ECMC Approves Draco OGDP

Erie resident Christiaan van Woudenberg stands near the site of the Draco Pad project on Aug. 9 in unincorporated Weld County. Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera Staff Photographer
Erie resident Christiaan van Woudenberg stands near the site of the Draco Pad project on Aug. 9 in unincorporated Weld County. Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera Staff Photographer

During a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) approved the Draco OGDP in a 4 to 1 vote, with Commissioner Messner the only no vote. Extraction had previously been directed to investigate Alternative Site 4 at the conclusion of a November 15, 2024 meeting; they deemed AL4 and an additional AL4.1 site unsuitable and proposed moving forward with the original Draco pad location.

View the meeting during which the Draco OGDP was approved (starts right at the 2:00 hour mark). The commission first heard from Tessa Sorensen of the CDPHE, then David Frank from the Town of Erie, and finally a presentation from Extraction Oil & Gas.

Transcript of Commissioner Deliberations and Vote

We’ve prepared transcripts of each Commissioner’s comments during final deliberations. Commissioner Cross gives a typical pro-industry viewpoint, contrasted with Commissioner Messner’s more cautious/environmental response. For all the final conditions of acceptance (COAs), read the final deliberations transcript of Chair Robbins’ testimony.

Commission Hearing Notes

  • Ms. Sorensen spoke to the environmental use restriction placed on the Neuhauser Landfill. While the proposed Alternative Location 4 is only adjacent to the restricted area, likely stormwater flows from the proposed AL4 pad onto the restricted area would violate the use restriction. This will also be a significant barrier to the proposed residential development at Redtail Ranch.
  • David Frank spoke to the sensitive nature of the Neuhauser Landfill. He also reiterated the Town’s the three requested conditions of acceptance:
    • Extraction to prepare a transportation impact analysis.
    • Extraction to complete pre-production activities (drilling, hydraulic fracturing, completions) no later than October 15, 2027, in consideration of the planned development at the Westerly neighborhood to the northwest, and at which time 66 residential units are planned to be within 2,000 of the Draco pad.
    • Extraction to complete the paving of the western portion of CR6 between R5 and CR7 before pre-production activities commence.
  • Mr. Frank also raised concerns about the 5 mile laterals, testifying that 12 of the 13 4-mile laterals drilled at the Blue and Sky Ranch pads have had Bradenhead issues, indicating potential well integrity problems.
  • As directed by the Commissioners in the November 15, 2024 hearing, Extraction spent the majority of its time justifying the unsuitability of Alternative Location 4 (also citing the CDPHE restrictive notice), and proposing to move forward with the original Draco pad location. They did not speak to the unprecedented 5 mile laterals or additional BMPs for plugging and abandoning the 22 wells in the densely populated neighborhoods within the drilling and spacing unit.

What Happens Next?

Here is the proposed development timeline, as put forth by Extraction Oil & Gas in their application materials:

  • May 2026: Construction of the Draco pad just outside of Erie (northwest of CR6 and CR7) begins.
  • July 2026: Drilling of the 26 wells begins. Extraction plans to use 2 concurrent electric drilling rigs to drill each of the 26 5 mile laterals.
  • March 2027: Completions operations begin. Each of the 26 wells will be hydraulically fractured, with up to 50 million gallons of water.
  • October 2027: Flowback operations begin; the wells will then be put into production.
  • December 2027: Interim site reclamation will return as much of the site to natural conditions as possible while maintaining a minimal maintenance footprint. This will include a mitigation Best Management Practice to construct a “visual screening berm planted with native grasses along with an 8-foot-tall chain link fence with privacy slats on the north and west sides of the site.”

Appendix: How We Got Here

This timeline was provided by Civitas in its presentation materials at the March 26, 2025 hearing.

Pre-OGDP Hearing Engagements and Related Activities

  • 09/12/2023: 30-day pre-application notice mailed
  • 01/04/2024: Draco OGDP Application filed with ECMC
  • 05/09/2024: Amended Spacing Application filed in accordance with Staff comments
  • 02/29/2024: Weld County Disposition (approval) obtained
  • 06/18/2024: ECMC determined completeness
  • 06/24/2024: Notice of Hearing mailed
  • 07/19/2024: Public Comment/Consultation Period Ended
  • 07/29/2024: Petition Deadline (2 Petitions – 2 Withdrawn)
  • 08/15/2024: Rule 511 public hearing requested
  • 08/16/2024: Director’s Recommendation of approval was issued
  • 08/28/2024: Original hearing date
  • 09/03/2024: Rule 511 Public Hearing granted
  • 10/29/2024: Rule 511 Public Hearing
  • 11/13/2024: OGDP hearing
  • 11/15/2024: Supplemental OGDP hearing – OGDP indefinitely stayed

Post-OGDP Hearing Engagements and Related Activities

  • 12/16/2024: Extraction met with Town of Erie (TOE) to discuss Alternative Location 4
  • 12/20/2024: Extraction provides written summary of December 16 discussion topics to TOE
  • 01/07/2025: Extraction received CDPHE Notice of Environmental Use Restriction
  • 01/16/2025: TOE, via Director Environmental Services, provided estimated timing and stage gates for rezoning of Alternative Location 4 to Heavy Industrial and permitting Oil and Gas location under municipal requirements
  • 01/17/2025: TOE, via Planning and Development, provided examples of comparable instances of successful rezoning pursued under municipal requirements and the timeframes required for their approval
  • 01/23/2025: Extraction, via outside counsel, provided examples of TOE rezoning applications to TOE, along with comments on the rezoning process
  • 01/27/2025: Extraction met with CDPHE staff to review Notice of Environmental Use Restriction (Restrictive Notice)
  • 02/06/2025: TOE, via outside legal counsel, provided comment and analysis of municipal requirement for 500-foot oil and gas setback from surface water bodies
  • 02/18/2025: Extraction informed TOE of CDPHE Notice of Environmental Use Restriction and associated impact
  • 02/19/2025: Extraction met with CDPHE staff to further clarify land use restrictions described in Restrictive Notice
  • 02/27/2025: Extraction, via outside counsel, notified TOE, Weld Co., and Erie Land Co. of its forthcoming motion for commission hearing
  • 03/03/2025: Extraction, via outside counsel, supplied TOE with submitted Prehearing Statement
  • 03/13/2025: Continued OGDP hearing
  • 03/26/2025: Draco OGDP approved

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