Baseline Groundwater Monitoring
Western Water & Land currently provides turn-key baseline monitoring compliance service to our Colorado energy clients in accordance with Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission’s (COGCC’s) Rule 609 – Statewide Groundwater Baseline Sampling and Monitoring, and we are perfectly poised to provide the same turn-key service for our Wyoming energy partners in accordance with Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission’s (WOGCC’s) recently adopted Groundwater Baseline Sampling requirement. The procedures and reporting formats established by WWL for our baseline monitoring services are implemented using procedures, reporting formats, and data management protocols designed to protect our clients’ interests while ensuring compliance with state requirements.
Timely and accurate completion of the required elements of the baseline sampling program is critical to successful implementation of the baseline program for each proposed well. Delays in baseline sampling program will directly translate to drilling delays. In Wyoming, all operators are required under the groundwater baseline sampling rule (Chapter 3, Section 46) to submit a groundwater baseline sampling, analysis, and monitoring plan with an APD, and initial sampling and analysis under the baseline program must be conducted within the 12-month period prior to spudding the well or the first well on a multi-well pad. Our experience working with our Colorado energy clients and COGCC’s Rule 609 has allowed us to streamline the overall baseline monitoring process, prevent delays in the completion of required elements, and thereby, expediting submittal of required documentation to state.
Timely and accurate completion of the required elements of the baseline sampling program is critical to successful implementation of the baseline program for each proposed well. Delays in baseline sampling program will directly translate to drilling delays. In Wyoming, all operators are required under the groundwater baseline sampling rule (Chapter 3, Section 46) to submit a groundwater baseline sampling, analysis, and monitoring plan with an APD, and initial sampling and analysis under the baseline program must be conducted within the 12-month period prior to spudding the well or the first well on a multi-well pad. Our experience working with our Colorado energy clients and COGCC’s Rule 609 has allowed us to streamline the overall baseline monitoring process, prevent delays in the completion of required elements, and thereby, expediting submittal of required documentation to state.
WWL provides comprehensive implementation of state-required groundwater baseline monitoring programs. Specific phases implemented and managed by WWL include:
- Preparation of a comprehensive groundwater sampling and analysis (and monitoring) plan (SAP) for baseline programs (and related projects, if necessary).
- Identification and evaluation of candidate groundwater sources (wells or springs) within the radius of interest (0.5 mile for the Wyoming and Colorado groundwater baseline rule).
- Communications and correspondence to obtain consent of well and property owners to participate in the groundwater baseline program.
- Field sampling and laboratory analysis of preferred groundwater sources in accordance with the SAP.
- Conduct quality assurance and quality control assessments of laboratory data.
- Reduction of analytical data and preparation of required documentation of analytical baseline results.
- Development and maintenance of a groundwater baseline database for each sampled well; the database can be formatted for import to a client’s preferred database, e.g., ACTS.
- Scheduling and conducting subsequent sampling and analysis events.
- Submittal of all required documentation and data to the state.