Colorado investigating Chevron-owned Noble Energy

The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission has initiated an investigation into Chevron subsidiary Noble Energy for six alleged violations linked to a fracking well blowout in Weld County.

These violations cover well control, general safety requirements, oil and gas facilities operations, air, water, and soil pollution, as well as natural gas venting, as outlined in a presentation to the commission regarding the April incident.

Noble Energy has been served with a notice of alleged violations, marking the beginning of a formal investigation into the causes of the blowout at the Bishop well pad. The company has 28 days to respond to the allegations.

The deputy director of operations at ECMC, Jeff Deranleau, mentioned that fines and other enforcement actions could be imposed on Noble Energy following the investigation, which may take several months. Any penalties will be determined through negotiations between the state and Chevron, pending final approval by the ECMC board of directors.

Chevron attributed the blowout to a subcontractor and employee errors in a root-cause analysis submitted on June 10. However, the notice of alleged violations did not specifically name individuals or subcontractors involved.

Despite the cause of the incident, ECMC holds the operator accountable for actions taken on the location. Noble Energy, a Chevron subsidiary, holds the drilling permit.

Chevron spokesperson Patty Errico stated that the company is reviewing the violations notice and will continue cooperating with cleanup and remediation efforts alongside federal and state agencies.

The state’s notice alleges that Chevron failed to prevent uncontrolled flow of oil, gas, and water from the well, leading to injuries and pollution. The blowout spread contaminants to various areas, including a school, homes, farmland, and wildlife habitats.

The blowout, one of Colorado’s largest spills, resulted in significant environmental impacts, with ongoing cleanup efforts expected to last until 2030.

The ECMC is conducting extensive testing on soil, surface water, and air samples to ensure successful remediation of the affected area.