Injection well failure in Wise County! Updated with links

Wise County (4.00 / 5)

as every county in the Barnett Shale area needs strong leaders in their county Democratic Party to help advocate for clean, safe water.  This would be a excellent way to bring new Democrats into the party.

That's one of the many reasons why the Wise County Democrats the Active ones was formed.

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 00:48:35 AM CDT

The Citizens of Boyd (4.00 / 3)

appear to have been correct. To bad it happened after the fact. The RRC better get off their butts and learn a little science and geology before they issue another one of these permits. We have people who are totally uneducated about these issues listening to Corpartate Paid "experts" telling them how it needs to be done. ENOUGH!
Do you want to drink the water if you are anywhere near this injection well? How safe do you feel now that they waited almost 2 months to tell the public. HOW much waste water is in your well. HOW much of this crap have you drank?

This reminds me of the moral in the Edger Allen Poe Story, Masque of the Red Death. If we keep polluting no one escapes the consequences.

---

by: lemurs @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 09:53:30 AM CDT

The NUMBERS (4.00 / 1)

I am asking myself right now, if these companies do not have to tell the public when one of these injection wells have failed, how do we know what the TRUE statistical numbers are for failure of these wells? Where can we get accurate information on this subject? From the Gas and Oil companies? OH PLEASE, WAKE UP! That is like asking the fox how many henhouse have been left vulnerable.

---

by: lemurs @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 10:04:36 AM CDT

The problem is (4.00 / 3)

that oil and gas companies have DEEP pockets so it becomes almost impossible to prove they are responsible for the contamination even though it's obvious.

Panola County water has tested positive for contaminants MANY times but the oil & gas companies keep requiring more tests.  The testing is prohibitively expensive.

From What Lies Beneath by Rusty Middleton

As recently as June 2005, Railroad Commission tests found two contaminants under Basic Energy's disposal site in the area. The same two also showed up in the families' wells. Two months later the three-member commission dismissed the complaints of Hudson and other residents. Hudson and his attorney, John Stover-himself a former railroad commissioner-used open-records requests to obtain documents indicating that state officials had concluded there were problems at Basic Energy's site. Early this year, state inspectors wrote that documentation of the company's cleanup efforts was incomplete and that a new leak had been discovered. "[T]he matter of complete assessment, cleanup and/or control of barium and chloride detected in groundwater remains a concern for RRC staff," a commission official wrote to the company in January.

This was written over two years ago and you can see, from part of my response to the O&G BIG GUNS (below) that I'm still working on, that Panola County has gotten nowhere.

In regards to the disposal wells, the key sentence is this:  "Should an oil and gas operator be found responsible for a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, that operator could be subject to both state and federal enforcement efforts."  Mr. Haynes, Mr. Sebree, and I know that the system currently in place is pathetically lacking and easily manipulated.  However, in case you need reminding, I know a few people in Panola County who would be more than happy to educate you.

Citizens in Panola County can no longer drink or bathe in their water because it was contaminated by a class 2 commercial injection well.  Although the contamination was proven in two separate tests by the EPA, a private company test, a Rail Road Commission test, and in several tests taken from the monitoring well at the injection site, one  as recently as a week ago, the oil and gas company has required further testing.  Testing water for contaminants is prohibitively expensive and requiring repeated testing is one way the offenders can escape responsibility.  "Should an oil and gas operator be found responsible"  Few citizens have pockets deep enough to fight the oil and gas industry's manipulation of the system to prove culpability. 

In the meantime, Panola citizens must use the few barrels of water they receive each week for all their water needs.

BTW, the same company that operates the injection well in question in Panola County, Basic Energy, has an injection well in Wise County.

The RRC requires a $100 permit fee to operate on injection well.  heh. 

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 10:24:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great Diary Sharon, Thanks for the attention ! (4.00 / 1)

This is a complete failure of the whole process. The RRC failed the citizens, Hydro FX failed the State and it's citizens and most of all, the citizens have failed the citizens. This well was shut down because it didn't do what they said it was designed to do. Another failure is that they shut it down because it affected the Gas production in the area. Not that it contaminated the water. What the RRC needs is pressure on them to install a monitoring water well to see if the groundwater was contaminated too. I think Jim Joling will ask them to do that. We don't want them operating this injection well any longer. They need to shut it down and not go back to business as usual. The Pressure was increaed at the Bradenhead which is below the casing. This Bradenhead pressure is used to protect the groundwater and they say this is where the failure has occurred but there's been no mention of how the groundwater might be affected or if they plan on testing it for contamination. Seems like the logical thing to do don't you think?

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 11:27:14 AM CDT

We have 27 Commercial Injection Wells in Wise County Already (4.00 / 3)

with the promise of more to come.

http://www.rrc.state...

