- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1677
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Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called the "Mother Vent".
This is in an area of the "Main Seep".
As of this post, the vent is still active, but no longer blows cancer-causing benzene and does not combust. Benzene is still detected in two of the nearby ground water monitors, however. And the nearby bank is orange and slimy with iron-reducing bacteria - likely feeding on hydrocarbons eeking out from the wetland area which remains untreated.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Blackcloud (my father) drank the water from this creek as early as March of 2004 -- a month before this seep was even discovered. Who knows how long the seep had been present prior to its discovery on April 01, 2004.
Three years later, on February 27, 2007 Blackcloud died of pancreatic cancer -- for which his doctor could offer no explanation. We don't know whether his drinking from the creek caused or contributed to his death, and such things are notoriously hard to prove.
All along, the COGCC has denied the seep was ever present on our property or on Mr. Thompson's property -- despite it being first discovered there. So, there was never any acknowledgement that benzene could have flowed from an area where he had been drinking. That area, where the seep was first discovered, was denied by the COGCC and EnCana to have ever existed and was never, to our knowledge, even sampled.
In July, 2008 a man in Parachute drank from the spring near his cabin allegedly contaminated by nearby drilling. That water contained benzene.
Please send your prayers that he will be okay. I've seen someone die from this disease, and it is a devastation no one should have to endure.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles.
This single vent was the only one that anyone discovered that expressed gas to this degree. Despite gas erupting throughout the region like a fizzy soda in the "Main Seep" area as well as the region where the seep was first discovered on our property and Mr. Thompson's property, most other areas of gas expression were smaller and more intermittent. The mother vent, however, was very vigorous and produced a two foot flame when ignited. This vent -- though still active - no longer blows benzene on the surface and no longer ignites, presumably due to underground sparging efforts.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
A new seep was discovered June 28, 2008. The banks of the new seep are slimy with iron-reducing bacteria and produce biofilm. Diesel Range Organics -- known to contain cancer-causing benzene were detected in the nearby soils. No ground water testing has yet to be conducted -- a month after the seep was discovered. The soil sampling was not rushed. It took weeks to obtain the results. The COGCC continues to deny there is anything to be concerned about, despite the fact that we drink from the ground water.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 642
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibility of the gas and shows an area of wetland seeping near the "main seep" area. The bank near where he is standing is not orange with iron-reducing bacteria. It will soon be, however, as hydrocarbons from production formation gas make their way up through the ground as a result of improper drilling practices. With the iron-reducing bacteria, biofilm will also appear. This area clears up significantly after the Schwartz well is remediated. But, along with the new seep found June 28, 2008, these banks became overrun again with iron-reducing bacteria.
This area is not being remediated, and the seep continues to this day. Across the creek some remediation efforts have been put in place -- namely, an underground sparge system designed to curtain the migration of hydrocarbons with air bubbles helping to volatilize the invading gas. Clips of some of the earlier attempts at remediation are here on YouTube.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-02-04 -- two days after the seep was originally discovered in West Divide Creek]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 648
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated.
By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the surface had reduced by probably 50 or 60%. It continued reducing until it finally stopped altogether - which took a while because the silty bottom of the pond has absorbed like a sponge a lot of gas. By the next Spring, though, run off cleared out the area and everything appeared to have returned to normal.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 08-15-04]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 410
This video was taken 08-28-08
It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the next 48 hours and was later released.
You can see in this video what is likely a female leopard frog in the same vicinity. This frog appears fine - at least for now.
Gas is escaping into the creek. You can see it express (vent) to the surface three separate times in the 35 seconds I was standing there. The ground is saturated. This is an impact site of a seep that may have been going on since summer of 2007. The COGCC (Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) has been reluctant to investigate this event, which we now think may have affected our neighbors as much as a mile or more away.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA has re-entered this area and commenced upon a 40+ natural gas well project.
This area was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow out in April of 2004. During that event an estimated 115 million cubic feet of gas was released into the environment.
We believe we are seeign another seep as bad or worse than the event in 2004. Why? Because of an overly-aggressive drilling program permitted by a poorly focused COGCC - the 'regulating' agency which enjoys delegated primary jurisdiction over public health and safety in such matters.
This is a travesty and a sham. EnCana has been unresponsive. The COGCC has also been largely unresponsive. Garfield County has also been largely unresponsive. The people here are on their own. At this point we suspect the entire ground water system in this small community has been compromised.
To learn more about this event and the event from 2004. To really see what an underregulated and overly-aggressive natural gas drilling program can do to people and the environment, please visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
- published: 31 Aug 2008
- views: 985
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately behind which EnCana continues to drill and frac).
Along this depression there were many vent holes where gas also escaped. On this film, you'll see an area of gas bubbling (toward the end upper right corner) and you'll see a stream flowing from beneath a boulder.
We have noticed a pattern of expression with this type of gas seep -- many of the pathways of expression are associated with vegetation (following root systems) and exiting beneath heavy objects like boulders or even smaller 5 or 10 pound rocks.
It is interesting that this seep also occurred in association with a sudden upwelling of ground water. However, the ground water in a riparian area like this creek bed tends to charge the surface water and vice versa. This above-and-below-ground dynamic is known as the "mixing zone". This is why it is so important that the 'groundwater' near the surface, here, is tested for the kind of contamination that was found in these soils when they were tested.
When the COGCC collected samples, they were found to contain Diesel Range Organics [DRO], an oil-related hydrocarbon known to possess cancer-causing benzene. Yet, the COGCC refuses to test the groundwater -- which we drink. Usually, the presence of DROs in an otherwise clean environment is associated with oil spills, heavy equipment, leaks of home heating oil, etc.... We strongly suspect this has occurred in association with drilling or fracing operations occurring a short distance away.
Even more disturbing than the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions (COGCC) reluctance to test the groundwater is the fact that fracing fluids are typically "proprietary", so we may never know what is in this water that we consume and are otherwise exposed to.
Recently, in Durango, CO a nurse came into contact with drilling fluid and nearly died. The company who knew the formula, however, refused to disclose it citing that it increased their profits and to have to share that info would be like revealing Coke's formula. So, they just stood by as this woman went into massive organ failure. Her doctor has to guess how to treat here. Luckily she survived and tried to share her story at a recent COGCC hearing where the state is considering important rule changes. But an industry attorney blocked her testimony.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to rake in 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 06-30-08 -- two days after we discovered the new seep in West Divide Creek]
- published: 06 Aug 2008
- views: 1883
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs.
Around this area we have also noted a profusion of orange-colored iron-reducing bacteria run amok bankside.
There is natural gas drilling going on in the near vicinity and this area is in relatively close proximity to the natural gas well (Schwartz) that blew out from EnCana's improper cement job and subsequent frac job, that the COGCC said caused the major Divide Creek seep in 2004 (which is still active, though diminished). An estimated 115 million cubic feet of raw natural gas and all its associated nastiness was released into the environment from that 2004 event.
The orange microbes love to scarf on hydrocarbons - the kind that are associated with natural gas.
After filming this little clip I became pretty sick - loopy and about ralphed my lunch. It took me three hours to get it back together again.
