Oil spill count now at 14, up from 12

The state of Colorado is tracking 14 “notable” oil spills from flooding, up from 12 oil spills last week.

The new spills have pushed the total amount of oil spilled to more than 43,700 gallons, or 1,042 barrels. That amount equals more than three conventionally sized 300-barrel storage tanks.

The two new spills are at locations operated by PDC Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: PDCE).

One of those spills amounts to 120 barrels, or 5,040 gallons, southeast of Greeley and U.S. 34. The other spill totals 32 barrels, or 1,344 gallons, and is located northeast of Greeley and U.S. 34.

The COGCC also has estimated that 17,350 gallons, or 413 barrels, of “produced water” has spilled. Produced water resides in the same formation as oil and gas and is separated at the surface and stored in tanks at the site for proper disposal or recycling. Produced water contains small amounts of dissolved hydrocarbons.

on Facebook on LinkedIn