On March 19th, EPA ERRB responded to an oil well fire in Oliver Springs Tenn. The RP, Walden Resources hired Wild Well Services from Houston, Texas to put out the well fire and cap the well. After mobing necessary personnel and equipment, the fire was extinguished and the well was successfully capped on Tuesday March 25th. EPA and START contractors conducted air monitoring throughout the response effort and conducted daily public meetings to keep the local residents aprised of the response effort. During the effort on March 25th however, the RP was found to be dumping oil contaminated water from the retention ponds onto a pasture approximately 3/4 mile from the well site. On Wednesday, March 26th, the OSC informed the RP that EPA would be taking over the clean up under a Federal Assumption Notice.
April 14th thru April 18th.
Personnel On Site: EPA -2 (OSC P Gaughan and C Eger), START-2, USCG Strike - 4, ERRs -11
ERRs continued contaminated soil removal from the ditchline along the well hillside and backfilled the ditch with rip rap. Burnt debris and tree removal operations began along the hillside and the excavated areas were graded. The groundwater test trench along the floodplain was converted to a groundwater recovery trench, lined with poly and filled with gravel to facilitate contaminated groundwater recovery. Soil backfilling was completed in the floodplain area and was seeded, and covered with straw netting to facilitate natural growth. Contaminated soil from the well hillside was staged for disposal.
On April 17th, ERRs arranged for the disposal of approximately 6000 gallons of light crude oil collected from the retention ponds to a local fuel blender at no charge to EPA/NPFC. Contaminated water from the retention ponds was determined to be suitable for future well fracing operations by a local driller. After concurrence from TDEC, this water was being hauled to those well locations by the driller at no charge to EPA/NPFC. USCG Strike Team and START contractors continue to oversee clean up efforts, monitor the air levels near the well head and provide sampling and technical support as needed. On April 18th, EPA’s consultant, Mick Reed arranged for a prefabricated boot to be placed on the well head inorder to encapsulate a minor gas leak of a coupling.
Planned Disposal Operations
Approximately 1500 cubic yards of oil contaminated soil will be disposed of beginning on April 23rd. Over 200,000 gallons of stored contaminated water is currently being utilized by a local drilling company for fracing operations at no charge to EPA/NPFC.
EPA will continue to coordinate clean up efforts with TDEC and TEMA.
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