It turns out that DROs (see below) and the interesting polycyclic hydrocarbons that come with them can damage red blood cells and do all sorts of other damage including cause death in sufficient quantities. Its presence in the environment is cause for concern - particularly where drilling is going on in the near vicinity.
You can see what looks like fluid being puked up out of this vent. Along with shiny black particles, there appear to be some kind of dark green or biologic matter that continually circulates in the vent hole.
Sorry the quality is so bad. I pinched this off onto a memory stick and while it looks good on the Hi-8, everything gets pixilated on the clip. These videos seem to run best with Quicktime.
For more on this event and other pictures of the weirdness happening down on Divide Creek, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
UPDATE: results have come back on the black soil - Diesel Range Organics [DRO] were detected at a level of 9.9 ml / kl. Ordinarily when any level of these DROs is detected, BTEX - like cancer-causing benzene is also tested for in the soil and particularly in the ground water. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, however - the agency with jurisdiction over this matter - did not pursue any further testing. It figures. We only have to drink it. In light of the results indicating the presence of contamination, we have asked the COGCC, EPA and our Garfield County Commissioners to sample the ground water.
[This video was filmed 07-11-08]
- published: 13 Jul 2008
- views: 1945
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area running with orange gunk. At the time (May, 16, 2004) we didn't know what this stuff was. We later learned it was iron-reducing bacteria. This stuff scarfs on natural gas and other hydrocarbons -- helping to convert them to biogenic methane. The hydrocarbons they feast on are, in this case, associated with thermogenic methane (the stuff EnCana was drilling for) which erupted into the environment during fracing operations on the "Schwartz" well. The blue sheen we later learned was "biofilm" (more microbes scarfing on hydrocarbons).
This same stuff has recently been found associated with the new seep discovered June 28, 2008. But, what do you know.... The COGCC says not to worry -- this is all natural. They say this even though this stuff hasn't been here before -- excepting in small quantities in 2004 in other areas which cleared up after the offending well was remediated. They also say this despite finding Diesel Range Organics in the area of the new seep.
Do you think there's another seep going on? Damn sure looks that way to us. But big, big money is at stake - to the tune of 150 million +/- per well drilled -- and to find more contamination would mean prudently shutting down drilling in this area until a safe way can be found to pursue the resource. So guess what? No tests means no results and that means drilling -- and all its associated contamination - can continue unfettered.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 589
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since removed) and booms (since removed) set up to volatilize the hydrocarbons from the surface waters. Benzene and other lighter hydrocarbon molecules are sensitive to air and can be ripped apart by air molecules. The effectiveness of such a reaction depends upon the amount of oxygen present in the environment. When pollutants like benzene are introduced into the environment, there is insufficient oxygen present to totally wipe out the hydrocarbons. Oxygen is, therefore, introduced to help rip-up or volatilize the hydrocarbon molecules.
Much of the surface remediation (air hoses and booms) have been removed, but benzene remains in the ground water -- just upstream of our water well.
As a part of on-going remediation, oxygen is introduced into the ground water via man-hole like well units pumping air down into the underground water. This acts like an underground curtain of bubbles that helps to volatilize the benzene that flows down-gradient in the ground water. Ground water moves very slowly, so ground water sampling results show that this method helps to contain the contamination plume as it migrates underground.
The ground water also charges Divide Creek -- contributing to its stream flow. Unfortunately, in the area of the mother vent and the wetland area behind it, no mitigation measures are in place, so the nasty stuff located there just mixes in with the environment in the hope that the underground sparge will catch it.
New video of the Main Seep area on July 10th, shows a renewed proliferation of iron-reducing bacteria along the banks and near the underground springs in this area. This happens to have occurred together with the new seep discovered on June 28th, 2008. Any new pollution, however, is likely not to be detected since the sampling of those areas has been curtailed since samples began revealing no BTEX (benzene, toluene, etc....) some time ago -- due to sparging. In other words, the outer region of ground water sampling has ceased.
There appears to be an assumption that what occurred in 2004 cannot happen again -- but we believe strongly that it is.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Pictures of the new seep can be found on the website listed below.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1295
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops.
For more information on Rimol's Rolling Thunder Greenhouse, visit http://www.rimolgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-series/rolling-thunder
- published: 04 Nov 2010
- views: 1796
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well and drill a bunch of new ones.
This clip shows frequent expressions of gas (just prior to another related clip loaded separately in which gas expressed continually for 8 minutes).
Please see the accompanying video [Divide Creek Seep 2008 - 8-minute expression]
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-06-08]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 265
location on Google Map
Divide Creek is a short creek near Kicking Horse Pass on the British Columbia/Alberta border (also the border between Yoho National Park and Banff National Park). After following the Continental Divide of the Americas for a short distance, the creek forks, with one side draining east to the Hudson Bay through the Bow River, and the other side draining west to the Pacific Ocean through the Kicking Horse River.
Coordinates: 51°26′54.2″N 116°17′05.4″W / 51.448389°N 116.284833°W / 51.448389; -116.284833 (Divide Creek)
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divide_Creek
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
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0:41Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustionDivide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called the "Mother Vent". This is in an area of the "Main Seep". As of this post, the vent is still active, but no longer blows cancer-causing benzene and does not combust. Benzene is still detected in two of the nearby ground water monitors, however. And the nearby bank is orange and slimy with iron-reducing bacteria - likely feeding on hydrocarbons eeking out from the wetland area which remains untreated. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event Blackcloud (my father) drank the water from this creek as early as March of 2004 -- a month before this seep was even discovered. Who knows how long the seep had been present prior to its discovery on April 01, 2004. Three years later, on February 27, 2007 Blackcloud died of pancreatic cancer -- for which his doctor could offer no explanation. We don't know whether his drinking from the creek caused or contributed to his death, and such things are notoriously hard to prove. All along, the COGCC has denied the seep was ever present on our property or on Mr. Thompson's property -- despite it being first discovered there. So, there was never any acknowledgement that benzene could have flowed from an area where he had been drinking. That area, where the seep was first discovered, was denied by the COGCC and EnCana to have ever existed and was never, to our knowledge, even sampled. In July, 2008 a man in Parachute drank from the spring near his cabin allegedly contaminated by nearby drilling. That water contained benzene. Please send your prayers that he will be okay. I've seen someone die from this disease, and it is a devastation no one should have to endure. To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com [This video was filmed 05-16-04] -
0:29Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubblingDivide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles. This single vent was the only one that anyone discovered that expressed gas to this degree. Despite gas erupting throughout the region like a fizzy soda in the "Main Seep" area as well as the region where the seep was first discovered on our property and Mr. Thompson's property, most other areas of gas expression were smaller and more intermittent. The mother vent, however, was very vigorous and produced a two foot flame when ignited. This vent -- though still active - no longer blows benzene on the surface and no longer ignites, presumably due to underground sparging efforts. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event A new seep was discovered June 28, 2008. The banks of the new seep are slimy with iron-reducing bacteria and produce biofilm. Diesel Range Organics -- known to contain cancer-causing benzene were detected in the nearby soils. No ground water testing has yet to be conducted -- a month after the seep was discovered. The soil sampling was not rushed. It took weeks to obtain the results. The COGCC continues to deny there is anything to be concerned about, despite the fact that we drink from the ground water. To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com [This video was filmed 05-16-04] -
