Arkansas oil and gas regulators moving to stem leak from century-old oil well
Liquid from the leaking oil well pools around trees in Ouachita County. (Obtained from AOGC filing)
Arkansas oil and gas regulators are working to replug a century-old oil well in Ouachita County that began leaking in May, after the state Oil and Gas Commission approved an emergency request to pay for the work.
A commission inspector wrote in a May 12 report that the leak had affected large trees that “are browning and losing leaves.” Department of Energy and Environment spokesperson Melony Martinez wrote in an email that there was no risk of further environmental contamination.
“The leak is not near any private water wells of record or any municipal water systems. It is located in a remote area and is not near a town… Once plugging is completed and weather conditions are conducive, surface abatement and cleanup measures will begin,” Martinez said. The department’s Division of Environmental Quality “is aware of the response but is not actively involved in plugging operations,” she said.
The commission has spent a little over $400,000 so far and expects to spend around $500,000, Martinez said. However, she emphasized it was difficult to estimate exact costs.
According to commission staff at a hearing last week, the state was notified of the leak in mid-May. Martinez said they estimated the well had been leaking for three to four days prior to the state becoming aware of it.
The well was still actively leaking as of June 3, but the leak is contained, Martinez said. Oil and Gas Commission records show the leaking fluid was diverted to a “pit.” Contractors “removed 9 loads” out of the pit on May 14.
“The Commission expects the well will be plugged over the next few days, which would mean it is no longer leaking,” Martinez said.
While Martinez said there were no estimates for the amount of fluid that has leaked from the well, images included in the commission’s filings last week show large areas of pooled fluids around dying trees and vegetation.
The well was last operated by “The Texas Company,” and was likely plugged around 1940, commission staff said in their request for emergency spending authority to address the leak. Commission attorneys said last week that they were unable to track down “the original permit holder,” necessitating the commission to expend funds.
Commissioners voted unanimously to grant staff the authority to use money from the Arkansas Abandoned and Orphaned Well Plugging Fund to address the leak.
The number of active and producing oil and gas wells in Arkansas have been steadily decreasing. Thousands of wells have been abandoned, either plugged or unplugged, or orphaned in the century since Arkansas’ first oil boom.
To view this story, or more news updates from Arkansas Advocate, click here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
