Grassland Drilling in Northeast Colorado

The hunt for oil and gas beneath Pawnee National Grassland gets attention. The Pawnee Grassland, including the iconic Pawnee Buttes, rests above the massive Niobrara shale rock formation on the Northern edge of Colorado between Highway 25 and 76 and along the Southern end of the Wyoming border. 

Oil and gas companies are focusing on this area in order to tap into the grounds energy resources. Letters are being sent out by the U.S. Forest Service to landowners, environmental groups, American Indian tribes and others that may have an interest in this Grassland that energy companies will be surveying the land for any sign of deposits of oil and/or natural gas (Whaley 2012).

Local energy resources has been in such desperate need that a paved road has been already created in order for oil and gas trucks to bypass the small town of Grover, Colorado in order not to disturb the locals. The drilling site already has a reputation of successful drilling as 1,500 barrels of oil was drilled in one day back in 2009. However, there has been little activity regarding oil and gas leasing on the Pawnee National Grasslands due to the land being under environmental review; currently seismic testing is presenting evidence that energy companies are seeking to drill here (Magill 2011).

The wells at Colorado's Pawnee National Grasslands were protected in the past due to signs of rare animals. Oil drilling was prevented back in 1992 due to a rare bird known as 'mountain plover'; however, the area shows great signs of energy resources. However, what environmental dangers hold for wildlife today? Nature seekers, stargazers, and sightseers may have to look elsewhere for vibrant environmental attractions (Gill 1992).


References:

Gill, Dee. 1992. Rare bird grounds grasslands drilling/Oil firms fume over temporary ban. Houston Chronicles (June 26). http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1992_1063716/rare-bird-grounds-grasslands-drilling-oil-firms-fu.html (accessed March 27, 2012).

Magill, Bobby. 2011. Grasslands a target for oil. National Stripper Well Association (NSWA) (January 9). http://nswa.us/custom/shownews.php?action=detail&id=148 (March 27, 2012).

Whaley, Monte. 2012. Hunt for oil, gas beneath Pawnee National Grassland gets attention. Denver Post.  http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20148252/hunt-oil-gas-beneath-pawnee-national-grassland-gets (accessed March 27, 2012).