ConocoPhillips Drills Niobrara Test East of Aurora

ConocoPhillips began 2012 with the January Tebo 32-2 Niobrara test on part of it's 46,000 acre leasehold near Watkins, CO. That's very close to the 22,000 acre former Lowry Bombing Range which was leased to ConocoPhillips by the Colorado State Land Board on March 2, 2012 bringing their total acreage to approximately 68,000. The photograph below shows a sunset view of the working rig against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

Although the bulk of Niobrara drilling and production lies in Weld County well to the north of ConocoPhillips' acreage, there has been a flurry of leasing activity from Weld County south through El Paso County. In an article last fall, The Denver Post listed EOG Resources, Noble Energy, Anadarko Petroleum and Chesapeake Energy among the largest leaseholders in the area with many others pursuing acreage positions. Last June, Ultra Petroleum purchased the 18,000 acre Banning Lewis Ranch just east of Colorado Springs to add to the 100,000 acres it already has under lease.

To view more oil and gas images from around the US, visit Jim Blecha's Oil and Gas Photography site.

ConocoPhillips Tebo 32-2 Niobrara test drilled by Precision Drilling rig 522. Near Watkins, Colorado.