On 4/15/2014, the OSC visited the site with the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Environmental Response Team (KDEP ERT) and the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas (KDOG). All parties observed crude oil bubbling up at land surface from what appears to be an abandoned oil production well. It is suspected that the well is uncased, as the oil is migrating along shallow bedrock and is seeping into an unnamed tributary to Barnett Creek located about 15 feet away from the suspected source.
On 4/15/2014, the OSC and the KDEP ERT member deployed sorbent boom and pads to recover a small quantity of oil that was observed in the creek, and demobilized from the Site. Also on this date, the OSC issued a verbal Pollution Response Funding Authorization (PRFA) to KDEP to stabilize the oil discharge at the source and to remove oil from the creek.
On 4/15/2014, KDOG formally referrred the source of the active discharge to EPA for plugging, citing financial inability to handle the mitigation of the source of the oil discharge. EPA will issue a Task Order (TO) to the Region 4 Emergency and Rapid Response Services contractor CMC, Inc. to plug the well.
On 05/12/2014, CMC and OTIE mobilized to the site to initiate well abandonment activities. From 5/12/2014 through 5/15/2014, site work consisted of preparing the site for well plugging activities. Barnett & Smith Well Services were retained by CMC to wash and clean the borehole, and to plug the well with cement. On 5/16/2014, well plugging operations began. The progress was hindered by an obstruction downhole and on 5/17/14, work resumed with the use of a power swivel to advance the hole further.
On 5/19/2014, site operations resumed. The hole was advanced to about 412' below land surface, where progress was hindered by an obstruction downhole. On 5/20/2014, the decision was made to cease drilling operations due to the supected presence of a cedar tree blocking the hole at depth.
On 5/21/2014, cementing operations were successful at stopping the flow of oil and the plugging and cementing subcontractor demobilized from the site. On 5/22/2014, land restoration activities were completed, and on 5/23/2014, all parties demobilized from the site.
On 9/05/2014, the ERRS contractor returned to the site for a final inspection. At that time, there was no fresh oil observed, and it was determined that the plugging operation was successful in mitigating the oil discharge into nearby surface waters.