2:54Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlandsDivide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibility of the gas and shows an area of wetland seeping near the "main seep" area. The bank near where he is standing is not orange with iron-reducing bacteria. It will soon be, however, as hydrocarbons from production formation gas make their way up through the ground as a result of improper drilling practices. With the iron-reducing bacteria, biofilm will also appear. This area clears up significantly after the Schwartz well is remediated. But, along with the new seep found June 28, 2008, these banks became overrun again with iron-reducing bacteria. This area is not being remediated, and the seep continues to this day. Across the creek some remediation efforts have been put in place -- namely, an underground sparge system designed to curtain the migration of hydrocarbons with air bubbles helping to volatilize the invading gas. Clips of some of the earlier attempts at remediation are here on YouTube. In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event. Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink. EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here. To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online. [This video was filmed 04-02-04 -- two days after the seep was originally discovered in West Divide Creek] -
2:27Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishingDivide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated. By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the surface had reduced by probably 50 or 60%. It continued reducing until it finally stopped altogether - which took a while because the silty bottom of the pond has absorbed like a sponge a lot of gas. By the next Spring, though, run off cleared out the area and everything appeared to have returned to normal. In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event. Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink. EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here. To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online. [This video was filmed 08-15-04] -
3:492569 W. Divide Creek
2569 W. Divide Creek -
0:35Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bedDivide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
This video was taken 08-28-08 It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the next 48 hours and was later released. You can see in this video what is likely a female leopard frog in the same vicinity. This frog appears fine - at least for now. Gas is escaping into the creek. You can see it express (vent) to the surface three separate times in the 35 seconds I was standing there. The ground is saturated. This is an impact site of a seep that may have been going on since summer of 2007. The COGCC (Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) has been reluctant to investigate this event, which we now think may have affected our neighbors as much as a mile or more away. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA has re-entered this area and commenced upon a 40+ natural gas well project. This area was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow out in April of 2004. During that event an estimated 115 million cubic feet of gas was released into the environment. We believe we are seeign another seep as bad or worse than the event in 2004. Why? Because of an overly-aggressive drilling program permitted by a poorly focused COGCC - the 'regulating' agency which enjoys delegated primary jurisdiction over public health and safety in such matters. This is a travesty and a sham. EnCana has been unresponsive. The COGCC has also been largely unresponsive. Garfield County has also been largely unresponsive. The people here are on their own. At this point we suspect the entire ground water system in this small community has been compromised. To learn more about this event and the event from 2004. To really see what an underregulated and overly-aggressive natural gas drilling program can do to people and the environment, please visit journeyoftheforsaken.com -
1:57Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discoveryDivide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately behind which EnCana continues to drill and frac). Along this depression there were many vent holes where gas also escaped. On this film, you'll see an area of gas bubbling (toward the end upper right corner) and you'll see a stream flowing from beneath a boulder. We have noticed a pattern of expression with this type of gas seep -- many of the pathways of expression are associated with vegetation (following root systems) and exiting beneath heavy objects like boulders or even smaller 5 or 10 pound rocks. It is interesting that this seep also occurred in association with a sudden upwelling of ground water. However, the ground water in a riparian area like this creek bed tends to charge the surface water and vice versa. This above-and-below-ground dynamic is known as the "mixing zone". This is why it is so important that the 'groundwater' near the surface, here, is tested for the kind of contamination that was found in these soils when they were tested. When the COGCC collected samples, they were found to contain Diesel Range Organics [DRO], an oil-related hydrocarbon known to possess cancer-causing benzene. Yet, the COGCC refuses to test the groundwater -- which we drink. Usually, the presence of DROs in an otherwise clean environment is associated with oil spills, heavy equipment, leaks of home heating oil, etc.... We strongly suspect this has occurred in association with drilling or fracing operations occurring a short distance away. Even more disturbing than the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions (COGCC) reluctance to test the groundwater is the fact that fracing fluids are typically "proprietary", so we may never know what is in this water that we consume and are otherwise exposed to. Recently, in Durango, CO a nurse came into contact with drilling fluid and nearly died. The company who knew the formula, however, refused to disclose it citing that it increased their profits and to have to share that info would be like revealing Coke's formula. So, they just stood by as this woman went into massive organ failure. Her doctor has to guess how to treat here. Luckily she survived and tried to share her story at a recent COGCC hearing where the state is considering important rule changes. But an industry attorney blocked her testimony. In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event. Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink. EnCana stands to rake in 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here. To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online. [This video was filmed 06-30-08 -- two days after we discovered the new seep in West Divide Creek] -
2:23Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black SeepDivide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs. Around this area we have also noted a profusion of orange-colored iron-reducing bacteria run amok bankside. There is natural gas drilling going on in the near vicinity and this area is in relatively close proximity to the natural gas well (Schwartz) that blew out from EnCana's improper cement job and subsequent frac job, that the COGCC said caused the major Divide Creek seep in 2004 (which is still active, though diminished). An estimated 115 million cubic feet of raw natural gas and all its associated nastiness was released into the environment from that 2004 event. The orange microbes love to scarf on hydrocarbons - the kind that are associated with natural gas. After filming this little clip I became pretty sick - loopy and about ralphed my lunch. It took me three hours to get it back together again. It turns out that DROs (see below) and the interesting polycyclic hydrocarbons that come with them can damage red blood cells and do all sorts of other damage including cause death in sufficient quantities. Its presence in the environment is cause for concern - particularly where drilling is going on in the near vicinity. You can see what looks like fluid being puked up out of this vent. Along with shiny black particles, there appear to be some kind of dark green or biologic matter that continually circulates in the vent hole. Sorry the quality is so bad. I pinched this off onto a memory stick and while it looks good on the Hi-8, everything gets pixilated on the clip. These videos seem to run best with Quicktime. For more on this event and other pictures of the weirdness happening down on Divide Creek, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com UPDATE: results have come back on the black soil - Diesel Range Organics [DRO] were detected at a level of 9.9 ml / kl. Ordinarily when any level of these DROs is detected, BTEX - like cancer-causing benzene is also tested for in the soil and particularly in the ground water. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, however - the agency with jurisdiction over this matter - did not pursue any further testing. It figures. We only have to drink it. In light of the results indicating the presence of contamination, we have asked the COGCC, EPA and our Garfield County Commissioners to sample the ground water. [This video was filmed 07-11-08] -
0:38Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilmDivide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area running with orange gunk. At the time (May, 16, 2004) we didn't know what this stuff was. We later learned it was iron-reducing bacteria. This stuff scarfs on natural gas and other hydrocarbons -- helping to convert them to biogenic methane. The hydrocarbons they feast on are, in this case, associated with thermogenic methane (the stuff EnCana was drilling for) which erupted into the environment during fracing operations on the "Schwartz" well. The blue sheen we later learned was "biofilm" (more microbes scarfing on hydrocarbons). This same stuff has recently been found associated with the new seep discovered June 28, 2008. But, what do you know.... The COGCC says not to worry -- this is all natural. They say this even though this stuff hasn't been here before -- excepting in small quantities in 2004 in other areas which cleared up after the offending well was remediated. They also say this despite finding Diesel Range Organics in the area of the new seep. Do you think there's another seep going on? Damn sure looks that way to us. But big, big money is at stake - to the tune of 150 million +/- per well drilled -- and to find more contamination would mean prudently shutting down drilling in this area until a safe way can be found to pursue the resource. So guess what? No tests means no results and that means drilling -- and all its associated contamination - can continue unfettered. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com [This video was filmed 05-16-04] -
