PIONEER NAT RES - BALBOA 11-3 Gas Extraction Facility, Aguilar, Colorado

PIONEER NAT RES - BALBOA 11-3 is a gas extraction facility located approximately 9.6 miles southwest of Aguilar, Colorado, in Las Animas County. The facility is operational and falls under NAICS codes 211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction) and 211130 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction). Its precise location is Section 3, Township 32 South, Range 66 West, with coordinates 37.292938° N, 104.775121° W. As a gas extraction site in Colorado, this facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Department of Transportation's 49 CFR Part 192 for natural gas pipelines. Colorado's oil and gas operations are also subject to state-level regulations from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). The facility likely employs conventional extraction methods typical of the region, which includes the Raton Basin, known for coalbed methane and conventional natural gas production. The facility contributes to the natural gas supply chain in southeastern Colorado, supporting local energy needs and potentially feeding into regional pipeline networks. Its operational status indicates ongoing production, and its location in a rural area suggests lower population density, which is a factor in risk assessment for gas extraction activities.

The facility is situated in a rural area of Las Animas County, Colorado, characterized by semi-arid climate and grassland ecosystems. Proximity to populated areas is low, reducing immediate human exposure risks. However, gas extraction activities can impact local air quality through emissions of volatile organic compounds and methane. The region's seismic activity is generally low, but the area may experience occasional induced seismicity related to oil and gas operations. Water resources in the area are limited, and extraction operations must manage water use and disposal carefully to protect groundwater.