Misinformation Sparks Alarm Over Erie’s Draco Pad Drilling Project
A wave of misinformation has recently flooded Erie community forums regarding the status of the controversial Draco Pad oil and gas project. Following an announcement from the town regarding a September 24 hearing with the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC), residents began speculating that SM Energy, the project’s operator, was preparing to abandon its recently approved agreement to purchase the town’s underground mineral rights. These rumors, primarily fueled by viral social media posts, suggested that a pending amendment to the project’s drilling plan was a coded signal that the company intended to exclude town-owned minerals from its operations.
Town officials and state regulators have moved quickly to debunk these claims, clarifying that the upcoming hearing concerns a request filed by SM Energy in August 2025—long before the Town Council voted to approve the mineral rights sale in late June. Town spokesperson Gabi Rae noted that the amendment pertains specifically to the westernmost portion of the proposed drilling plan and is entirely unrelated to the current negotiations over Erie’s mineral assets. John Brown, a spokesperson for the ECMC, confirmed that Erie’s mineral rights remain a formal part of the drilling plan currently scheduled for review, stating there is no evidence the company intends to withdraw from the deal.
The confusion appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the complex regulatory process involved in oil and gas development. While the Draco Pad itself received state approval in March 2025, operators must navigate multiple subsequent filings, including pooling applications that establish legal access to minerals. Although SM Energy did file an updated pooling application in July reflecting a lack of leased government-owned minerals, officials suggest this was likely a premature administrative step taken while the town’s mineral sale was still in the early stages of finalization, rather than a definitive move to terminate the agreement.
The instability of the current situation is further complicated by a resident-led petition aimed at forcing a public vote on the mineral rights sale. If this petition survives the ongoing validation process, the deal could appear on the November ballot or a subsequent special election. Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Bell has expressed public concern that the administrative delays caused by this petition process could frustrate SM Energy, which is operating under a strict mandate to begin construction and drilling by May 2028. Bell warned last month that the company’s tight timeline could lead them to walk away if the process proves too cumbersome.
Despite the mounting political pressure and the community’s vocal anxiety, town officials maintain that the partnership remains intact. As of this week, the town of Erie has received no formal communication from SM Energy, the ECMC, or any other relevant entity suggesting that the mineral rights agreement is in jeopardy. Town spokesperson Gabi Rae emphasized that, regardless of the pending petition, the deal remains in a period of due diligence, with the results of contract consultants expected within the coming month to determine the path forward for the property.
As the September 24 hearing date approaches, the town continues to urge residents to rely on verified information rather than speculative social media discourse. While the petition process creates a layer of uncertainty for the future of the Draco Pad, the current administrative requests before the ECMC are standard procedural adjustments that do not signal the collapse of the town’s contract. For now, the agreement remains on the table, and both municipal officials and state regulators are proceeding as if the Draco Pad project is still moving toward its original objectives.