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.
As of June 12, 2009, EPA has completed the Plugged &Abandoned (P&A) of one hundred-seven (107) 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.
After delays caused by potential responsible parties (PRP) trying to re-activate a lease on Sections 22 and 27 and the 2008 hurricanes that hampered other responses around Region 6, EPA determine mobilize back to the site to resume the response. The PRPs went into litigation in civil court for the liability of the lease and their field work ceased, leaving a substantial number of wells unaddressed. EPA mobilized on January 2009 to continue P&A activities. Due to inclement weather, the project was placed on hold for short time periods several times during this winter and spring, but activities moved forward until all but one of the wells determined to be addressed by EPA were P&A. Include eight (8) more wells located on the northern section of the lease that were added to the P&A original package at the request of the state. One well needs to be re-addressed since additional drilling will be required.
All but one of all the wells determined to be addressed by EPA has been P&A for a total of 107 wells addressed by EPA for the North Oologah project. Additional drilling is required to complete one well, but during a break on field activities the property owner planted a vegetable garden near the well. EPA decided to wait until several weeks to resume work in order to avoid any damage to the garden with the heavy equipment used during P&A activities. The well is partially secured with a temporary valve and oil reaching the surface is not expected to be released at this point.
Some site restoration is ongoing at several well locations to replace minor damage caused by the heavy equipment. This includes using a dozer to level ruts on farm ground, replacing cattle fences, and reseeding with native grasses.
EPA will continue P&A activities at other areas funded under different FPNs (PA 17-Winganon and Emergency Well 32-0254), but additional drilling is required to complete one more well under North Oologah.
The well to be completed at a later date will be inspected periodically to ensure that the temporary valve continues holding in place. P&A for this well will resume in several weeks. Begin the preparation of the project’s final report.
• Adverse weather typical of the area could be a factor on field activities. Also, property owners prefer not to have the heavy equipment disturbing their properties during wet weather.
• Continue the tracking of project budget.
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