gain
supporters
to
ban
the
practice.
Fracking’s
controversy
is
centered
on
the
potential
pollution
of
ground
and
surface
water
from
the
well’s
flowback
water.
Energy
companies
abide
by
the
strict
structural
and
waste
treatment
regulations
set
in
place
by
state
and
federal
governments;
however,
sometimes
these
protective
casings
and
treatment
systems
fail.
According
to
Clean
Water
Action,
fracking
removes
millions
of
gallons
of
freshwater
from
the
earth
and
disturbs
the
water
cycle.
Each
well
uses
two
to
five
million
gallons
of
local
water
in
the
fracking
process
that
turns
into
contaminated
water.
Efforts
are
made
to
contain
this
toxic
liquid;
however,
as
in
the
case
of
sludge
from
landfills,
some
of
it
makes
its
way
back
into
the
water
supply
(Clean
Water

10. 10
Action).
Colorado
is
among
eight
states
have
reported
ground,
surface
and
drinking
water
contamination
due
to
fracking.
Several
Colorado
towns
have
made
headlines
over
the
past
decade
because
their
drinking
water
was
contaminated
with
fracking
fluid
or
natural
gas.
These
instances
attracted
high
publicity
and
are
known
to
many
as
“Fraccidents.”
Water
protection
campaigns
lead
the
march
to
expose
these
fraccidents
and
gain
lobbyists
to
outlaw
fracking
all
together.
One
of
the
most
well
known
fraccidents
happened
in
February
of
2009
in
the
rural
town
of
Fort
Lupton,
Colorado.
Strange
smells
were
coming
from
one
resident’s
tap
water
and
when
he
held
a
lighter
next
to
the
water
stream
it
ignited
into
a
flame
(Earthjustice).
Two
years
later,
a
family
residing
in
the
town
of
Silt
Mesa,
located
in
Garfield
County,
experienced
severe
nosebleeds,
blackouts
and
body
rashes
that
were
linked
to
air
and
water
pollution
from
a
nearby
gas
development.
They
sought
medical
help
and
were
advised
by
doctors
to
leave
their
home
(Colson).
Other
Colorado
fraccidents
include
the
discovery
of
toxic
chemicals
in
streams
and
well
explosions
causing
fire
and
infrastructure
damage.
These
events
make
headline
news
because
of
their
severity;
however,
they
should
not
be
overlooked.
Fracking’s
air
and
water
pollution
present
energy
companies
and
law
officials
with
a
serious
problem.
One
may
ask:
Why
are
people
so
concerned
with
fracking
pollution
if
coal
and
other
types
of
mining
result
in
the
same
degree
of
pollution?
Pollution
from
mining
has
been
around
since
the
early
1900’s
and
is
monitored
and
regulated
on
several
different
levels
of
government.
Fracking
is
a
newer
practice
and
due
to
its
rapid
boom
in
the
past
decade,

11. 11
responsible
companies
and
agencies
have
not
perfected
the
exact
infrastructure
and
regulations
to
accommodate
its
high
production.
Fracking
presents
Colorado
with
several
environmental
and
societal
issues
as
well
as
economic
and
energy
benefits.
Both
sides
of
the
argument
need
to
be
considered
in
order
to
maintain
a
healthy
and
prosperous
living
environment.
Conclusion
Through
my
research
I
have
learned
that
hydraulic
fracking
has
beneficial
and
harmful
affects
in
Colorado.
Like
any
other
human
interference
with
the
earth,
there
are
repercussions
from
disturbing
the
environment
that
humans
must
recognize.
The
strong
opposing
sides
to
fracking
show
that
Colorado
citizens
and
government
officials
claim
responsibility
for
the
practice
and
are
all
working
towards
a
common
goal
in
preserving
the
earth—they
just
have
different
views
in
how
to
achieve
that
goal.
With
advancing
technology
and
research,
the
oil
and
gas
industry
will
be
able
to
move
forward
in
hopes
of
reducing
the
errors
and
damages
fracking
causes.
Whether
one
is
pro
or
anti
fracking,
it
is
evident
that
all
citizens
of
Colorado
share
a
love
and
admiration
for
our
state’s
beautiful
landscape
and
natural
resource
haven.

