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Bronco Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP)

As of August 10, 2022, Oxy achieved approval for the Bronco CAP from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). Oxy has a 30-year legacy in Colorado and is committed to serve as an innovative and sustainable leader in the oil and gas industry.

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What is a CAP?

A CAP is a proposed plan covering future oil and gas operations in a defined geographic area. The purpose of a CAP is to propose development based on thoughtful and comprehensive planning and cumulative impact considerations. A CAP focuses on infrastructure location, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and centralization of facilities, among other development aspects. To learn more about the COGCC and the CAP process, click here.

Bronco CAP Specifics

  •  The proposed Bronco CAP area is in a geographically remote area located north of Roggen, CO and south of U.S. Highway 34.

  • The planned development avoids impacts on residents by well pads and facilities located greater than one (1) mile from the nearest Residential Building Unit.

  •  Traffic will be contained within the Bronco CAP boundary and U.S. Highway 34, avoiding County roads or residential streets.

  •  The Bronco CAP also avoids Disproportionately Impacted Communities.

Topographical map (right) portrays the proposed Bronco CAP area.

Bronco CAP by the Numbers

9 Conceptual Pads

Approximately 141 Horizontal Wells

Approximately 24,332 Mineral Acres

Our Best Practices

We strive to make our activities compatible with the surrounding community and use various techniques to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the temporary impacts associated with development. Our team designs each location after careful consideration of the area’s specific attributes. We deploy the following strategies to mitigate possible impacts including:  

 

Noise: We will perform a mitigation and monitoring noise model for the Bronco CAP and will determine compliance prior to construction start. 

Road and Traffic: We reduce traffic as much as possible through oil transfer and Water-On-Demand systems. The oil produced from our horizontal locations is transported off-site through a pipeline, eliminating the need for trucks. We transport the water used in hydraulic fracturing through our innovative Water-On-Demand pipeline system, further reducing truck traffic.

Since its inception in 2012, this technology has enabled Oxy to eliminate 60 million miles of truck traffic from the roads in Weld County, reducing emissions, dust, road wear, and inconvenience to our neighbors. This system also reduces our surface footprint by eliminating the need to store water in tanks onsite during well completion.

 

Monitoring Emissions: During drilling and completions, independent third-party environmental air quality experts perform continuous air quality monitoring. During the development phase, we will post monthly monitoring reports created by the third-party consultant to this webpage.
 
Independent third-party air quality experts use traditional and innovative technologies to add context to and validate the data collected. Air monitoring stations include a weather station, a hydrocarbon analyzer, and carbon sorbent tubes. In addition, strategically placed air canisters may supplement data from the air monitoring stations. Air samples are collected and analyzed according to EPA standards. The results are compared to health guideline values set by the CDPHE.
 
Air monitoring data is collected continuously and is monitored 24/7 by our Integrated Operations Center (IOC). Our monitoring program establishes response and investigation levels designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of communities, our employees, and the environment. Additionally, our 24/7 IOC ensures that responses are timely and effective.  
 
To monitor emissions near our production facilities, we have an in-house emissions team that conducts leak detection and repair inspections. During the production phase, every facility is inspected periodically by trained individuals using a handheld infrared camera. We also use infrared camera-equipped drones and conduct frequent audio/visual/olfactory inspections to detect and control emissions.

 

Remote Monitoring: Our Integrated Operations Center (IOC) in Platteville, staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, enables real-time monitoring of the wells, production facilities, and water tanks. Additionally, the system allows us to monitor personnel locations and surrounding features, including sensitive areas, bodies of water, habitats, and communities. The IOC also serves as a point of contact 24/7 for inquiries from community members.

Progress and Project Updates

Links

This page will be updated regularly with information and permitting updates.

Current Phase – We are preparing to submit an application for a Weld County Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

 

Completed Phases

  1. The COGCC deemed the Bronco CAP as complete, meaning all the information submitted was ready for the consultation phase and public comment.

  2. The COGCC posted the CAP application and supporting exhibits on its website. Please see the link to the right.

  3. We provided notice of hearing via certified mail to all interested parties, including surface owners, mineral owners, Weld County, and State agencies, including CPW, CDPHE, and the State Land Board. 

  4. Oxy held a community meeting on May 23, 2022, with the purpose of providing the project overview and answering questions. Meeting slides are linked to the right.

  5. The COGCC approved the Bronco CAP on August 10, 2022.

  6. We provided a 30 Day application notice for our Weld County Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP0 via certified mail to the 5 interested parties, including Cervi Enterprises Inc., the State of Colorado, the COGCC Director, CPW, and Weld County OGED.

Stakeholder Relations Team

The Oxy Stakeholder Relations team is a dedicated resource for community members. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or comments related to our operations. A member of our team will promptly address the reason for your call. If you have an urgent concern after regular business hours, please reach out to the Integrated Operations Center.

 

866.248.9577

 

1099 18th Street, Suite 700

Denver, CO 80202 

ColoradoStakeholder@oxy.com

Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

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