TIMBER CREEK - TIMBER CREEK 118 Gas Extraction Facility, Las Animas County, Colorado

TIMBER CREEK - TIMBER CREEK 118 is a gas extraction facility located in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 16.1 miles west of Cokedale. The facility is operational and classified under NAICS codes 211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction) and 211130 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction). It is situated in the Raton Basin, a region known for coalbed methane and conventional natural gas production. 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 natural gas pipeline safety. As a gas extraction site, it involves drilling, well completion, and gas gathering operations typical of the region. The Raton Basin has a history of gas production dating back several decades, with wells often targeting the Vermejo and Raton formations. Environmentally, the facility is located in a semi-arid region with sparse population, reducing immediate community exposure. However, gas extraction activities can impact local air quality through fugitive emissions and water resources through hydraulic fracturing if applied. The site's operational status indicates ongoing production, contributing to the regional natural gas supply for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

The facility is situated in a semi-arid, rural area of southern Colorado, with low population density. The primary environmental considerations for gas extraction in this region include potential groundwater contamination from drilling and hydraulic fracturing, air emissions from well operations and flaring, and land disturbance from well pads and access roads. The Raton Basin is also seismically quiet, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection is a minor concern. The facility's distance from populated areas reduces direct human exposure to operational risks.