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February 24, 2006DEQ approves new twin wellsGAYLORD - Twin natural gas and oil wells are now allowed in two northern Michigan counties, approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality after months of debate and compromise between opponents and industry officials.The Michigan Oil and Gas Association petitioned last year to put two wells within a required 80-acre spacing in Otsego and Montmorency counties. The request was approved Feb. 17 by DEQ's Harold R. Fitch. Officials with MOGA argued that new technology will allow gas to be collected from the top layers of the Antrim Shale, while old wells will continue to collect from bottom layers. And twin wells create a shorter production period and reduce the time of environmental exposure and surface use of facilities, the agency contends. Not everyone agreed. Several local opponents questioned industry officials during public hearings last summer, including Kevin Sagasser, an environmental consultant from Gaylord. He doubts existing pipelines could handle an increase in production without a great risk of more spills and leaks, unless obsolete pipelines are replaced. Concerns also were raised about air and water pollution, noise, soil conservation and mud pits by various opponents, and MOGA officials agreed to stipulations from that discussion. Those were included in the DEQ order, but not all were mandated. For example, required spacing between twin wells was reduced to 75 feet from the proposed maximum of 200 feet, but other terms weren't included, such as required replacement of obsolete pipelines. Many of the agreed-upon conditions could not be legally enforced, said Rick Henderson, DEQ district supervisor. Sagasser said he's discouraged the DEQ wasn't able to legally enforce all of the stipulations, particularly forced upgrades to outdated pipelines. "If you can prevent leaks from happening up front, it's a lot better than trying to clean it up later," he said. Ray A. Barnhart, MOGA board member and employee of Dominion Exploration and Production in Traverse City, said he expects oil and gas companies to follow the stipulations, especially because they are included in the DEQ approval order. He also said Dominion is drafting applications for twin wells. Henderson said twin wells must be approved by DEQ officials on a case-by-case basis. See Related Stories: Attorney opposes twin-well proposal - August 25, 2005 Regulators slate 'twin wells' hearing for August - August 3, 2005 Twin natural gas wells proposed in two counties - July 19, 2005 Oil & gas agency seeks to lift restrictions on 'twin wells' - June 28, 2005
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