State drilling regulations need more work, says Colo. gov

Gov. John Hickenlooper outlined a set of new initiatives to oversee oil and gas operations in Colorado to create "integrity and trust" in energy development.

The areas that the state is looking to include in existing rules or to add are:

• Enhanced testing to assure well-bore integrity.

• Comprehensive water sampling before a well is drilled.

• Controlling fugitive methane emissions from wells.

• Developing setbacks for wells in densely populated areas.

Hickenlooper outlined the issues at the Colorado Oil and Gas Association's annual conference in Denver.

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