DISTRICT: 09  COUNTY: WISE (497)
LEASE# O/G WELL  API# OPERATOR NAME LEASE NAME
30562 O 1  49735690 AMMO ENERGY, LLC  STAR
000000 A 1W  49735873 BASIC ENERGY SERVICES, L.P. BEAMAN
30073 O 2  49735807 BRIDGEPORT TANK TRUCKS, LTD COLEMAN, W. S.
30105 O 1  49735063 BRIDGEPORT TANK TRUCKS, LTD MANN, W. J.
19326 O 1  49731116 BRIDGEPORT TANK TRUCKS, LTD SINGLETON, GEORGE
30105 O 2WD 49735252 BRIDGEPORT TANK TRUCKS, LTD MANN, W. J.
29173 O 2  49733986 BRIDGEPORT TANK TRUCKS, LTD SINGLETON
30152 O 1WD 49735209 COFFMAN TANK TRUCKS INC  BRUNSON, KENNETH
19617 O 2  49735925 COFFMAN TANK TRUCKS INC  TRULL
30288 O 1202  49781627 COFFMAN TANK TRUCKS INC  CUAGHLIN STRAWN WEST UNIT
19617 O 1  49731524 COFFMAN TANK TRUCKS INC  TRULL
26669 O 1 D 49733160 DEVON GAS SERVICES, L.P.  LEC BRIDGEPORT PLANT
30532 O 1  49735723 GILBOW TANK TRUCK SERVICE,  GILBOW SWD
30540 O 1SW 49732061 HOPCO, INCORPORATED  WHETSELL
213027 G 1  49735728 HYDRO-FX, INC.  HYDRO-FX
30103 O 2WD 49700000 KEY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.-N DENTON CREEK FARMS
113396 G 1  49700798 KEY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.-N MOSER, JEFF
30169 O 2  49735119 KEY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.-N MOSER, JEFF
26622 O 1WS 49782230 WEST FORK DISPOSAL, LLC  PATTON
30153 O 1  49732662 WEST FORK DISPOSAL, LLC  SMITH, JOHNIE "A"
30051 O 1  49732301 WEST FORK DISPOSAL, LLC  SMITH, JOHNIE
26622 O 2  49735433 WEST FORK DISPOSAL, LLC  PATTON
30045 O 1  49735024 WEST FORK DISPOSAL, LLC  WEST FORK TANK TRUCKS
000000 A 1  49700000 WEST FORK TANK TRUCKS, INC. MANNING
000000 A 1  49700000 WEST FORK TANK TRUCKS, INC. ROY WILLIAMS
30723 O 1  49735858 WISE DISPOSAL, LTD.  WISE DISPOSAL SWD

Also, if you notice, Deberry's (Panola County)Contaminated Injection well was operated by Basic Energy. They too also have a Commercial Injection well in Wise County. I feel safe now.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 11:37:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This (4.00 / 1)

is the company that is in question for contaminating Panola County's water:

000000 A 1W  49735873 BASIC ENERGY SERVICES, L.P. BEAMAN

We have pictures from the Panola site and they are horrific, to say the least.

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 11:53:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gas Wells (4.00 / 2)

It is also my understanding that the waste water that is used to fracture wells, 20% to 40% can be left in the fractured well site. Waste water is being left at the gas well sites as well as being pumped into the ground. The chance of contamination of ground water goes up with every well site and injection well site.
Injection Wells 27
Gas Wells ?
Does anyone have the answer?

---

by: beachbaby @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 15:37:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not sure on the 20%-40% (4.00 / 2)

But during the life of a gas or oil well (expected 20-30 years) The wells are continually re-fracked to step up the production. Also, the Tank Batteries (aka Seperator Tanks) store additional sediment brought up from the ground. Sediment such as N.O.R.M. waste (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material). This "NORM" waste is disposed of as well in injection wells. So lets just average that 750-1000 wells are fracked each year in Wise County alone. This just simply blows my mind. Another issue is the waste of the water. Devon has developed technology that has 80% recovery rate on water. It's called Desalinization. This process can work to recycle the Brine water being wasted and disposed of. But, Until it is LAW that they have to use this process, they will continue to work as business as usual and make huge profits because they simply don't have to.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 17:01:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Another important point (4.00 / 2)

that Tracy brought to my attention is that the casing used in these injection wells is made of concrete.  Maybe she will describe what happens to concrete when some of the same chemicals injected into our groundwater touches concrete.

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 12:00:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great Diary! (4.00 / 1)

Keep on keeping the heat up Sharon and Tracy!