0:58Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- RemediationDivide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since removed) and booms (since removed) set up to volatilize the hydrocarbons from the surface waters. Benzene and other lighter hydrocarbon molecules are sensitive to air and can be ripped apart by air molecules. The effectiveness of such a reaction depends upon the amount of oxygen present in the environment. When pollutants like benzene are introduced into the environment, there is insufficient oxygen present to totally wipe out the hydrocarbons. Oxygen is, therefore, introduced to help rip-up or volatilize the hydrocarbon molecules. Much of the surface remediation (air hoses and booms) have been removed, but benzene remains in the ground water -- just upstream of our water well. As a part of on-going remediation, oxygen is introduced into the ground water via man-hole like well units pumping air down into the underground water. This acts like an underground curtain of bubbles that helps to volatilize the benzene that flows down-gradient in the ground water. Ground water moves very slowly, so ground water sampling results show that this method helps to contain the contamination plume as it migrates underground. The ground water also charges Divide Creek -- contributing to its stream flow. Unfortunately, in the area of the mother vent and the wetland area behind it, no mitigation measures are in place, so the nasty stuff located there just mixes in with the environment in the hope that the underground sparge will catch it. New video of the Main Seep area on July 10th, shows a renewed proliferation of iron-reducing bacteria along the banks and near the underground springs in this area. This happens to have occurred together with the new seep discovered on June 28th, 2008. Any new pollution, however, is likely not to be detected since the sampling of those areas has been curtailed since samples began revealing no BTEX (benzene, toluene, etc....) some time ago -- due to sparging. In other words, the outer region of ground water sampling has ceased. There appears to be an assumption that what occurred in 2004 cannot happen again -- but we believe strongly that it is. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event Pictures of the new seep can be found on the website listed below. To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com [This video was filmed 05-16-04] -
0:49Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek FarmGreenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops. For more information on Rimol's Rolling Thunder Greenhouse, visit http://www.rimolgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-series/rolling-thunder -
1:01Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pondDivide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well and drill a bunch of new ones. This clip shows frequent expressions of gas (just prior to another related clip loaded separately in which gas expressed continually for 8 minutes). Please see the accompanying video [Divide Creek Seep 2008 - 8-minute expression] To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online. [This video was filmed 04-06-08]
-
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called the "Mother Vent". This is in an area of the "Main Seep". As of this post, the vent is still active, but no longer blows cancer-causing benzene and does not combust. Benzene is still detected in two of the nearby ground water monitors, however. And the nearby bank is orange and slimy with iron-reducing bacteria - likely feeding on hydrocarbons eeking out from the wetland area which remains untreated. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Co... -
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles. This single vent was the only one that anyone discovered that expressed gas to this degree. Despite gas erupting throughout the region like a fizzy soda in the "Main Seep" area as well as the region where the seep was first discovered on our property and Mr. Thompson's property, most other areas of gas expression were smaller and more intermittent. The mother vent, however, was very vigorous and produced a two foot flame when ignited. This vent -- though still active - no longer blows benzene on the surface and no longer ignites, presumably due to underground sparging efforts. In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural... -
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibility of the gas and shows an area of wetland seeping near the "main seep" area. The bank near where he is standing is not orange with iron-reducing bacteria. It will soon be, however, as hydrocarbons from production formation gas make their way up through the ground as a result of improper drilling practices. With the iron-reducing bacteria, biofilm will also appear. This area clears up significantly after the Schwartz well is remediated. But, along with the new seep found June 28, 2008, these banks became overrun again with iron-reducing bacteria. This area is not being remediated, and the seep continues to this day. Across the cr... -
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated. By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the surface had reduced by probably 50 or 60%. It continued reducing until it finally stopped altogether - which took a while because the silty bottom of the pond has absorbed like a sponge a lot of gas. By the next Spring, though, run off cleared out the area and everything appeared to have returned to normal. In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating even... -
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Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
This video was taken 08-28-08 It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the next 48 hours and was later released. You can see in this video what is likely a female leopard frog in the same vicinity. This frog appears fine - at least for now. Gas is escaping into the creek. You can see it express (vent) to the surface three separate times in the 35 seconds I was standing there. The ground is saturated. This is an impact site of a seep that may have been going on since summer of 2007. The COGCC (Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) has been reluctant to investigate this event, which we now think may have affected our neighbors as much as a mile or more away. EnCana Oil and Gas, USA has re-e... -
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately behind which EnCana continues to drill and frac). Along this depression there were many vent holes where gas also escaped. On this film, you'll see an area of gas bubbling (toward the end upper right corner) and you'll see a stream flowing from beneath a boulder. We have noticed a pattern of expression with this type of gas seep -- many of the pathways of expression are associated with vegetation (following root systems) and exiting beneath heavy objects like boulders or even smaller 5 or 10 pound rocks. It is interesting that this seep also occurred in association with a sudden upwelling of ground water. However, the grou... -
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs. Around this area we have also noted a profusion of orange-colored iron-reducing bacteria run amok bankside. There is natural gas drilling going on in the near vicinity and this area is in relatively close proximity to the natural gas well (Schwartz) that blew out from EnCana's improper cement job and subsequent frac job, that the COGCC said caused the major Divide Creek seep in 2004 (which is still active, though diminished). An estimated 115 million cubic feet of raw natural gas and all its associated nastiness was released into the environment from that 2004 event. The orange microbes love to scarf on hydrocarbons - the kind that are associated wit... -
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area running with orange gunk. At the time (May, 16, 2004) we didn't know what this stuff was. We later learned it was iron-reducing bacteria. This stuff scarfs on natural gas and other hydrocarbons -- helping to convert them to biogenic methane. The hydrocarbons they feast on are, in this case, associated with thermogenic methane (the stuff EnCana was drilling for) which erupted into the environment during fracing operations on the "Schwartz" well. The blue sheen we later learned was "biofilm" (more microbes scarfing on hydrocarbons). This same stuff has recently been found associated with the new seep discovered June 28, 2008. But, what ... -
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004 The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day. In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since removed) and booms (since removed) set up to volatilize the hydrocarbons from the surface waters. Benzene and other lighter hydrocarbon molecules are sensitive to air and can be ripped apart by air molecules. The effectiveness of such a reaction depends upon the amount of oxygen present in the environment. When pollutants like benzene are introduced into the environment, there is insufficient oxygen present to totally wipe out the hydrocarbons. Oxygen is, therefore, introduced to help rip-up or volatilize the hydrocarbon molecules. Much of the surface remediation (air hoses and booms) have been removed, but benzene remains in the... -
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops. For more information on Rimol's Rolling Thunder Greenhouse, visit http://www.rimolgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-series/rolling-thunder -
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well and drill a bunch of new ones. This clip shows frequent expressions of gas (just prior to another related clip loaded separately in which gas expressed continually for 8 minutes). Please see the accompanying video [Divide Creek Seep 2008 - 8-minute expression] To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online. [This video was filmed 04-06-08]
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:41
- Updated: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1677
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called ...
