Chevron fined $1.5M for Northern Colorado oil well blowout

Chevron has been fined $1.5 million for last year's oil well blowout in Northern Colorado. The Colorado Energy and Carbon Commission unanimously approved the fine on Wednesday. 

Colorado investigators said the improper installation of mechanical gear at a Chevron oil and gas pad in Galeton was the cause of a multi-day leak on April 7, 2025. Investigators with Colorado's Energy Carbon Management Commission corroborated findings by Chevron's team that blamed a faulty landing joint for the leak.

Fluids like crude oil spewed out of the well near the Weld County community. 

Commissioners said it was a rare event that they don't want to happen again, "A lot of sleepless nights on this issue on many, many people, not just those dealing with it for an administrative perspective, but those living in the vicinity."  

In addition to the fine, Chevron is required to pay for all the cleanup. There were more than 300 lots impacted, and as of this month, only 25 have been cleaned up according to the state's standards. 

After the blowout, some residents and students were evacuated for days. Others were evacuated for weeks, while a handful of residents remained displaced two months after the leak first started.

Galeton is located about 65 miles northeast of Denver.