Diana May, the local government designee, or LGD, which is the county liaison to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, held a meeting June 6 to allow oil and gas operators working in El Paso County to share information on their activities and progress.The purpose of the LGD is to allow for better communication between local government and the COGCC. May, who answers to the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, is involved in all aspects of oil and gas permits and also is responsible for keeping the public informed.Besides May, in attendance were representatives from the countyís development services department and transportation department; Hilcorp Energy Co.; Ultra Petroleum; and Lone Star Energy Fabrication.May presented an update on the status of the intergovernmental agreement between the county and the COGCC. The IGA was supposed to be in front of the commissioners in May, but the time frame was too optimistic, May said.One aspect of the IGA concerns water quality.ìThe IGA will get the Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s voluntary water quality testing as a standard requirement,î May said. ìIt will have to go in front of the BOCC and the COGCC’s board; and, if both approve, it’ll be an IGA.îShe said the IGA will be on the boardís agenda before August.Representatives from Hilcorp and Ultra discussed their progress in the oil and gas exploration process. Harry Faulkner, assistant team leader for Hilcorp, said his company has received state permits for two well sites ñ Myers and State. ìWe’re looking to spud (make the initial drilling) on the first well in August or September,î Faulkner said.Myers well site is off Peyton Highway, north of Highway 94. The State well site is off Peyton Highway, south of Highway 94.Kent Rogers, vice president of drilling and completions with Ultra, said, ìWe’ve drilled three wells in the county, taken core samples and sent them to the core lab, and now we’re waiting on the results.îThe sites they have drilled are Olive Oyl, south of Drennan Road near Curtis Road; Brutus, east of Ellicott off Highway 94; and Ponderosa, south of Highway 94 near Blaney Road.The next LGD meeting is Aug. 1, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Pikes Peak meeting room at Centennial Hall in Colorado Springs.