12. 12
Works
Cited
America's
Natural
Gas
Alliance.
"Oil
&
Natural
Gas
in
Colorado."
Colorado's
Oil
&
Natural
Gas
Producers.
2010.
Accessed
May
2,
2015.
http://www.oilandnaturalgasincolorado.com/OilandNaturalGasinColorado.h
tml#/2.
Brommely,
Richard.
"What
Is
Fracking?"
What
Is
Fracking?
November
15,
2012.
Accessed
May
2,
2015.
http://www.energyandcapital.com/resources/what-­‐
is-­‐fracking.
Cappa,
Jim.
"Mining
History
of
Colorado."
Yampa
Valley.
December
2,
2008.
Accessed
May
2,
2015.
http://yampavalley.info/centers/natural_resources_%26_environment/page
s/mining_history_of_colorado.
Clean
Water
Action.
"Fracking:
The
Process."
Fracking:
The
Process
|
Clean
Water
Action,
Fracking:
The
Dangers.
2012.
Accessed
May
4,
2015.
http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-­‐process.
Colorado
Geological
Survey.
"Natural
Gas:
Where
Is
It
Found?
|
Colorado
Geological
Survey."
Colorado
Geological
Survey
|
Colorado
School
of
Mines.
2013.
Accessed
May
3,
2015.
http://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/energy-­‐
resources/natural-­‐gas-­‐2/where-­‐is-­‐it-­‐found/.
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission.
"Production
by
County
Monthly."
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Commission:
Production
and
Sales
by
County
Monthly.
Accessed
May
2,
2015.
Coon
Rapids
Municipal
Utilities.
"How
to
Measure
Natural
Gas?"
Natural
Gas.
December
1,
2013.
Accessed
May
3,
2015.
http://www.crmu.net/PDF
files/Natural
Gas
pdfs/How
to
Measure
Natural
Gas.pdf.
Colson,
Jon.
“Silt
Mesa
family
claims
gas
fumes
forcing
them
out.
”Post
Independent.
January
4,
2011.
Accessed
May,
5
2015.
Earthjustice.
"Colorado
and
Fracking."
Earthjustice.
April
8,
2011.
Accessed
May
5,
2015.
http://earthjustice.org/features/colorado-­‐and-­‐fracking.
Garfield
County.
"About
Garfield
County,
Colorado."
Garfield
County,
Colorado.
2014.
Accessed
May
3,
2015.
http://www.garfield-­‐county.com/about-­‐garfield-­‐
county/index.aspx.
Lilis
Energy.
"Denver-­‐Julesburg
(DJ)
Basin."
Lilis
Energy.
February
2,
2015.
Accessed
April
28,
2015.
http://www.lilisenergy.com/dj-­‐basin-­‐land-­‐holdings.

13. 13
U.S.
Energy
Information
Administration."Independent
Statistics
and
Analysis."
USEIA.
August
21,
2014.
Accessed
May
13,
2015.
http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO#tabs-­‐3.
Investopdedia."Mcf
Definition
|
Investopedia."
Investopedia.
June
11,
2010.
Accessed
May
1,
2015.
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mcf.asp.
Oil
&
Gas
Financial
Journal."Niobrara
Shale
Formation."
Oil
&
Gas
Financial
Journal.
April
9,
2013.
Accessed
May
3,
2015.
http://www.ogj.com/unconventional-­‐
resources/niobrara-­‐shale.html.
COGCC.
"Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Act."
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission.
June
1,
1951
(Amended
May
31,
2014).
Accessed
May
14,
2015.
http://cogcc.state.co.us/RR_Docs_new/rules/AppendixV.pdf.

14. 14
Appendix
This
map
shows
Colorado
counties
outlined
in
orange
with
shale
formations
shaded
in
yellow
and
each
parcel
point
represents
a
fracking
well.
(Map
created
May
5,
2015
by
Cassie
Ali.
Data
source:
FracFocus,
SkyTruth,
US
Census
Bureau,
USDA,
EIA,
FracTracker
Alliance
via
ArcGISonline).
This
map
shows
oil
and
gas
permits
from
the
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Commission
as
of
2014
from
the
Colorado
Natural
Gas
Utility
Service
(cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DORA-­‐PUC/.../1251632608624).

15. 15
An
example
of
a
Colorado
Fracking
Well
from
a
collaborative
report
by
The
Colorado
Oil
and
Gas
Conservation
Commission
and
America’s
Natural
Gas
Alliance
(http://www.oilandnaturalgasincolorado.com/OilandNaturalGasinColorado.html#/
10).