The DJ/Niobrara Basin | April 2023

Field Overview

Located mainly in the Northeast of Colorado, the Denver-Julesburg Basin consists of five main oil-producing formations: Niobrara sections A-C, Codell, and Greenhorn. These five plays produce over 90% of Colorado’s oil/gas.

State Drilling Statistics

Active Drilling Rigs in Basin- 17 (-1)
Total Rigs in Colorado- 19 (-)
Total Rigs in the United States- 755 (-)
Total U.S. Rigs 8.2% YTD

State Permitting Data
Permits Approved – 76

State Top Producers

Top Producer By BOE – Kerr McGee (Occidental)

Basin Highlights

Arapahoe County says no to a pause on drilling as commissioners vote down oil and gas moratorium

The ban would have prevented Arapahoe County from considering any new requests for drilling permits from oil and gas companies until this fall. Discussion was sparked by a plan to drill 174 wells on property just east of the Aurora city line and the Aurora Reservoir. Although Denver-based Civitas Resources had laid out its project, known as Lowry Ranch, the company had not yet submitted any drilling permit applications. The vote was only narrowly passed with a 3-2 result, a decision at odds with the concerns of dozens of Aurora residents worried about the impact of energy extraction on their doorstep.

The COGCC Visits Glenwood Springs

During a public hearing last month in Glenwood Springs, the 2019 oil and gas regulation in Colorado that prohibits developers from constructing drilling and fracking operations within 2,000 feet of homes, schools, hospitals, and all other buildings stoked public scrutiny. About 20 public comments were heard at a hearing hosted by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission at the Hotel Colorado. The majority of these comments questioned whether or not Senate Bill 181 is actually fostering a healthier environment for Garfield County residents. Still, one resident touted the importance of energy security and emphasized just how clean American energy is.

Climate activists propose Colorado ballot initiative to ban oil and gas drilling by 2030

After 2030, no new oil and gas well permits will be granted, according to a ballot initiative proposed by a coalition of environmental organizations and activists in Colorado. The coalition stated in a press release that it has submitted language to the Colorado Legislative Council for a ballot initiative to be placed on the 2024 general election ballot “to rein in fracking in Colorado.” The group is pushing this initiative because they believe Polis has failed to come through on his commitment to “bold climate action” as oil and gas extraction and combustion remains responsible for a majority of the state’s emissions.

Top CO Permitting By Operator

Top Producers by BOE

Rig Count

Colorado Production

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PETRO Engineering, PLLC via the following sources unless otherwise
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www.drillinginfo.com
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