Denver — The Energy and Carbon Management Commission approved two oil-and-gas development plans July 9 after staff and local government processes were completed: Kerr McGee’s Indigo OGDP (docket 241100294) and Bison 4 Operating LLC’s amended Eider North OGDP (docket 241200316). Both projects received local 10-41 (WOGLA) approvals from Weld County and were recommended by ECMC staff.

Kerr McGee — Indigo HZ: Counsel and company witnesses described a proposed Indigo location in Weld County to develop 12 horizontal wells within a new 1,280-acre drilling and spacing unit. Kerr McGee said the pad is sited more than 2,000 feet from any residential building unit, school, childcare facility or high-occupancy building and outside High Priority Habitat. The company committed to a variety of best management practices: use of group-2 drilling fluids, electrified production facility, a quiet frac fleet (Tier 4 engines for completions), pipeline takeaways for oil and produced water, raptor-nest surveys and air monitoring plans with monthly reporting for the first 6 months. Weld County’s WOGLA approval (April 2025) and public support comments (five supportive comments) were noted; commissioners voted 4–0 to approve the Indigo OGDP.

Bison 4 — Eider North amended OGDP: Bison asked approval for an amended and expanded ~2,200-acre OGDP to add four horizontal wells on an existing Eider North pad (the pad’s surface disturbance would not increase). Counsel and company witnesses said no additional surface disturbance is required; the present pad already connects to three-phase pipeline takeaway and the production facility uses line power and electrified compression. Bison proposed Tier 2 dual-fuel drilling rigs with battery assist and Tier 4 completion engines, tank-vapor capture for tank control and a single-occupation DSU development. Weld County approved the 10-41 WOGLA in April 2025; no public comments were filed on the Form 2a. The commission approved the amended Eider North OGDP, 4–0.

Why it matters: Both applications followed the state’s WOGLA/local review process and included BMPs to mitigate air, noise and wildlife impacts, pipeline takeaway for produced water and commitments to electrify compressors where possible. Commissioners asked questions about produced-water takeaway, grid upgrades for drilling electrification and tank counts at one site; companies said produced-water takeaway was limited in one area and that grid upgrades for rig electrification would be costly and time-consuming in the near term.

Ending: Both project approvals were recorded as commission actions; staff noted follow-up compliance and monitoring tasks, including operational air monitoring programs and adherence to BMPs and county conditions where applicable.