In a special meeting on June 26, 2025, ECMC representatives announced Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) 404256913, issued to Noble Energy Inc as a result of the Bishop A07 blowout incident on April 6, 2025. The NOAV is searchable via the ECMC’s COGIS Incident Inquiry database.
Additional documents regarding the Bishop well blowout are available at the spill and facility doc pages at the ECMC:
- https://ecmc.state.co.us/cogisdb/Resources/Docs?classid=02%7e03&id=489797
- https://ecmc.state.co.us/cogisdb/Resources/Docs?classid=03%7e09&id=483510
As per ECMC regulations, Noble Energy Inc will have an opportunity to respond to the NOAV. While not announced today, we hope the ECMC will announce a significant penalty for this record-breaking environmental disaster, as they did for the Firestone Tragedy.
Rule 903: Venting or Flaring Natural Gas
Pursuant to Rule 903., Venting and Flaring of natural gas are prohibited.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen on Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that left the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threatened to impact off-location properties.
ECMC Staff conducted an inspection on April 7, 2025 (document no. 717701311), and observed the loss of well control and fluids and gases (including oil, gas, frac fluids, EP Waste, and sand) that erupted and misted above the well head and were carried by wind off-location to surrounding surface waters, roads, fields, homes, wildlife habitat, and livestock.
Operator vented natural gas from the Well, violating Rule 903.
Rule 602: General Safety Requirements
Pursuant to Rule 602.c., Noble Energy, Inc. (“Operator”) is responsible for ensuring that operations are conducted with due regard for the safety of employees, for the preservation of property, and for protecting and minimizing adverse impacts to public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen on Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that left the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threatened to impact off-location properties.
Operator submitted a Form 22, Accident Report, on April 10, 2025 (document no. 404161431), that reported the loss of well control event caused injuries to onsite personnel.
Operator failed to ensure operations were conducted with due regard for the safety of employees, for the preservation of property, and for protecting and minimizing adverse impacts to public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources, violating Rule 602.c.”
Rule 608.e: Mechanical Conditions
Pursuant to Rule 608.e., Noble Energy, Inc. (“Operator”) will keep all Production Facilities, valves, pipes, fittings, and vessels securely fastened or sealed, inspected at regular intervals, and maintained in good mechanical condition. All equipment will be engineered, operated, and maintained within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen on Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that left the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threatened to impact off-location properties.
Operator submitted a Form 22 on June 10, 2025 (document no. 404234441), which identified the root causes of the incident as the improper assembling and setting of equipment leading to failure and causing the loss of well control.
Operator failed to engineer and operate all equipment within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications, violating Rule 608.e.
Rule 902: Pollution
Pursuant Rule 902.a, Noble Energy, Inc. (“Operator”) will prevent Pollution. Pursuant to Rule 902.b., Operator will prevent adverse environmental impacts on any air, water, soil, or biological resource resulting from Oil and Gas Operations and will protect and minimize adverse impacts to public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources. Pursuant to Rule 902.c., Operator will prevent the unauthorized discharge or disposal of oil, condensate, gas, E&P Waste, Chemical substances, trash, discarded equipment, and other oil field waste.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen on Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that left the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threatened to impact off-location properties.
In response to the well control incident, emergency response agencies established a half mile evacuation perimeter, which required the displacement of multiple families and the temporary closure of an elementary school.
ECMC Staff conducted an inspection on April 7, 2025 (document no. 717701311), and observed the loss of well control and fluids and gases (including oil, gas, frac fluids, Exploration and Production Waste (“E&P Waste”), and sand) that erupted and misted above the well head and were carried by wind off-location to surrounding surface waters, roads, fields, homes, wildlife habitat, and livestock.
On May 8, 2025, Operator submitted a Form 15, Earthen Pit Report/Permit (document no. 404158725) for the construction of an emergency unlined earthen pit that was constructed on April 7, 2025. The earthen pit was constructed to contain the E&P Waste that erupted during the well control incident to stop the waste from running off the Location into Willow Creek.
Operator submitted an Initial Form 27, Site Investigation and Remediation Workplan on April 25, 2025 (document no. 404175397), describing impacts to surface water, soil, wildlife, livestock and nearby residents, among other receptors.
Operator failed to prevent pollution and adverse environmental impacts on air, water, soil, or biological resources resulting from Oil and Gas Operations and failed to protect and minimize adverse impacts to public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources, and prevent the unauthorized discharge of E&P Waste and Chemical substances, violating Rule 902.a.-c.”
Rule 428: Well Control
Pursuant to Rule 428.a., Noble Energy, Inc. (“Operator”) will take all reasonable precautions, in addition to fully complying with Rule 417, to prevent any oil, gas, or water well from flowing uncontrolled during Well operations and will take immediate steps and exercise due diligence to bring under control any such Well.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen on Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that left the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threatened to impact off-location properties.
Operator submitted a Form 22 on June 10, 2025 (document no. 404234441), which identified the root causes of the incident as the improper assembling and setting of equipment leading to failure and causing the loss of well control.
Operator failed to take all reasonable precautions, in addition to fully complying with Rule 417, to prevent any oil, gas, or water well from flowing uncontrolled during Well operations, violating Rule 428.a.
Rule 902.d.: Water Quality Standards or Classifications
Pursuant Rule 902.d, Noble Energy, Inc. (“Operator”), in the conduct of any Oil or Gas Operation, may not violate numeric or narrative water quality standards of classifications established by the WQCC for Waters of the State.
On April 9, 2025, Operator submitted an Initial Form 19, Spill/Release Report (document no. 404156194), that reported a loss of well control at the Bishop #A18-742 well (API No. 05-123-52071, “Well”), which began on April 6, 2025 and was reported to ECMC Staff on April 7, 2025. The Initial Form 19 also reported: a Spill or Release of any size that impacts or threatens to impact Waters of the State, residence or occupied structure, livestock, wildlife, or publicly-maintained road; the presence of free product or hydrocarbon sheen Surface Water and contaminated soil in contact with Surface Water; and a Spill or Release resulting in vaporized hydrocarbon mists that leave the A09-01 Pad (“Location”) and threaten to impact off-location properties.
ECMC Staff conducted an inspection on April 7, 2025 (document no. 717701311), and observed the loss of well control and fluids and gases (including oil, gas, frac fluids, Exploration and Production Waste (“E&P Waste”), and sand) that erupted and misted above the well head and were carried by wind off-location to surrounding surface waters, roads, fields, homes, wildlife habitat, and livestock.
On May 8, 2025, Operator submitted a Form 15, Earthen Pit Report/Permit (document no. 404158725) for the construction of an emergency unlined earthen pit that was constructed on April 7, 2025. The earthen pit was constructed to contain the E&P Waste that erupted during the well control incident to stop the waste from running off the Location into Willow Creek.
Operator submitted an Initial Form 27, Site Investigation and Remediation Workplan on April 25, 2025 (document no. 404175397), describing impacts to surface waters.
Operator violated narrative water quality standards of classifications established by the WQCC for Waters of the State, violating Rule 902.d.
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