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called the "Mother Vent".
This is in an area of the "Main Seep".
As of this post, the vent is still active, but no longer blows cancer-causing benzene and does not combust. Benzene is still detected in two of the nearby ground water monitors, however. And the nearby bank is orange and slimy with iron-reducing bacteria - likely feeding on hydrocarbons eeking out from the wetland area which remains untreated.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Blackcloud (my father) drank the water from this creek as early as March of 2004 -- a month before this seep was even discovered. Who knows how long the seep had been present prior to its discovery on April 01, 2004.
Three years later, on February 27, 2007 Blackcloud died of pancreatic cancer -- for which his doctor could offer no explanation. We don't know whether his drinking from the creek caused or contributed to his death, and such things are notoriously hard to prove.
All along, the COGCC has denied the seep was ever present on our property or on Mr. Thompson's property -- despite it being first discovered there. So, there was never any acknowledgement that benzene could have flowed from an area where he had been drinking. That area, where the seep was first discovered, was denied by the COGCC and EnCana to have ever existed and was never, to our knowledge, even sampled.
In July, 2008 a man in Parachute drank from the spring near his cabin allegedly contaminated by nearby drilling. That water contained benzene.
Please send your prayers that he will be okay. I've seen someone die from this disease, and it is a devastation no one should have to endure.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Blackcloud Demonstrates Combustion
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, Blackcloud demonstrates combustion of what he called the "Mother Vent".
This is in an area of the "Main Seep".
As of this post, the vent is still active, but no longer blows cancer-causing benzene and does not combust. Benzene is still detected in two of the nearby ground water monitors, however. And the nearby bank is orange and slimy with iron-reducing bacteria - likely feeding on hydrocarbons eeking out from the wetland area which remains untreated.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Blackcloud (my father) drank the water from this creek as early as March of 2004 -- a month before this seep was even discovered. Who knows how long the seep had been present prior to its discovery on April 01, 2004.
Three years later, on February 27, 2007 Blackcloud died of pancreatic cancer -- for which his doctor could offer no explanation. We don't know whether his drinking from the creek caused or contributed to his death, and such things are notoriously hard to prove.
All along, the COGCC has denied the seep was ever present on our property or on Mr. Thompson's property -- despite it being first discovered there. So, there was never any acknowledgement that benzene could have flowed from an area where he had been drinking. That area, where the seep was first discovered, was denied by the COGCC and EnCana to have ever existed and was never, to our knowledge, even sampled.
In July, 2008 a man in Parachute drank from the spring near his cabin allegedly contaminated by nearby drilling. That water contained benzene.
Please send your prayers that he will be okay. I've seen someone die from this disease, and it is a devastation no one should have to endure.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1677
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:29
- Updated: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 642
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles.
Th...
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles.
This single vent was the only one that anyone discovered that expressed gas to this degree. Despite gas erupting throughout the region like a fizzy soda in the "Main Seep" area as well as the region where the seep was first discovered on our property and Mr. Thompson's property, most other areas of gas expression were smaller and more intermittent. The mother vent, however, was very vigorous and produced a two foot flame when ignited. This vent -- though still active - no longer blows benzene on the surface and no longer ignites, presumably due to underground sparging efforts.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
A new seep was discovered June 28, 2008. The banks of the new seep are slimy with iron-reducing bacteria and produce biofilm. Diesel Range Organics -- known to contain cancer-causing benzene were detected in the nearby soils. No ground water testing has yet to be conducted -- a month after the seep was discovered. The soil sampling was not rushed. It took weeks to obtain the results. The COGCC continues to deny there is anything to be concerned about, despite the fact that we drink from the ground water.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Mother Vent Bubbling
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "Mother Vent" blowing bubbles.
This single vent was the only one that anyone discovered that expressed gas to this degree. Despite gas erupting throughout the region like a fizzy soda in the "Main Seep" area as well as the region where the seep was first discovered on our property and Mr. Thompson's property, most other areas of gas expression were smaller and more intermittent. The mother vent, however, was very vigorous and produced a two foot flame when ignited. This vent -- though still active - no longer blows benzene on the surface and no longer ignites, presumably due to underground sparging efforts.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
A new seep was discovered June 28, 2008. The banks of the new seep are slimy with iron-reducing bacteria and produce biofilm. Diesel Range Organics -- known to contain cancer-causing benzene were detected in the nearby soils. No ground water testing has yet to be conducted -- a month after the seep was discovered. The soil sampling was not rushed. It took weeks to obtain the results. The COGCC continues to deny there is anything to be concerned about, despite the fact that we drink from the ground water.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 642
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:54
- Updated: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 648
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibilit...
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibility of the gas and shows an area of wetland seeping near the "main seep" area. The bank near where he is standing is not orange with iron-reducing bacteria. It will soon be, however, as hydrocarbons from production formation gas make their way up through the ground as a result of improper drilling practices. With the iron-reducing bacteria, biofilm will also appear. This area clears up significantly after the Schwartz well is remediated. But, along with the new seep found June 28, 2008, these banks became overrun again with iron-reducing bacteria.
This area is not being remediated, and the seep continues to this day. Across the creek some remediation efforts have been put in place -- namely, an underground sparge system designed to curtain the migration of hydrocarbons with air bubbles helping to volatilize the invading gas. Clips of some of the earlier attempts at remediation are here on YouTube.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-02-04 -- two days after the seep was originally discovered in West Divide Creek]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Characteristics Of Seep In Wetlands
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously expresses to the surface. Also, Blackcloud demonstrates combustibility of the gas and shows an area of wetland seeping near the "main seep" area. The bank near where he is standing is not orange with iron-reducing bacteria. It will soon be, however, as hydrocarbons from production formation gas make their way up through the ground as a result of improper drilling practices. With the iron-reducing bacteria, biofilm will also appear. This area clears up significantly after the Schwartz well is remediated. But, along with the new seep found June 28, 2008, these banks became overrun again with iron-reducing bacteria.
This area is not being remediated, and the seep continues to this day. Across the creek some remediation efforts have been put in place -- namely, an underground sparge system designed to curtain the migration of hydrocarbons with air bubbles helping to volatilize the invading gas. Clips of some of the earlier attempts at remediation are here on YouTube.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-02-04 -- two days after the seep was originally discovered in West Divide Creek]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 648
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:27
- Updated: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 410
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated.
By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the...
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated.
By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the surface had reduced by probably 50 or 60%. It continued reducing until it finally stopped altogether - which took a while because the silty bottom of the pond has absorbed like a sponge a lot of gas. By the next Spring, though, run off cleared out the area and everything appeared to have returned to normal.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 08-15-04]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Gas In Beaver Pond Diminishing
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remediated.
