Four of 14 Galeton homeowners affected by an oil and gas spill remained out of their homes as of late this week, almost two months since the incident required evacuations and the 2-week closure of an elementary school.
Chevron U.S.A., which operates the Bishop pad located near Galeton, meanwhile, projects clean-up will be completed April 6, 2030 — five years to the day of the uncontrolled discharge of water, oil and gas in a release known as a blowout.
Chevron listed the completion date on a remediation plan it filed with the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, or ECMC, in May.
The plan says “environmental remediation can take a considerable amount of time due to several factors, including the complexity of contamination, the scale of the affected area, the chosen remediation methods, and the need for long-term monitoring.”
There was a failure of the designed well barriers on the evening of April 6, leading to a loss of control over the pressure in the wellbore. The wellbore is the hole allowing for access to oil, gas or water.
A Chevron spokeswoman said this week residents in 14 homes were relocated from the voluntary evacuation zone following the incident. Senior communications advisor Patty Errico said Chevron is working with the four remaining homeowners on the next steps in the process. The company provided housing and living accommodations for the evacuated residents.
Errico said last week the company is working individually with all affected property owners and tenants with specialized teams available in person throughout the week to answer questions.
“Recognizing that each property requires a separate plan, we have assigned case managers to residents to help personalize and customize our approach,” Errico wrote.
According to Chevron’s investigation and remediation plan, the company has disposed of 7,194 cubic yards of soil, gravel and mulch as part of the clean-up.
The form, dated May 14, also says Chevron has disposed of 91,272 barrels of liquid. Each barrel is 42 gallons, and 94,000 barrels would equal six Olympic-sized swimming pools, the ECMC said.
The recovered liquid is comprised of water with wellbore fluids and fluids native to the formation, such as condensate and crude oil, according to the ECMC.
This waste is what has been recovered — not what has been emitted, the commission said in an email. Figures on the amount of waste emitted are not yet known.
The waste will be disposed at Pawnee Waste LLC in Grover.
The commission said waste reached Galeton Elementary School in the form of a fine mist of oil. Numerous properties around the Bishop well pad were also affected by the same mist of oil.
“Galeton Elementary was a high priority for cleanup as determined by the unified incident command team,” ECMC deputy director of policy Lauren Mercer said in an email. “ECMC set the standards for clean up at the school and other structures at a non-detect standard for the presence of hydrocarbons.”
Within one-quarter mile of the well, the spill reached Willow Creek, three unnamed ponds, an agricultural crop field, livestock corrals, seven residential properties and Weld County Road 72, which is north of the well.
Soils, surface water and vegetation have all been impacted by the spill, but the extent of the impact remains undetermined. Determination was made through visual and olfactory observation as well as laboratory analysis.
Groundwater impact is undetermined though presumed, according to the supplemental form that addresses impacts within the Bishop parcel of land. Laboratory analysis is pending.
Chevron’s Errico said the company’s cleaning process includes a biodegradable water and degreasing agent combination made of natural ingredients. A mixture of Dawn detergent and water is used on vegetation. Errico said all liquids from the cleaning process are collected for disposal.
A story from The Colorado Sun earlier this month reported high levels of toxic chemicals, including benzene, were released from the spill based on tests from a Colorado State University team. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, however, does not believe it’s appropriate to describe benzene levels measured by CSU as toxic to human health.
Benzene is a natural component of crude oil, which is the main source of benzene produced today, according to the National Cancer Institute. Benzene is a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance. Exposure comes from breathing air containing the chemical.
The Colorado Sun story noted both Chevron and CDPHE tests showed lower levels of toxic gases.
In an email, CDPHE communications specialist Leah Schleifer said the state data and CSU data collected on toxicity levels were collected at different times, on different days and in different locations.
“Emissions from events like this are highly variable and depend on many factors — including wind direction, speed and sampling duration,” Schleifer wrote. “So it’s not scientifically appropriate to directly compare the two datasets. Each set of measurements offers a snapshot in time and place, helping us better understand the full picture together.”
Schleifer said the department’s air-monitoring van was in the Galeton area from April 9-11 and April 18-21. CDPHE found a maximum of about 9 parts per billion (ppb) of benzene about 2 miles downwind of the well April 9. Schliefer said measurements were taken at that distance because of the evacuation zone established by emergency responders before the well was capped.
Measurements taken by the mobile unit after the well was controlled April 10 showed levels below detection.
An air quality policy analyst with the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment in a letter said air quality is a complex topic.
Annareli Morales, who has a master’s degree and doctorate in atmospheric science, said air toxics are pollutants known or suspected to cause serious health impacts at sufficient concentrations and exposure. Morales wrote the impacts of pollutants on health varies depending on length of exposure, the quantity of the exposure and the method of exposure, such as through breathing or touch.
Morales said Weld County representatives reviewed initial air monitoring results from CSU and the CDPHE. The county confirmed the results never reached levels of health concern set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for short-term exposure. Morales said state and CSU data showed a highest reading of 35.5 ppb of benzene about 1 mile downwind from the well.
EPA guidelines say benzene exposure at a level of 130,000 ppb for 10 minutes, or 52,000 ppb for 60 minutes, could result in mild, non-disabling health effects.
“None of the air quality measurements taken by responding agencies we are aware of exceeded the health guideline levels for short-term exposure to benzene,” Morales wrote.
Schleifer said the state’s guideline value for benzene is based on one hour of air monitoring. The CSU data includes measurements taken over a shorter period of time and are not designed for direct comparison to the state guidelines.
Schleifer said early data indicated during the incident air pollutants did not reach levels to cause immediate harm to human health.
“While CDPHE is still evaluating the full data, we can share that initial outdoor air monitoring following the capping of the wellhead showed a notable decline in pollution levels, which is consistent with what we would typically expect in this type of incident,” Schleifer wrote.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Some Galeton residents still evacuated after Bishop well spill; proposed clean-up to last until 2030 )
Also on site :