Pioneer Nat Res - Northern Pike 23-2 Gas Extraction Facility, Cokedale, Colorado

Pioneer Nat Res - Northern Pike 23-2 is a gas extraction facility situated in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 7.2 miles west of Cokedale. The facility is operational and falls under the gas extraction sector, with NAICS codes 211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction) and 211130 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction). Its location in the Raton Basin, a region known for coalbed methane production, places it within a historically significant gas-producing area. The 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, which governs gas pipeline safety. As a gas extraction site, it likely employs standard drilling and completion techniques typical of the region, including hydraulic fracturing for coalbed methane. The facility's scale is typical for a mid-sized operation in Colorado's gas sector, contributing to the state's natural gas output. Environmentally, the facility is situated in a semi-arid region with low population density, reducing immediate community exposure risks. However, gas extraction activities in the area are subject to Colorado's stringent air quality and water management regulations. The facility's role in the local gas grid supports energy supply for the region, while its operational practices are expected to align with state and federal environmental standards.

The facility is located in a semi-arid, sparsely populated area of southeastern Colorado, reducing direct human exposure to operational risks. The region's geology, part of the Raton Basin, involves coalbed methane extraction, which requires careful water management to avoid aquifer impacts. Colorado's regulatory framework mandates emissions controls and water recycling to mitigate environmental effects. Seismic risk in the area is low, but climate hazards such as drought and wildfire pose indirect operational challenges.