Industry supports relief efforts in aftermath
Weeks after catastrophic floods devastated parts of Colorado, the cleanup has begun. The National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (both based in Boulder, CO), reported 14.7 inches of rain in Boulder from Sept. 9 through Sept. 13, shattering a record of 4.8 inches set nearly 100 years ago in 1919. Rain continued to fall in the days following, and according to the National Weather Service, at least 18 inches fell in various parts of Boulder County by mid-month. The record-breaking rainfall, coupled with complex variations in topography, contributed to floodwater acceleration and severe erosion and damage to 17 counties and 2,000 square miles in the state. Eight people are known to have lost their lives in the disaster. Highways and bridges were destroyed, and an estimated 17,000 structures were damaged.
Numerous oil and gas companies hold assets Colorado as it is the center of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basin—long noted as a major oil and gas province. Thousands of wells in the basin were shut-in in the aftermath of the historic event and damages to producing wells were still being examined as of this writing, but in the days following the flooding, companies quickly pitched in to help.
Noble Energy Inc., the largest operator in the basin with more than 8,000 operating wells, is one company committed to the relief effort. The Houston-based company contributed $500,000 to the Red Cross for flood-related response efforts and will match employee contributions up to $1,000 per person. Separately, numerous employees have volunteered in the community—staffing the local Weld County Food Bank, serving meals at the Red Cross Shelter, and delivering emergency relief supplies to community shelters. In the days following the flooding, Noble worked with a contractor to supply and maintain portable toilets to assist the City of Evans with sanitation system issues.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp., the second largest operator in the basin with about 6,000 wells, is contributing $500,000 to various agencies working on flood relief and response, the Houston Business Journal reported Sept. 18. In a flash release on its website Sept. 19, Anadarko reported 20 people working in its Emergency Operations Center in Denver and approximately 150 people working in the field to assist with response, containment, and remediation.
Operating more than 1,200 wells in the DJ basin, Encana Corp. has also pledged support with a $250,000 donation to support disaster relief and recovery efforts. The company found itself in a similar position to provide assistance when, in June, historic floods hit Calgary where the company is headquartered. The company will issue cash grants to various charities active in the efforts in Weld and Boulder Counties, including the flood relief funds established by the United Way. In addition, employee donations to registered charities will be matched by Encana up to $25,000 per employee.
Doug Suttles, president and CEO of Encana Corp., commented: "Many staff in our Denver and Front Range offices have been directly impacted; we're pledging our support to these colleagues as well as everyone else affected by these devastating events. Just as we saw in southern Alberta in June, Colorado is truly rallying together to help those most impacted and to repair the damage. There is an inspiring community spirit on display as people roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help their neighbors and this truly indicates that Colorado will rebound from this event."
ConocoPhillips, another company to offer support following the Alberta floods, recently committed to its neighbors in Colorado with a contribution of $200,000 to the American Red Cross. The company, which holds roughly 130,000 net acres in the southern DJ basin, will also match donations from its US employees and retirees..
"Colorado is an emerging area of operations for our company, and we are committed to assisting communities as they rebuild. We want to extend our gratitude to all emergency responders, volunteers and organizations like the Red Cross, who are working tirelessly to help those affected," said Don Hrap, president of Lower 48 and Latin America, ConocoPhillips.
About the Author
Mikaila Adams
Managing Editor, Content Strategist
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was later named Managing Editor - News. Her role has expanded into content strategy. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.