Only 4 oil-gas companies say they can’t meet new flood rules

Only four of the estimated 500 oil and gas companies operating in Colorado have told state regulators they can’t meet the April 1 deadline to meet new safety rules for major floods.

The rules require such precautions as remote shut-off devices for wells and anchors to keep tanks from falling over if they’re within a government-designated flood plain.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission imposed the rules after a 2013 flood along the Front Range caused spills of 91,000 gallons of oil and polluted water.

Companies had until Feb. 1 to ask for a waiver or extension. Chevron, Extraction Oil & Gas, Peterson Energy Operating and PDC Energy asked for more time to retrofit more than 200 wells, tanks and other facilities.

The commission hasn’t acted on the requests.