By the time this clip was filmed, the gas expressing to the surface had reduced by probably 50 or 60%. It continued reducing until it finally stopped altogether - which took a while because the silty bottom of the pond has absorbed like a sponge a lot of gas. By the next Spring, though, run off cleared out the area and everything appeared to have returned to normal.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to make 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 08-15-04]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 410
2569 W. Divide Creek
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:49
- Updated: 08 Apr 2016
- views: 28
Beautiful family home in Kelly Creek Subdivision. 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Awesome bonus room with loft and storage!
Beautiful family home in Kelly Creek Subdivision. 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Awesome bonus room with loft and storage!
wn.com/2569 W. Divide Creek
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:35
- Updated: 31 Aug 2008
- views: 985
This video was taken 08-28-08
It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the ne...
This video was taken 08-28-08
It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the next 48 hours and was later released.
You can see in this video what is likely a female leopard frog in the same vicinity. This frog appears fine - at least for now.
Gas is escaping into the creek. You can see it express (vent) to the surface three separate times in the 35 seconds I was standing there. The ground is saturated. This is an impact site of a seep that may have been going on since summer of 2007. The COGCC (Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) has been reluctant to investigate this event, which we now think may have affected our neighbors as much as a mile or more away.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA has re-entered this area and commenced upon a 40+ natural gas well project.
This area was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow out in April of 2004. During that event an estimated 115 million cubic feet of gas was released into the environment.
We believe we are seeign another seep as bad or worse than the event in 2004. Why? Because of an overly-aggressive drilling program permitted by a poorly focused COGCC - the 'regulating' agency which enjoys delegated primary jurisdiction over public health and safety in such matters.
This is a travesty and a sham. EnCana has been unresponsive. The COGCC has also been largely unresponsive. Garfield County has also been largely unresponsive. The people here are on their own. At this point we suspect the entire ground water system in this small community has been compromised.
To learn more about this event and the event from 2004. To really see what an underregulated and overly-aggressive natural gas drilling program can do to people and the environment, please visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2008 Gas In Creek Bed
This video was taken 08-28-08
It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paralyzed frog was found and rescued. The frog was rehabilitate over the next 48 hours and was later released.
You can see in this video what is likely a female leopard frog in the same vicinity. This frog appears fine - at least for now.
Gas is escaping into the creek. You can see it express (vent) to the surface three separate times in the 35 seconds I was standing there. The ground is saturated. This is an impact site of a seep that may have been going on since summer of 2007. The COGCC (Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) has been reluctant to investigate this event, which we now think may have affected our neighbors as much as a mile or more away.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA has re-entered this area and commenced upon a 40+ natural gas well project.
This area was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow out in April of 2004. During that event an estimated 115 million cubic feet of gas was released into the environment.
We believe we are seeign another seep as bad or worse than the event in 2004. Why? Because of an overly-aggressive drilling program permitted by a poorly focused COGCC - the 'regulating' agency which enjoys delegated primary jurisdiction over public health and safety in such matters.
This is a travesty and a sham. EnCana has been unresponsive. The COGCC has also been largely unresponsive. Garfield County has also been largely unresponsive. The people here are on their own. At this point we suspect the entire ground water system in this small community has been compromised.
To learn more about this event and the event from 2004. To really see what an underregulated and overly-aggressive natural gas drilling program can do to people and the environment, please visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
- published: 31 Aug 2008
- views: 985
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:57
- Updated: 06 Aug 2008
- views: 1883
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately be...
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately behind which EnCana continues to drill and frac).
Along this depression there were many vent holes where gas also escaped. On this film, you'll see an area of gas bubbling (toward the end upper right corner) and you'll see a stream flowing from beneath a boulder.
We have noticed a pattern of expression with this type of gas seep -- many of the pathways of expression are associated with vegetation (following root systems) and exiting beneath heavy objects like boulders or even smaller 5 or 10 pound rocks.
It is interesting that this seep also occurred in association with a sudden upwelling of ground water. However, the ground water in a riparian area like this creek bed tends to charge the surface water and vice versa. This above-and-below-ground dynamic is known as the "mixing zone". This is why it is so important that the 'groundwater' near the surface, here, is tested for the kind of contamination that was found in these soils when they were tested.
When the COGCC collected samples, they were found to contain Diesel Range Organics [DRO], an oil-related hydrocarbon known to possess cancer-causing benzene. Yet, the COGCC refuses to test the groundwater -- which we drink. Usually, the presence of DROs in an otherwise clean environment is associated with oil spills, heavy equipment, leaks of home heating oil, etc.... We strongly suspect this has occurred in association with drilling or fracing operations occurring a short distance away.
Even more disturbing than the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions (COGCC) reluctance to test the groundwater is the fact that fracing fluids are typically "proprietary", so we may never know what is in this water that we consume and are otherwise exposed to.
Recently, in Durango, CO a nurse came into contact with drilling fluid and nearly died. The company who knew the formula, however, refused to disclose it citing that it increased their profits and to have to share that info would be like revealing Coke's formula. So, they just stood by as this woman went into massive organ failure. Her doctor has to guess how to treat here. Luckily she survived and tried to share her story at a recent COGCC hearing where the state is considering important rule changes. But an industry attorney blocked her testimony.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to rake in 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 06-30-08 -- two days after we discovered the new seep in West Divide Creek]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2008 Black Seep Early After Discovery
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression just in front of and at the base of the Northface cliff (immediately behind which EnCana continues to drill and frac).
Along this depression there were many vent holes where gas also escaped. On this film, you'll see an area of gas bubbling (toward the end upper right corner) and you'll see a stream flowing from beneath a boulder.
We have noticed a pattern of expression with this type of gas seep -- many of the pathways of expression are associated with vegetation (following root systems) and exiting beneath heavy objects like boulders or even smaller 5 or 10 pound rocks.
It is interesting that this seep also occurred in association with a sudden upwelling of ground water. However, the ground water in a riparian area like this creek bed tends to charge the surface water and vice versa. This above-and-below-ground dynamic is known as the "mixing zone". This is why it is so important that the 'groundwater' near the surface, here, is tested for the kind of contamination that was found in these soils when they were tested.
When the COGCC collected samples, they were found to contain Diesel Range Organics [DRO], an oil-related hydrocarbon known to possess cancer-causing benzene. Yet, the COGCC refuses to test the groundwater -- which we drink. Usually, the presence of DROs in an otherwise clean environment is associated with oil spills, heavy equipment, leaks of home heating oil, etc.... We strongly suspect this has occurred in association with drilling or fracing operations occurring a short distance away.
Even more disturbing than the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissions (COGCC) reluctance to test the groundwater is the fact that fracing fluids are typically "proprietary", so we may never know what is in this water that we consume and are otherwise exposed to.
Recently, in Durango, CO a nurse came into contact with drilling fluid and nearly died. The company who knew the formula, however, refused to disclose it citing that it increased their profits and to have to share that info would be like revealing Coke's formula. So, they just stood by as this woman went into massive organ failure. Her doctor has to guess how to treat here. Luckily she survived and tried to share her story at a recent COGCC hearing where the state is considering important rule changes. But an industry attorney blocked her testimony.
In April, 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event.
