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\F - WES7ER.\ <br />` d Juiz,aliun. 999 • <br />of ~~ <br />-_ - U'aYrnr Fues - a ~o ~, ~~ ~ ,T- J <br />~"t°O1f ~"` May 13, 1587 <br />rr'AY 1.4 1987 <br />Mr. WiIIiam 3. Smith <br />Director 'U1NFp lA1v~ <br />Colorado till and Gas Conservation Commission I~ECt'gM~T1p1V pjt/15f01~ <br />180 Logan Street, Suite 3811 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Dear dir. Smith: <br />We ha•re recei•red a copy of your comments on the Draft Environmental.4nalysis (DE.4j <br />for ccal lease application L-4-1653. You state that the degasification wells as <br />discussed in the UE.4 Tall under the definition of "gas" wells and, thus, under <br />the Commission's jurisdiction. <br />As discussed during our telephone conversation this morning, ;Vestern ?uels belie•%es <br />the degasification wells are not "gas" wells. The wells are first drilled to a <br />depth approximately 80 feet above the coal seam being mined. Casing is instslled <br />and cemented in place. The hole is then drilled to about ~ feet above the seam and <br />completed as an open hole. No gas Ilow occurs during the drilling of or at toe end <br />o[ the completion of the well. <br />.4f ter the longwall face passes beyond the well, the root" behind it caves and <br />intersects the open hole. The mine gases which [end to accumulate near the <br />longwall gob roof then vent to the atmosphere. 'This reduces the concentration of <br />gas in the mine air and provides a safer underground working condition for the <br />miners. The gas Ilow rate and concentration rapidly decreases once the accumulated <br />gas bubble is vented out. If not vented, the gas would have Co be mined with the <br />mine ventilation air in order to remove it from the mine with the mine tan. This <br />would create a safety hazard. Thus, the :veils are drilled purely for the purpose <br />of venting the mine gas to create a safer working environment. <br />I trust the above explanations are satisfactory to sho•x chat the veils are not <br />"gas" wells. Please let me know if you ha•re further questions or need additional <br />information. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~~~ <br />Uon L. Deardorff <br />Manager, Engineering and Exploration <br />cc: Tom Gillis, CMLkD <br />Merrill Millett, Deseret G&T <br />Fredrick U. Palmer, WF.4 <br />kaja Upadhyay, WFA <br />bob Johnson, WFU <br />koger Wickstrom, BLM-Meeker <br />Elizabeth Allen, BLM-(;raig <br />ULU:lgp <br />Suite #305 <br />405 Urban Sueet <br />L~lcewooJ. ColoraJo 902'9 <br />Telephone 30y938-9626 <br />Telecopier 303/986-8137 <br />