On the morning of July 10, 2007, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) advised EPA of an ongoing oil release from a salt water disposal facility located one mile east of Oilton, Oklahoma. OCC reported that approximately 20 barrels of crude oil had released from a salt water storage tank, flowed out of the secondary containment into a creek, and was very near to discharging into the Cimarron River located approximately ½ down gradient. The OCC indicated that the release actually had occurred on July 8, 2007. Upon notification of the release from OCC, the National Response Center (NRC) had not received a report of the release.
EPA OSC Ruhl arrived on scene at approximately 1200 on July 10, 2007. He met with a representative from of the responsible party (Petco Petroleum Corporation, 51854 West Highway 33, Drumright, OK). The RP representative stated that they found the spill at 0900 hours on 8 July 2007. The spill was caused by a pump malfunction within a salt water tank battery. The crude oil floating on top of the saltwater within a 400 barrel tank overflowed out of the tank battery. The crude oil entered the secondary containment around the Luther Manual Water Station Battery Lease. The crude oil discharged from the secondary containment and flowed into a down gradient creek. After the spill was found, RP contractors responded by deploying sorbent boom. On the night of 9 July 2007, a large rain event (approximately 3 inches of rain) occurred, in which crude oil passed the final boom location in the creek.
Due to recent area flooding the Cimarron River, had overflowed its banks and had actually backed up into the creek that the oil spill spilled into. This caused a “ponding” effect as opposed to allowing the creek to drain into the Cimarron River. This “ponding” effect caused the creek to overflow its 20 feet banks into an approximate 10 acre low-lying area.
OSC Ruhl advised the RP that the spill needed to be reported to the NRC. The RP contacted the NRC at 1500 on July 10, 2007 to report the oil spill. Once the NRC had been contacted (NRC 841628), EPA dispatched EPA START 3 to monitor RP spill cleanup activities.
On 10 July 2007, EPA observed 4 RP contractors deploying boom into the creek. The 4 contractors utilized 2 flat bottom boats to deploy the sorbent boom. The crude oil was continued to be contained in the “pooled” area of the creek/river.
On 11 July 2007, EPA revisited the site to observe cleanup operations. EPA observed 13 RP contractors utilizing 3 flat bottom boats with trash pumps, pushing water to boom locations. At these boom locations, 2 vacuum trucks are removing the oil from the creek. Currently there are 4 boom locations with 3 containing access points where oil can be removed via vacuum truck. The RP representative stated that they will focus there efforts where larger amounts of crude oil have accumulated. The weather forecasts a 100% chance of rain tomorrow. Due to the chance of rain, RP contractors will deploy deflective boom in an attempt to try and contain the oil during the weather event.
RP contractors will continue to remove oil from Oilton Creek. Deflective boom will be deployed on 12 July 2007 at the last boom location.
EPA will continue to monitor the oil spill cleanup.
EPA will conduct a SPCC inspection fo the salt water storage facility.
There is localized flooding in the area.
There continues to be more rain forecasted.
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