Despite that and despite that the seep is ongoing, and despite us have found a new seep on June 28, 2008, the COGCC continues to allow drilling of this extremely fragile area by the same operator who caused the seep in 2004. And, as of this post (08-06-08) the COGCC (same supervisor in charge of that and this investigation) continues to minimize the full scope of the new seep through a failure to fully investigate. They will not even test the ground water which we drink.
EnCana stands to rake in 6 billion from drilling and fracing this area, and the absence of inquiry helps ensure they get to keep on pursuing it without adequate protection for the environment or the people who live here.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 06-30-08 -- two days after we discovered the new seep in West Divide Creek]
- published: 06 Aug 2008
- views: 1883
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:23
- Updated: 13 Jul 2008
- views: 1945
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs.
Around this area we have a...
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs.
Around this area we have also noted a profusion of orange-colored iron-reducing bacteria run amok bankside.
There is natural gas drilling going on in the near vicinity and this area is in relatively close proximity to the natural gas well (Schwartz) that blew out from EnCana's improper cement job and subsequent frac job, that the COGCC said caused the major Divide Creek seep in 2004 (which is still active, though diminished). An estimated 115 million cubic feet of raw natural gas and all its associated nastiness was released into the environment from that 2004 event.
The orange microbes love to scarf on hydrocarbons - the kind that are associated with natural gas.
After filming this little clip I became pretty sick - loopy and about ralphed my lunch. It took me three hours to get it back together again.
It turns out that DROs (see below) and the interesting polycyclic hydrocarbons that come with them can damage red blood cells and do all sorts of other damage including cause death in sufficient quantities. Its presence in the environment is cause for concern - particularly where drilling is going on in the near vicinity.
You can see what looks like fluid being puked up out of this vent. Along with shiny black particles, there appear to be some kind of dark green or biologic matter that continually circulates in the vent hole.
Sorry the quality is so bad. I pinched this off onto a memory stick and while it looks good on the Hi-8, everything gets pixilated on the clip. These videos seem to run best with Quicktime.
For more on this event and other pictures of the weirdness happening down on Divide Creek, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
UPDATE: results have come back on the black soil - Diesel Range Organics [DRO] were detected at a level of 9.9 ml / kl. Ordinarily when any level of these DROs is detected, BTEX - like cancer-causing benzene is also tested for in the soil and particularly in the ground water. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, however - the agency with jurisdiction over this matter - did not pursue any further testing. It figures. We only have to drink it. In light of the results indicating the presence of contamination, we have asked the COGCC, EPA and our Garfield County Commissioners to sample the ground water.
[This video was filmed 07-11-08]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2008 Black Seep
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West Divide Creek. It smells like rotten eggs.
Around this area we have also noted a profusion of orange-colored iron-reducing bacteria run amok bankside.
There is natural gas drilling going on in the near vicinity and this area is in relatively close proximity to the natural gas well (Schwartz) that blew out from EnCana's improper cement job and subsequent frac job, that the COGCC said caused the major Divide Creek seep in 2004 (which is still active, though diminished). An estimated 115 million cubic feet of raw natural gas and all its associated nastiness was released into the environment from that 2004 event.
The orange microbes love to scarf on hydrocarbons - the kind that are associated with natural gas.
After filming this little clip I became pretty sick - loopy and about ralphed my lunch. It took me three hours to get it back together again.
It turns out that DROs (see below) and the interesting polycyclic hydrocarbons that come with them can damage red blood cells and do all sorts of other damage including cause death in sufficient quantities. Its presence in the environment is cause for concern - particularly where drilling is going on in the near vicinity.
You can see what looks like fluid being puked up out of this vent. Along with shiny black particles, there appear to be some kind of dark green or biologic matter that continually circulates in the vent hole.
Sorry the quality is so bad. I pinched this off onto a memory stick and while it looks good on the Hi-8, everything gets pixilated on the clip. These videos seem to run best with Quicktime.
For more on this event and other pictures of the weirdness happening down on Divide Creek, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
UPDATE: results have come back on the black soil - Diesel Range Organics [DRO] were detected at a level of 9.9 ml / kl. Ordinarily when any level of these DROs is detected, BTEX - like cancer-causing benzene is also tested for in the soil and particularly in the ground water. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, however - the agency with jurisdiction over this matter - did not pursue any further testing. It figures. We only have to drink it. In light of the results indicating the presence of contamination, we have asked the COGCC, EPA and our Garfield County Commissioners to sample the ground water.
[This video was filmed 07-11-08]
- published: 13 Jul 2008
- views: 1945
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:38
- Updated: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 589
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area runnin...
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area running with orange gunk. At the time (May, 16, 2004) we didn't know what this stuff was. We later learned it was iron-reducing bacteria. This stuff scarfs on natural gas and other hydrocarbons -- helping to convert them to biogenic methane. The hydrocarbons they feast on are, in this case, associated with thermogenic methane (the stuff EnCana was drilling for) which erupted into the environment during fracing operations on the "Schwartz" well. The blue sheen we later learned was "biofilm" (more microbes scarfing on hydrocarbons).
This same stuff has recently been found associated with the new seep discovered June 28, 2008. But, what do you know.... The COGCC says not to worry -- this is all natural. They say this even though this stuff hasn't been here before -- excepting in small quantities in 2004 in other areas which cleared up after the offending well was remediated. They also say this despite finding Diesel Range Organics in the area of the new seep.
Do you think there's another seep going on? Damn sure looks that way to us. But big, big money is at stake - to the tune of 150 million +/- per well drilled -- and to find more contamination would mean prudently shutting down drilling in this area until a safe way can be found to pursue the resource. So guess what? No tests means no results and that means drilling -- and all its associated contamination - can continue unfettered.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Spring With Bacteria And Biofilm
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see a spring from the "Main Seep" area running with orange gunk. At the time (May, 16, 2004) we didn't know what this stuff was. We later learned it was iron-reducing bacteria. This stuff scarfs on natural gas and other hydrocarbons -- helping to convert them to biogenic methane. The hydrocarbons they feast on are, in this case, associated with thermogenic methane (the stuff EnCana was drilling for) which erupted into the environment during fracing operations on the "Schwartz" well. The blue sheen we later learned was "biofilm" (more microbes scarfing on hydrocarbons).
This same stuff has recently been found associated with the new seep discovered June 28, 2008. But, what do you know.... The COGCC says not to worry -- this is all natural. They say this even though this stuff hasn't been here before -- excepting in small quantities in 2004 in other areas which cleared up after the offending well was remediated. They also say this despite finding Diesel Range Organics in the area of the new seep.
Do you think there's another seep going on? Damn sure looks that way to us. But big, big money is at stake - to the tune of 150 million +/- per well drilled -- and to find more contamination would mean prudently shutting down drilling in this area until a safe way can be found to pursue the resource. So guess what? No tests means no results and that means drilling -- and all its associated contamination - can continue unfettered.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 589
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:58
- Updated: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1295
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since ...
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since removed) and booms (since removed) set up to volatilize the hydrocarbons from the surface waters. Benzene and other lighter hydrocarbon molecules are sensitive to air and can be ripped apart by air molecules. The effectiveness of such a reaction depends upon the amount of oxygen present in the environment. When pollutants like benzene are introduced into the environment, there is insufficient oxygen present to totally wipe out the hydrocarbons. Oxygen is, therefore, introduced to help rip-up or volatilize the hydrocarbon molecules.
