Pioneer Natural Resources Burro Canyon 13-28 Gas Extraction Facility, Cokedale, Colorado

Pioneer Natural Resources' Burro Canyon 13-28 is a gas extraction facility located in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 10.7 miles northwest of Cokedale. The site sits within the Raton Basin, a known coalbed methane and natural gas producing area. As an operational gas extraction plant, it contributes to the regional energy supply chain. The facility operates under U.S. federal regulations including PHMSA pipeline safety standards and DOT 49 CFR Part 192 for gas gathering and transmission. Colorado's oil and gas conservation division also enforces state-level rules for drilling and production. Typical gas extraction facilities in this region range from small wellhead sites to larger centralized processing plants, with capacities varying widely. This plant plays a role in supplying natural gas to downstream markets, supporting local energy needs and broader grid reliability. Its location in a semi-rural area with low population density reduces some community exposure risks, though proximity to the Raton Basin's geological features requires ongoing monitoring for seismic activity and groundwater protection.

The facility is situated in a semi-arid region of southern Colorado with low population density, reducing potential exposure to nearby communities. The Raton Basin is known for coalbed methane extraction, which involves dewatering coal seams and managing produced water. Local environmental considerations include groundwater protection, methane leakage prevention, and surface disturbance from well pads and access roads. The area's seismic history is moderate, with occasional small earthquakes potentially linked to fluid injection or extraction activities.