Drilling near Bethke OK; county pulls appeal

Peterson Energy Operating Inc. can move forward with its plans to drill on a site near Bethke Elementary School in Timnath after Larimer County withdrew its appeal earlier this month.

Concerns about the project's proximity to the Larimer Canal and the "last-minute" additions of hazardous waste combustors turned out to "not really be issues," said Rob Helmick, Larimer County's local government designee for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The appeal was scheduled to appear before the COGCC on Monday, but the county pulled its request for a hearing prior to the meeting. Officials submitted the appeal as a "placeholder" April 27 to ensure the hearing deadline wasn't missed and to address concerns posed by residents.

Loveland-based Peterson Energy will work with ditch company Lake Canal Co. to reach an agreement about drilling near the Larimer Canal, Helmick said

After talking to COGCC commission staff, the county determined the addition of volatile organic compounds combustors was also not an issue worth an appeal, he said.

Combustors incinerate vapors released from drilling operations.

Peterson Energy announced in December that it planned to drills six directional wells southwest of Harmony Road and Weld County Road 13 — 2,000 feet northeast of Bethke Elementary School. Drilling permits for the project were approved May 8.