United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The North Lake Oologah Phase of the Lake Oologah Oil Spill project is located in an approximately 26 square mile oil fields adjacent to and east, northeast, and northwest of Lake Oologah in Rogers and Nowata counties, Oklahoma.  The site encompasses approximately 16,640 acres divided in two distinctive areas with one that is 1 mile wide in an east-west direction and 7 miles long in a north-south direction on the east side of the lake.  The other area is approximately 8 miles east-west by 2 to 4 miles north-south on the NE and NW side of the lake. This area includes all or parts of 25 sections in one township and two ranges of the public land survey system.  This project is a continuation of three previous phases that concentrated on sections adjacent to the east side of the lake.  This project area focuses on areas that are adjacent to creeks that drain directly into Lake Oologah as well as areas on the north side of Lake Oologah that had previously not been addressed.

The Lake Oologah Oil Spill site is part of a large, mature and declining oil field.  The field is reported to be up to 100 years old.  Historical information indicates that drilling and production activities began shortly before 1900, and continued through the 1990's.  Wells within the project area are typically shallow, with a total depth of less than 500 feet below ground surface.  Most wells are reported to be completed in, and produce from, the Bartlesville Sand formation at depths ranging from 400 feet to 725 feet.  A more detailed site description, is included in Polrep No. 1

For this Continuation of Action, field activities will concentrate on Sections 22 and 27 of Township 24 North, Range 17 East, of the public land survey system for Rogers County, Oklahoma.

Previous Site Actions

As of March 30, 2008, EPA has completed the P&A of fifty seven (57) wells for this North Lake Oologah phase that were classified to be leaking or with a substantial threat to leak oil and refer to as “EPA” wells.  Additional wells have been secured or put back into production by RP’s that were previously identified during the assessment stage of the project.  Due to inclement weather, the project was placed on hold for a short time during early winter.  Work resumed on mid January of 2008 for the completion of the wells identified to be P&A by EPA.  Worked was completed on March 30, 2008, but at the time it was determined that close to sixty-five (65) more wells needed to be P&A by EPA due to inaction by the last owner and operator on record of the lease where the wells are located.  Notices of Federal Assumption were sent to two (2) identified potential responsible parties (PRP) of the lease on April 22, 2008.  One of the PRPs claimed to be operating for an investor, which was determined to be the second PRP.

During the summer of 2008, as a response to the NOFAs the PRPs showed interest on activating and continue work to produce the lease.  EPA agreed on the condition that the critical or “EPA” wells would be secured and the oil releases stopped before any oil production began.  In the fall of 2008, EPA noticed that, although slow, some progress was being when some of the critical wells were secured.  Short after, EPA learned that both PRPs went in to litigation in civil court for the right and liability of the lease and their field work ceased, leaving a substantial number of wells unaddressed.

Current Activities

With the lease becoming inactive again, EPA decided to resume P&A activities on the lease.  Activities resumed on January 12, 2009 with a re-inspection of all the previously classified “EPA” wells to determine which ones were addressed by the PRPs and could be reclassified as secured.  Seven (7) wells were reclassified due to the work performed by the PRPs, with a total of fifty-eight (58) left to be addressed by EPA.  P&A activities began on January 19, 2009 and as of today six (6) wells have been completed.

Continue P&A activities.  Since the wells are located in two adjacent Sections of the survey system, it is anticipated that field work could be completed in less than 60 days.

Complete P&A activities on the remaining fifty-one (51) wells, most of them on the south side of the lease.  Begin the preparation of the project’s final report.  Secure additional funding under the PRFA with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

•    Adverse weather typical of the area could be a factor on field activities.  Icy and below freezing conditions could delay progress.  Also, property owners prefer not to have the heavy equipment disturbing their properties during wet weather.
•    Based on projected activities and remaining funds, the PRFA budget for TVA must be increased.  Package has been prepared for approval.  Other funds are appropriate at this time.
•    Continue the tracking of project budget.