---

by: faithchatham @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 12:22:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Okay, here goes... (4.00 / 3)

The bore hole is made of Steel Pipe. Which is eventually corroded from the constant flow of acidic type chemicals flushed through this pipe. Here's the list:

FROM HYDRO-FX, INC (Note that All operators inject this Waste)
LIST OF EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION WASTE

? Produced Water  ? Drilling Fluids  ? Drill Cuttings  
? Rigwash  ? Workover Wastes   ? Cooling tower blowdown
? Packer fluids  ? Produced Sands   ? Hydrocarbon-bearing soil
o Pigging wastes from gathering lines
o Drilling fluids and cuttings from offshore operations disposed of on shore
o Well completion, treatment and stimulation fluids
o Basic sediment and water and other tank bottoms from storage facilities that hold product and oil and gas waste
o Accumulated materials such as hydrocarbons, solids, sand, and emulsion from production separators, fluid treating vessels and production impoundments
o Pit sludges and contaminated bottoms from storage or disposal of oil and gas wastes
o Gas plant dehydration wastes, including glycol-based compounds, glycol filters, filter media, backwash and molecular sieves
o Gas plant sweetening wastes for sulfur removal, including amine, amine filters, amine filter media, backwash, precipitated amine sludge, iron sponge, and hydrogen sulfide scrubber liquid and sludge
o Spent oil and gas filters, filter media, and backwash
o Pipe scale, hydrocarbon solids, hydrates, and other deposits removed from piping and equipment prior to transportation
o Wastes from subsurface gas storage and retrieval
o Constituents removed from produced water before it is injected or otherwise disposed of
o Liquid hydrocarbons removed from the production stream but not from oil refining
o Gases removed from the production stream, such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, volatilized hydrocarbons
o Materials ejected from a producing well during the process known as blowdown
o Waste crude oil from primary filed operations and production
o Light organics volatilized from oil and gas wastes in reverse pits or impoundments or production equipment
o AND
o Other exploration and production wastes (Please Note)

After these Production wastes corrode the steel pipe, it is reinforced by a Cement Casing. When an acid or corrosive material hits cement, it smokes, bubbles and liquifies the cement. Periodically, the casing is Squeezed and re-inforced with new cement. The point is, when they are too busy 27/7 pumping Toxic Waste down a tube, when do they have time to "Squeeze" the casing? Also, How do they know when it is time to reinforce the casing? Answer: AFTER IT HAS ALREADY CONTAMINATED BECAUSE THE BRADENHEAD PRESSURE HAS INCREASED.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 12:23:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Did my senator, Craig Estes, blow me off? (4.00 / 2)

You decide:

Here is the form letter I received in response to my request that he support SB 714 to eliminate the exemptions on oil and gas.

February 26, 2007

Thank you for contacting my office concerning ground water conservation districts and certain exemptions.

I am actively working with the Texas Water Development Board to clarify the current laws covering groundwater conservation districts, and their authority to protect and conserve water resources used by all public and private users.

I agree with the current water policy that encourages locally controlled groundwater conservation districts to oversee and promote responsible and fair water usage with their areas.

It is my honor to serve you in the Texas Senate, and I welcome your comments and questions on issues important to our region and our state.

Sincerely,
Craig Estes

Let me help you out with some easy steps to find that clarification, Craig:

Step One:
On the Texas Water Development Board Website, search for exempt. 

Step Two:
Click on the second link in the search results:

[POST SESSION WRAP UP REPORT
1177 k 7/22/2005 9:44:02 PM 42 hit(s) http://www.twdb.stat... Reports/79_LegeReport_composite_print.pdf]

Step Three:
Go to page 45 and read the last paragraph:

Similar to general law GCDs, the District is required to consider if proposed new uses of groundwater will unreasonably affect surrounding landowners. Unlike general law GCDs, the District may require a permit for any activity that extracts groundwater or allows more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater per day to escape, whether through a well or a man-made excavation. Under Water Code, Chapter 36, wells used solely for domestic, livestock, or poultry on a tract of land larger than 10 acres that cannot produce 25,000 gallons per day; wells used to supply oil or gas exploration rigs permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas; and, wells authorized under a permit issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas required for mining activities are exempt from general law GCD permitting provisions and regulation. Unlike general law GCDs, the District is authorized to impose additional requirements and limitations on permits to transfer groundwater out of the District if the transfers would negatively impact permit holders or other groundwater users in the District. Under Texas Water Code, Chapter 36, general law GCDs may not impose more restrictive permit conditions on transporters than on existing in-district users.

Glad I could help you out with that.

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 12:53:22 PM CDT

Same Thing... (4.00 / 2)

Same "Lip Service" I got from Senator Estes' office. None of the others I wrote have bothered to respond either. It's really simple to do. LIFT THE EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED TO O&G AND MAKE THEM ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES AS EVERYBODY ELSE !  Before I get the lip service about how the economy will suffer and demand will outway the supply and therefore cause $3-$5/gal fuel prices I will remind you that O&G made MULTI-BILLION $ profits in one year. Also, 100% of the time in history, when O&G is made to adhere to stronger environmental laws, It creates more jobs. Now let's take the supply issue, Let's say in a drought that production comes to a halt and supply drops off, well, guess we better get on research and development of Alternative fuels and put those chips in all the SUV'S that double the mileage per gal they already have.