Much of the surface remediation (air hoses and booms) have been removed, but benzene remains in the ground water -- just upstream of our water well.
As a part of on-going remediation, oxygen is introduced into the ground water via man-hole like well units pumping air down into the underground water. This acts like an underground curtain of bubbles that helps to volatilize the benzene that flows down-gradient in the ground water. Ground water moves very slowly, so ground water sampling results show that this method helps to contain the contamination plume as it migrates underground.
The ground water also charges Divide Creek -- contributing to its stream flow. Unfortunately, in the area of the mother vent and the wetland area behind it, no mitigation measures are in place, so the nasty stuff located there just mixes in with the environment in the hope that the underground sparge will catch it.
New video of the Main Seep area on July 10th, shows a renewed proliferation of iron-reducing bacteria along the banks and near the underground springs in this area. This happens to have occurred together with the new seep discovered on June 28th, 2008. Any new pollution, however, is likely not to be detected since the sampling of those areas has been curtailed since samples began revealing no BTEX (benzene, toluene, etc....) some time ago -- due to sparging. In other words, the outer region of ground water sampling has ceased.
There appears to be an assumption that what occurred in 2004 cannot happen again -- but we believe strongly that it is.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Pictures of the new seep can be found on the website listed below.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2004 Remediation
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see being treated on this video continues to this day.
In this video, you can see the "sparge" system (since removed) and booms (since removed) set up to volatilize the hydrocarbons from the surface waters. Benzene and other lighter hydrocarbon molecules are sensitive to air and can be ripped apart by air molecules. The effectiveness of such a reaction depends upon the amount of oxygen present in the environment. When pollutants like benzene are introduced into the environment, there is insufficient oxygen present to totally wipe out the hydrocarbons. Oxygen is, therefore, introduced to help rip-up or volatilize the hydrocarbon molecules.
Much of the surface remediation (air hoses and booms) have been removed, but benzene remains in the ground water -- just upstream of our water well.
As a part of on-going remediation, oxygen is introduced into the ground water via man-hole like well units pumping air down into the underground water. This acts like an underground curtain of bubbles that helps to volatilize the benzene that flows down-gradient in the ground water. Ground water moves very slowly, so ground water sampling results show that this method helps to contain the contamination plume as it migrates underground.
The ground water also charges Divide Creek -- contributing to its stream flow. Unfortunately, in the area of the mother vent and the wetland area behind it, no mitigation measures are in place, so the nasty stuff located there just mixes in with the environment in the hope that the underground sparge will catch it.
New video of the Main Seep area on July 10th, shows a renewed proliferation of iron-reducing bacteria along the banks and near the underground springs in this area. This happens to have occurred together with the new seep discovered on June 28th, 2008. Any new pollution, however, is likely not to be detected since the sampling of those areas has been curtailed since samples began revealing no BTEX (benzene, toluene, etc....) some time ago -- due to sparging. In other words, the outer region of ground water sampling has ceased.
There appears to be an assumption that what occurred in 2004 cannot happen again -- but we believe strongly that it is.
In 2004, this region was the focus of a massive natural gas well blow-out that released an estimated (and acknowledged) 115 million cubic feet of natural gas into the environment.
EnCana Oil and Gas, USA was found by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to have been responsible for this devastating event
Pictures of the new seep can be found on the website listed below.
To follow the course of natural gas development and its devastating impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
[This video was filmed 05-16-04]
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1295
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:49
- Updated: 04 Nov 2010
- views: 1796
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops.
For more inf...
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops.
For more information on Rimol's Rolling Thunder Greenhouse, visit http://www.rimolgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-series/rolling-thunder
wn.com/Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers, and salad crops.
For more information on Rimol's Rolling Thunder Greenhouse, visit http://www.rimolgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-series/rolling-thunder
- published: 04 Nov 2010
- views: 1796
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:01
- Updated: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 265
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well ...
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well and drill a bunch of new ones.
This clip shows frequent expressions of gas (just prior to another related clip loaded separately in which gas expressed continually for 8 minutes).
Please see the accompanying video [Divide Creek Seep 2008 - 8-minute expression]
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-06-08]
wn.com/Divide Creek Seep 2008 Frequent Bubbling In Pond
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last year when EnCana re-entered the Schwartz site to shut in the old well and drill a bunch of new ones.
This clip shows frequent expressions of gas (just prior to another related clip loaded separately in which gas expressed continually for 8 minutes).
Please see the accompanying video [Divide Creek Seep 2008 - 8-minute expression]
To follow the course of natural gas development and its impacts to this very special place in Colorado, visit journeyoftheforsaken.com
All videos are best viewed with Quicktime, which you can download free online.
[This video was filmed 04-06-08]
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 265
close fullscreen
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close fullscreen
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0:41
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
...
published: 02 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates combustion
- Report rights infringement
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1677
0:29
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
...
published: 02 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling
- Report rights infringement
- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 642
2:54
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
In this clip from April 02, 2004, you'll see characteristics of the seep as gas vigorously...
published: 07 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep in wetlands
- Report rights infringement
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 648
2:27
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
This film shows the diminishing of gas in our beaver pond after the Schwartz well as remed...
published: 07 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond diminishing
- Report rights infringement
- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 410
3:49
2569 W. Divide Creek
Beautiful family home in Kelly Creek Subdivision. 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Awesome bo...
published: 08 Apr 2016
2569 W. Divide Creek
2569 W. Divide Creek
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- published: 08 Apr 2016
- views: 28
0:35
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
This video was taken 08-28-08
It is taken in an area of West Divide Creek where a paral...
published: 31 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed
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- published: 31 Aug 2008
- views: 985
1:57
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
This film shows the characteristics of the black seep which expressed along a depression j...
published: 06 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after discovery
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- published: 06 Aug 2008
- views: 1883
2:23
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
This is what we're calling a black seep. We first discovered it June 28, 2008, near West D...
published: 13 Jul 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep
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- published: 13 Jul 2008
- views: 1945
0:38
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see on this video continues to this day.
...
published: 02 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and biofilm
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- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 589
0:58
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
Video of Divide Creek Seep 2004
The seep you see being treated on this video continues ...
published: 02 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation
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- published: 02 Aug 2008
- views: 1295
0:49
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Flourishing greenhouse produce at Divide Creek Farm that includes greenhouse tomatoes, gre...
published: 04 Nov 2010
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm
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- published: 04 Nov 2010
- views: 1796
1:01
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
This video shows general bubbling in our beaver pond which has been increasing since last ...
published: 07 Aug 2008
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Frequent bubbling in pond
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- published: 07 Aug 2008
- views: 265
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Blackcloud demonstrates ...
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - "Mother Vent" bubbling...
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- characteristics of seep ...
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Gas in beaver pond dimini...
2569 W. Divide Creek...
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - gas in creek bed...
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black seep early after di...
Divide Creek Seep 2008 - Black Seep...
Divide Creek Seep 2004 - Spring with bacteria and ...
Divide Creek Seep 2004 -- Remediation...
Greenhouse Produce Featuring Divide Creek Farm...
