An oil spill was discovered on July 16, 2014, and approximately 285 barrels of oil were released at the Site into Monahans Draw. The initial source of the spill was from a flow line that runs from a well north of the Site to a tank battery south of the Site. A pit, approximately 12 feet in depth,was excavated underneath the spill area, and the pit remained open for over a year, while oil continued to seep into it. While the pit remained open, multiple rainfall events occurred, causing oil in the pit to overflow and enter into Monahans Draw and downstream waters. Since that time,
the Texas Railroad Commission (TXRRC) ordered the cleanup of the site and the pit has been filled, removing the potential for oil to enter the surface waters. A component of the TXRRC approved cleanup plan included the installation of a collection trench approximately 12 feet bgs with capped PVC riser pipes connecting the trench to the surface so that oil collecting in the trench can be removed. The TXRRC cleanup plan also includes a design for locating the source of oil that is leaching into the pit (not associated with the original flow line oil spill).
The location of the Site is within the Monahans Draw, north of Interstate 20 and east of State Highway 302, between West 2nd Street and West 3rd Street, in Odessa, Texas in Ector County. The approximate coordinates of the Site are Latitude 31.8296 North and Longitude -102.4026 West.
