Timber Creek - Timber Creek 409 Gas Extraction Facility, Cokedale, Colorado

Timber Creek - Timber Creek 409 is a gas extraction facility situated in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 14.1 miles southwest of Cokedale. The facility is operational and falls under the broader natural 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 and conventional gas production, places it within a significant gas-producing area in the United States. 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 involves wellheads, gathering lines, and separation equipment. The scale of operations is typical for a single-site extraction facility in the region, with production capacities varying based on reservoir characteristics and well configuration. Environmentally, the facility's proximity to the Spanish Peaks and the Purgatoire River valley may influence local air and water quality considerations. Gas extraction in this area is subject to Colorado's stringent oil and gas regulations, including methane emission controls and water protection measures. The facility contributes to the regional energy supply, supporting local economies and the broader U.S. natural gas infrastructure.

The facility is located in a semi-arid region of southern Colorado, near the Purgatoire River watershed. Gas extraction activities here involve potential impacts on air quality from methane emissions and on water resources from hydraulic fracturing and produced water management. The area's seismic stability is moderate, with low natural earthquake risk, but induced seismicity from injection wells is a monitored concern. Colorado's regulatory framework requires leak detection and repair programs, as well as groundwater monitoring, to mitigate environmental risks.