TIMBER CREEK - TIMBER CREEK 525 Gas Extraction Facility, Las Animas County, Colorado

TIMBER CREEK - TIMBER CREEK 525 is a gas extraction facility situated in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately 13.9 miles southwest of Cokedale. The facility is operational and contributes to the natural gas supply in the region. Its location in the Raton Basin, a known coalbed methane and natural gas producing area, places it within a significant energy corridor in the western 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 employs standard drilling and well completion technologies typical of the region, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, to access natural gas reserves. The NAICS codes indicate involvement in crude petroleum and natural gas extraction (211111) and natural gas liquid extraction (211130). Environmentally, the facility's operations are subject to state and federal regulations aimed at minimizing impacts on air quality, water resources, and local ecosystems. The area's semi-arid climate and proximity to the Spanish Peaks and Sangre de Cristo Mountains require careful management of water usage and methane emissions. The facility plays a role in the regional energy grid, supplying natural gas for residential, commercial, and industrial use in Colorado and beyond.

The facility is located in a semi-arid region of southern Colorado, characterized by grasslands and piñon-juniper woodlands. Gas extraction activities here involve potential risks such as groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing fluids and methane leakage. The area's seismic stability is moderate, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection is a concern in the broader region. Proximity to populated areas like Cokedale and Trinidad necessitates adherence to setback requirements and emission controls to protect public health.