Find Out if You Have Oil & Gas Lines Under Your Neighborhood
You can now find the oil and gas lines under your neighborhood, thanks to a new tool from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC).
The commission's new geographic information systems (GIS) database serves as a virtual map that lets you see all of the oil and gas lines in Colorado.
According to 9News, these lines are the pipes that connect oil and gas wells. The map has only been live for a week, so not all of the pipelines are visible yet.
COGCC officials are noting that the map is not designed to replace Colorado 811, which is the number you must call before digging underground.
The database was partly inspired by Erin Martinez, a Firestone woman who lost her husband and brother when her home exploded in 2017.
The explosion was caused by an abandoned pipeline under her home, which she was unaware of beforehand.
"The public has a right to know what is in the ground, in and around, where they choose to live," said Martinez said on November 21, at the hearing that approved the map.
The map allows you to type in any Colorado address, and zoom in to view oil lines, historic wells, planned reservoirs and more.
You can decide which element you would like to see by selecting options on the left-hand panel.
You are not allowed to take photos of or print out the map, but the COGCC hopes that viewing it will help with security and safety in Colorado.