Colorado flooding results in oil and petrochemical spills

Those in Colorado that were affected by flooding toward the end of last month (September) have more than just water to deal with. It has been confirmed that around 60,000 gallons of oil and fluids heavy with petrochemicals leaked during the flooding, which could cause more problems for residents once all the flood waters have receded. 

The oil and other damaging chemicals spilled from fracking operations that were affected by the flooding.  Workers attempted to locate the source of the leaks by checking oil drums and pipelines, but the destruction caused by the floods made the task incredibly difficult. In total the state has 50,000 oil wells, many of which were shown to be severely damaged in aerial photos taken during the floods.

Larger oil spills are currently being tracked by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in a bid to work towards minimising damage. A total of 14 "notable" oil spills, which could have leaked around 44,000 gallons of oil, are currently being tracked by the commission. As well as oil leaks, some 12 produced water spills - water that contains petrochemical agents due to fracking operations - are also being monitored. A further 60 sites were identified as having physical damage to storage tanks.

The flood, which is a result of what is being called a once-in-a-millennium storm, caused thousands of people to be evacuated, destroyed around 1,800 homes and killed eight people. In order to stop the natural disaster also becoming a matter of public health, the oil industry is now working to control the oil in water situation and any damage.

Some are now suggesting that the recent events should be taken as a sign that the industry should stop drilling for oil and fracking in areas that are known to be likely to flood. By reducing oil activities on flood plains, disasters such as this could ultimately be avoided and the fallout from floods would not be so great or as damaging for the public.