2 new oil spills reported in northern Colorado

Two new oil spills have been discovered as inspectors continue to survey flooding damage to oil and gas wells in Weld County.

State regulators said Monday they have found a total of 14 notable spills amounting to nearly 44,000 gallons, more than three storage tanks’ worth. The latest spills are at two locations operated by PDC Energy east of Greeley.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission also estimates that about 17,350 gallons of wastewater containing residual amounts of oil and gas was spilled in the flooding in the booming Wattenberg Field. So-called produced water is stored in tanks at wells for disposal or recycling.

About 30 percent of the wells in the flood zone still must be inspected so it’s possible more spills will still be reported.