2.1.1 Narrative
Please see earlier POLREPs for information prior to this operational period.
For organizational purposes, the site has been divided geographically as detailed below, and shown in the draft site overview and site features maps located in the documents section of the website. These maps are being revised to add updated nomenclature.
On May 8 and May 9, further work was done to develop and implement strategies to address these areas:
Well- No further releases occurred. The well was successfully plugged with a bridge plug/ retrievable well packer at 1750 on May 8. Work is beginning to replace the well head, that according to facility representatives, is believed to have malfunctioned. PDC Energy is still considering what to do with the well, either prepare it for reuse or plug and abandon (P&A).
Drilling Pad- Free product remains present on pad. After the well was plugged, work began to clean up oil from portions of the pad. Steam cleaning is ongoing. 3 catch basins are located on the pad. Catch basin pumpout is ongoing. Pad drains to 2 sediment traps.
East Sediment Trap (ST #1) - Pond/trap receives storm water from pad. Pond is retaining product, and does not appear to be discharging. Pump out of pond is ongoing. Plan developed to continue pumping and plug outlet with bentonite.
West Sediment Trap (ST#2) - Pond/trap receives storm water from pad. Pond is retaining product and does not appear to be discharging. Pump out of pond is ongoing. Plan developed to continue pumping and plug outlet with bentonite.
East lateral (tributary to unnamed creek) - Free product remains present. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. This tributary drains to Containment Dam 1. Vegetation clearing is ongoing. Flushing is tentatively planned.
Sediment Trap #1 Outfall (tributary to unnamed creek) - Free product remains present. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. Flow from this drainage feature drains to Containment Dam 1. Vegetation clearing is ongoing. Flushing is tentatively planned.
East swale (stormwater drainage feature of pad)- Free product remains present. Area drains to ST#1. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. Flushing is planned for today.
West lateral (tributary to unnamed creek) - Free product remains present. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. Today, some vegetation clearing was completed. Strategy TBD. Flushing was discussed.
Sediment Trap #2 Outfall (tributary to east lateral) - Free product remains present. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. Flow from this drainage feature eventually drains to Containment Dam 1. Vegetation clearing is ongoing. Flushing is tentatively planned.
West swale (stormwater drainage feature of pad)- Free product remains present. Area drains to ST#2. Area was impacted by spray and overland flow of oil. Flushing is planned for today.
Unnamed tributary (Area between confluence with west lateral and dam 1)- Segment remains heavily oiled. Crews worked to remove debris. Flushing of the creek was attempted at 1515 on May 8 and proved to be promising. All agree that this approach seems to be reasonable to direct the material to the containment dam.
Containment Dam 1- Free product remains present upstream of dam. The containment dam is in the process of being re-enforced on the downstream side. It is being designed to withstand a 2 year flood, and a siphon pipe is being installed, on an angle, as a contingency for a large rainfall event. The responsible party currently plans to pump and haul out all water and product that accumulates behind the dam, and after limited treatment, reuse some of this water for flushing/ high volume low pressure washing. Oil continues to be removed with absorbent materials.
Downstream of Dam 1 to Dam 2 on Cow Run - Some absorbents remain in place in this section. Section does not appear to contain much product.
Containment Dam 2- Today, a crew continued to maintain this dam. Absorbent and containment boom are in place upsteam of the dam, but do not appear to be accumulating product.
General Notes
Accessibility and topography have impeded response operations.
Flushing and targeted high volume low pressure washing techniques will likely be applied throughout the impacted riverine waterbodies, to direct product down to Containment Dam #1.
EPA Air Monitoring
Benzene concentrations remained low on the pad and in the work areas on May 8th. A summary of current benzene monitoring results and a map of monitoring locations are available in the documents section of the website. Elevated VOCs were detected frequently at Containment Dam 1 and in the unnamed tributary on May 8. VOCs ranged up to 100 ppm near Containment Dam #1.
PDC Air Monitoring
PDC is conducting roving air monitoring throughout the site, and working with an industrial hygenist, has established the following action levels:
VOCs- at 70 ppm upgrade to Level C PPE; at 700 ppm upgrade to Level B PPE
Benzene - at 2.5 ppm upgrade to Level C PPE
LEL - at 10% evacuate area
H2S - evacuate area if detected
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Two containment dams and one pumping basin have been constructed to keep oil contained. 5325 barrels of oil/fluid/water mixture had been recovered as of 1600 on May 5. Sorbent booms and pads are in place and are changed out regularly when saturated. 100 feet of containment boom is in place upstream of the farthest downstream containment dam.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
A Notice of Federal Interest was issued to PDC Energy on 5/5/2014.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Oil / Fluid / Water Mixture |
Liquid |
5325 barrels |
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