We are taking our commitment to safe and responsible development of the energy that fuels Colorado lifestyles to a new level by applying our integrated development plan (IDP) approach to the first Comprehensive Drilling Plan ever approved by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC).
Our Mustang Comprehensive Drilling Plan (CDP) ushers in a new
era of technology, innovation and continuous improvement. It serves as a blueprint for master-planned energy development – reducing emissions through innovative designs that eliminate tanks, use electricity rather than diesel and remove older vertical wells. It also minimizes our footprint by reducing land usage and eliminating truck trips.
Get the facts
The COGCC is a robust resource on Colorado’s first-ever comprehensive drilling plan:
- Final CDP package
- Finding of Suitability
- Topography
- Econode design
- Reclamation areas
- Noble Neighbor fact sheet
To stay informed throughout the project, you can also access our CDP activity notices.
What is our Comprehensive Drilling Plan
Our Mustang Comprehensive Drilling Plan (CDP) is a blueprint for a master-planned energy development area spanning 100 square miles of contiguous rural land in the DJ Basin. It involves:
- 64,000 acres of farmland southeast of Greeley, Colorado in Weld County, encompassing rural lands with no municipalities within the boundaries
- More than 400 approved horizontal drilling permits
- Removing 1,800 older vertical wells and their production facilities
The Mustang CDP is advancing the way we fuel Colorado lifestyles by supporting our overarching goal to minimize our footprint in and around communities by plugging and removing older vertical wells and related production facilities.
For more on all the ways we protect, respect and work together with our communities, see our Noble Neighbor Program.
Environmental Benefits of the CDP
Innovation is at the root of our oil and natural gas operations. Through the use of advancing technology in our Mustang CDP, we are streamlining development to increase efficiency, enhance safety and significantly reduce our footprint. The full spectrum of the CDP’s environmental benefits include reductions in emissions, water use, traffic and more.
Tankless development
The Mustang CDP provides the blueprint for modernizing operations and minimizing the footprint of development in this area. This includes tankless econode facilities for production.
A single “econode” can service wells spread out over as much as 8 sections — eliminating the need for numerous production facilities.
Additional benefits of our tankless system include:
- Significantly reducing air emissions
- Significantly reducing truck traffic
- Avoiding potential spills and releases
- Minimizing impacts to neighboring residents
Plugging and removing older vertical wells reduces emissions
In conjunction with the development of extended-reach horizontal wells, the plan includes plugging 1,800 legacy wells and removing associated surface equipment and tanks within CDP lands. This will eliminate air emissions associated with these sites. Learn more about our Plug and Removal Program.
Reclaiming the land
Once the older wells are plugged and removed, we will reclaim lands and access roads so surface owners can use the area for agricultural and other purposes. See the map of reclamation areas for full details.
Reducing water use
The CDP will provide the opportunity to capitalize on recycling of flowback and produced water to the fullest extent practicable — reducing the amount of freshwater needed for well construction and completions (the process of preparing a well for production).
Supporting crop and wildlife wellbeing
Traditional drilling permits are for two-year periods. Permits within the CDP are for six-year periods. This provides us with the flexibility to develop long-term plans that enable us to work our schedule around seasonal crops and wildlife migration.
Reducing traffic and enhancing safety
As the single designated operator of the Mustang CDP, Noble Energy can transport all fluids (oil, natural gas and produced water) by pipeline infrastructure.
As part of our traffic and safety plan already in place, all designated transportation routes associated with the CDP utilize existing paved roads, such as WCR 49, that have been constructed to accommodate commercial traffic. See the map of access roads for full details.
Over the life of the project, we estimate this will:
What Government Officials Have to Say
Thank you to Noble for having the vision to see the opportunity and manifest it. I hope you see this plan as I do, as setting forth a landscape-level approach to oil and gas development in which collaboration, planning and infrastructure create a more effective dialogue and development plan.
–COGCC Director Julie Murphy (COGCC Commission Hearing, 10/2018)
The Department commends Noble for their holistic approaches to oil and gas exploration and production. Noble has, and will continue to be, an important leader throughout Colorado. The preliminary CDP is yet another example of that commitment to excellence.
–Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE Letter)
CPW appreciates the pre-application meeting with Noble Energy to discuss ways this development can minimize its effect on sensitive wildlife species in the area by finding locations that allow for responsible energy development.
–Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)
Noble Neighbor Program
The Mustang CDP is part of our Noble Neighbor Program — the initiatives that help ensure we are doing everything we can to protect, respect and work together with the communities we call home.
With a strong focus on community, safety, technology and innovation, programs within Noble Neighbor also include:
Learn more about our Mustang Comprehensive Drilling Plan
You can keep up to date on the latest through our activity notices and by signing up for our Noble Neighbor Newsletter below.