2.1.1 Narrative

At this time, an abandoned oil/gas well component to an oil facility has been identified under the residential building and is discharging oil and gas to Stackyard Run and the residential building located atop the well.  Last year, EPA directed its contractor to remove oil and debris from the well (using hand methods) to an attainable depth and to place cement into the well.  However, it appears that the attempt was not successful and may have increased the migration of oil into Stackyard Run without stopping the flow of gas to the surface of the well and into the overlying structure.  Additional actions are required.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

See Prior POLREPs for activities through remobilization of the Site during the week of March 7, 2016.

The owner of the building assisted EPA and modified the interior of the building to accommodate the planned Removal Action.  Portions of 2 walls were removed, a section of ceiling was removed, and the area was braced and reinforced.  A  drilling rig was constructed inside the building and over the well.  The rig was constructed to be capable of drilling through the cement previously placed into the well and then to the oil-producing zone in order to place cement in a manner to effectively plug the well. 

On March 8, 2016, assembly of the rig continued and EPA set up air monitoring equipment to be used to evaluate the levels of gases and vapors that have the potential to affect the community during Site operations.  Air monitoring locations to allow for continuous detection capability were set up all around the work location.  EPA will be able to continually monitor air and alter operations should levels begin to pose a potential threat.

The rig assembly was completed and drilling began late in the week of March 7th.  The early activity was anticipated to progress slowly should the cement in the well prove difficult given the early drilling would be completed without much weight on the drill bit. Between March 14 and March 24, the drilling advanced slowly through the cement within and below the approximate 10 inch surface casing.  Drilling would quicken and then slow suggesting variability in the cement (which was placed using a 5 gallon bucket). When possible, additional weight was added via the use of stabilizers and other equipment. Oil and gas was encountered from the very beginning indicating that the original attempt to stop the discharge by placing a cement cap in the well was not successful. 

The drilling method involved keeping the hole full of fluid to circulate and remove oily liquids from the hole into a sealed roll-off box outside.  The EPA AreaRAEs would detect volatile emissions that might pose a threat to workers and neighbors.  Due to slow drilling, the bit size was reduced and the bit was sharpened.

On March 23rd, the progress was significantly slowed for unknown reasons. 

On March 28th, the bit was removed and examined.  It was noticed that the bit was drilling through 2 and possibly 3 metal pipes. Deep gouges were cut into the tri-cone bit.  The fluid was removed from the hole and a camera was used to examine the base of the hole at an approximate depth of 35 feet below the grade.  Several strings of casing pipe could be observed.  Cement was visible inside these strings of casing.  The OSC also noted what appeared to be a sucker rod in the middle of 2 inch tubing.  Oil and gas were observed passing from within the 2 inch tubing.

At that time, it was determined that the EPA activities of 2015 did not enter the actual well and were instead conducted off to the side of the actual well.  The EPA activities of 2015 successfully cleaned out the 10 inch casing (final estimated depth determined to be approximately 21 feet) and then angled off to the side to completely miss the well.  The well went undetected as a new borehole was drilled alongside of it to a final depth of just over 70 feet.  Cement was then applied into this new boring; some of it also flowed over and into the actual well.

After consideration of options, the operations re-commenced on March 29th using a 4.5 inch concave milling bit.  The goal was to mill the 2 inch tubing and sucker rod down through whatever cement has fallen inside while staying within what is thought to be a 5 3/16 inch steel casing.  The operation was halted in the afternoon of March 29th to allow for an examination of the hole.  The camera showed that a pilot hole had been successfully advanced within the casing and was removing the cement, 2 inch casing, and sucker rod.  Oil and gas were again observed coming from within the 2 inch casing.  The drill sting was re-assembled (without the stabilizers) and drilling inside the approximate 5 3/16 casing commenced. 

The objective is to clear the 2 inch tubing from the cement and try to then pull the tubing and sucker rods from the well to allow cement to placed into the bottom of the well.

A single instantaneous exceedance of air monitoring criteria was noted at about 11:30 in March 29th (4.6 VOCs) and was attributed to the removal of oil fluids from the well to allow for camera work.  When this was done, the hatch on the sealed box had been opened.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

See Prior POLREPs.   

WVDEP located records for the well (and 2 other nearby wells).  The records indicated the well owner to be C.G. Broaddus and that the well was plugged.  The plugging affidavit indicated that casing pipes were pulled from the well and the well was plugged in a manner prescribed by the State in 1949.  However, the discovery of the 2 inch tubing and sucker rods in the well indicates that this activity was not accomplished.  The OSC will attempt to track down C.G. Broaddus.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Continue drilling/milling activities inside the 5 3/16 inch casing to remove cement, 2 inch tubing, and sucker rods.  This activity will continue until it can be determined that the well equipment is free from the cement and can be pulled to allow setting a bottom hole plug to stop the flow of oil to the surface.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Continue drilling.

Continue air monitoring.

Continue removal of oil from Stackyard Run (note that the amount of oil now in Stackyard Run is significantly reduced since it is now being minimized by a column of fluid in the well and also circulated from the well into the sealed box.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Continue drilling until it can be determined that the cement has been cleared.

2.2.2 Issues

it appears that the EPA activities of 2015 did not enter the actual well.  Instead, the drillers advanced alongside the outside of the actual well and installed cement initially into this new hole.  Some cement however entered the actual well and is now being drilled out to allow for removal operations.