In Colorado, a wealth of information exists within the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) website at www.cogcc.state.co.us. On any given day, I seem to spend the bulk of my internet time reviewing and accessing information at the website. What sort of information can you find at COGCC’s website?
Production Records: Am I Being Paid on Everything I’m Entitled To?
If you are receiving royalties, then the information at the COGCC website is valuable resource to ensure that you’ve been the correct amount including that you’ve been paid for all products and for the correct quantities.
First, click on “Database,” then “Production,” and then either enter the name of the well from your revenue statement under “Facility/Lease,” or the legal description of the well under the, “Location.” When entering the location be sure that you enter the Township with just the “N” or “S” designation and omit any “T” for Township and the same goes for “Range” in omitting any “R.” Be sure to change the Year Range if needed and possibly the “Limit Records,” from the default “10 Records.” From there, click on the “Year,” that you wish to access and then production records will appear for the referenced year that you can then compare to your monthly statement.
If there is a particular product missing or the number are off, then it may be time to contact your operator to inquire about missing or delinquent payments. There are many other avenues or areas to double check on a revenue statement, but this is a basic one to double check.
What Wells Have Been or Are on my Acreage?
Ever wondered what the activity looks like in the vicinity of your property? Take a bird’s eye view by clicking on “Maps,” and then “GIS Online.” From there, zoom into the area where your minerals are, or for a quick click through to your acreage, click on Zoom near the top of your screen and then enter your location. Note the various options under, “Location,” for accessing your acreage.
From there you can change what’s available to view by clicking on and off the options along the left hand site of your screen. Some of the most useful are, “permits,” and “pending permits,” to see what new activity is coming online as well as things like, “Directionals” to see what direction horizontal wells are going in the area.
Upcoming Development
If you see a “pending permit,” or “permit,” show up on the map and you want to learn more, then you can either click on the map, or consider going to “permits,” off the main COGCC page. From here you can look county-wide at activity under either pending permits or permits approved within the last 12 months.
For a thorough review be sure and click on the Form 2 and Form 2A options to see all documents related to a potential well.
These are just a few basics on the depth of information available at COGCC—stay tuned for upcoming blog posts to learn more.
Jenna H. Keller, Esq.
Attorney at Keller Law, LLC. (www.kellerlawllc.com)
Jenna H. Keller provides legal services to farmers, ranchers, rural property owners, and severed mineral interest owners in the areas of estate planning, natural resources (oil, gas, wind), real estate, and water in Nebraska and Colorado.
The information is for general information purposes only. This should not be substituted for legal advice and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or reading does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You are encouraged to contact an attorney for legal advice concerning the information provided.