I would be interested to see the responses and ask why they think these are not viable alternatives.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 13:49:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lightseeker, thank you for the promotion, BUT (4.00 / 3)

oil and gas exemptions harm city folks too.

When our groundwater is polluted where to you think we will go for water?

Groundwater is not stationary. 

It flows like rivers.

Surface water bubbles down to groundwater. 

Groundwater bubbles up to surface water.

And

We haven't even touched on the air pollution caused by exploration and drilling. 

Wind blows...

This will harm us all.

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 13:29:48 PM CDT

Thanks for the correction... (4.00 / 2)

You are of course exactly correct....

---

by: lightseeker @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 14:15:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Info about Photo (4.00 / 2)

Just FYI on the photo. This is the sediment ponds they put the spent water and mud sludge from the Fracking process when a well is established. This one is lined, but a lot are not. These Sediment Ponds filled with the Brine are left open to the elements and the RRC gives the operators up to a year to remediate (dispose of). These Brine Sediment ponds are NOT FENCED or PROTECTED. Children, animals (wild and domestic) are free to drink or swim in these environmental nightmares. In a pasture near my home, I frequently see the Black Angus cows drinking from one of these ponds. They have no other source of water on this land except this pond. This field was used for Farmland until At least a 1/4 to 1/2 was takien up by the pad, tank batteries and Sediment Pond was constructed. I guess the farmer thought it was no use to farm there anymore because of the lack of acreage to make it worth it, so why not turn it into pasture land and graze cattle to sale at the local sale barn that will be distributed for human consumption. Now I'm not saying that this farmer is dumb at all, he just misinformed because the propoganda that the O&G industry says they are safe and the State of Texas abides by that assumption.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer or a trailblazer.

---

by: Tracy Smith @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 14:03:07 PM CDT

Remember this? (4.00 / 1)

Gas Drilling can be a Bum Steer!

New Mexico cattle die after drinking chemicals near gas well

A traditional New Mexico ranching couple Tweeti and Linn Blancett, lead their cattle up a slope, past a natural gas drilling platform and around industrial equipment that occupies the once-pristine public land where their cattle used to graze undisturbed. Now they can't believe what they see: a natural gas clean up crew ripping the lining of a waste pit, allowing toxic, industrial waste water to seep into the land. This is a blatant violation of the environmental rules that govern the use of public lands. Chris Velasquez, a fellow rancher shares this same bond to the land and he is just as furious as to what is going on.

Ray Sanchez, the BLM's Northern New Mexico spokesperson, tells us that the fact that the land is publicly owned and managed by the federal government, gives the Department of the Interior the right to lease the subsurface mineral rights to oil and natural gas companies. This creates a tricky situation in which these public lands have "dual leasors" - the ranchers who graze their cattle on the land, and the oil and gas companies that drill for oil and minerals beneath the surface of the land.

The Blancetts and Velasquez share something else in common - their cattle are becoming sick and they are dying. After some reconnaissance they found strange spills near the drilling platforms that peppered their grazing lands. They quickly concluded that their cattle must be drinking the chemical waste spilled by the oil and gas companies.

We are so screwed!

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 18:40:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Drought? (4.00 / 2)

The small community of Era Texas is facing a hearing in Austin March 23 on a commercial injection well opposed by the community, school board, ISD, water board, fire department and neighbors. I have to ask the question, are the politicians in this state or hell this country, "Smarter than a fifth grader"?

A local O&G geologist reported in the Gainesville Daily Register that the Ellenberger Formation would confine the Toxic waste indefinitely and provide a safe storage vault protecting our fresh water and lives from contamination. This was even supported by the Texas Railroad commission and the well applicant, Jerry Hess of Muenster. I don't believe it for a minute! Even if they were right, where are the critical thinking skills of these brilliant leaders?

  If 9 billion gallons of Toxic waste is injected in the ground every year, what does that do to our rainfall? If water is removed from our Eco system what replaces it, drought? It all doesn't make sense. If it is confined it hurts us, if it is not it hurts us. How can they argue for a practice that should be outlawed? Oil will be hard to swallow!

Keith McIntosh
Concerned citizen of Era

---

by: Keith McIntosh @ Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 16:38:42 PM CDT

Thank you for your comment (4.00 / 1)

It would be good to get a big group to attend your hearing. 

Barnett Shale: An Insatiable Thirst

My blog Bluedaze

---

by: TXsharon @ Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 21:57:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]