Weld County outlines recovery efforts from Bishop well control incident near Galeton

The Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) held a meeting on April 23, 2025, to provide an update on a well control incident that occurred in Weld County. Deputy Director Greg Duranlow reported that the well, located approximately one mile south of Galeton, has been under control since April 10, following an incident on April 6 during well completion operations at a Chevron site.

The incident involved a loss of well control at one of the wells on a 16-well pad, designated as the Bishop A 18-7 4 2. A unified incident command team, including local first responders and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), managed the emergency response. Chevron engaged a third-party expert, Wild Well Control, to successfully halt the fluid flow from the well.

As of the meeting, cleanup efforts are ongoing, with over 200 personnel actively working at the site. The Gallatin Elementary School has reopened, but some residents within a half-mile evacuation zone remain displaced. Duranlow emphasized that while the situation is no longer an emergency, the cleanup is critical and will continue until all contamination is addressed.

ECMC has approved Chevron's environmental sampling and analysis plan, which is publicly available. The commission holds operators accountable for thorough investigations and remediation of spills, ensuring compliance with stringent cleanup standards. The investigation into the cause of the incident is still underway, with OSHA conducting a formal inquiry.

Duranlow acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various regulatory partners, including the EPA, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in assessing environmental impacts and ensuring public safety. He concluded by expressing gratitude to the ECMC team and community outreach staff for their dedication during the incident response. A dedicated webpage has been established to provide ongoing updates about the situation.