Pioneer Natural Resources - Marge 11-16 Gas Extraction Facility, Las Animas County, Colorado

Pioneer Natural Resources - Marge 11-16 is a gas extraction facility located in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 9.5 miles west of Cokedale. The site is situated in the Raton Basin, a region with a history of coalbed methane and conventional natural gas production. As an operational gas extraction plant, it plays a role in the local energy infrastructure. The facility operates under U.S. federal and state regulations, including PHMSA pipeline safety standards and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) rules. Typical gas extraction sites in this region range from small to medium scale, often producing a few million cubic feet per day. The site's NAICS codes (211111 and 211130) indicate crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, as well as natural gas liquid extraction. Environmentally, the facility is located in a semi-arid region with low population density, reducing direct exposure risks. However, gas extraction activities can impact local air quality and water resources. The site's proximity to the Spanish Peaks and the Purgatoire River watershed underscores the importance of adherence to environmental management practices.

The facility is situated in a semi-arid, rural area of southeastern Colorado, characterized by grasslands and juniper woodlands. Gas extraction operations in this region can affect local air quality through emissions of volatile organic compounds and methane. Water usage and potential groundwater contamination are also concerns, given the area's reliance on aquifers for agriculture and domestic use. The site's distance from major population centers reduces immediate human exposure risks, but cumulative impacts from multiple wells in the Raton Basin warrant monitoring.