Since July 1986, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has been responding to a crude oil seep in Chiltipin Creek, in the town of Sinton, San Patricio County, Texas. The seep was purportedly the result of historic oilfield practices, and lies within the West Sinton Oilfield. The seep is exposed along approximately 350 feet of the south bank of the creek. Chiltipin Creek flows into Copano Bay, which then flows into Aransas Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Since the seep was first discovered, the RRC has conducted numerous and extensive investigations and clean up actions. These actions include comprehensive studies by RRC contractors and the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), installation of monitor wells, soil sampling, plugging of several abandoned oil wells in the immediate area, and mop up and removal of oil from the creek. Although there were several possibilities of the source of the seep, none have been confirmed. Six oil storage tanks, two pits, eight wells, and pipelines were known to have previously existed in the area.
EPA became involved at the site on June 4, 2001, when the OSC issued a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA) to the RRC for continued assessment, removal and cleanup actions, and installation of a passive recovery trench to stop the flow of oil and oil-contaminated water into the creek. The trench installation was completed by the RRC on February 20, 2003. The first evacuation of the trench resulted in the recovery of 150 barrels of oil and oily water. Since that time, over 982 barrels of oil has been recovered from the trench, thereby keeping this amount of oil from discharging into Chiltipin Creek. The trench collection system and creek is inspected on a periodic basis, and oil removed and disposed as necessary.
