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 19th thru April 25th.
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 the well hillside and staged soils for disposal. A significant amount of oil saturated soil was found in the blow off pit area of the well hillside resulting in the excavation of a pit approx 15 feet deep containing approx 1800 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Oil rig debris and tree removal operations continued along the hillside and the excavated areas were backfilled and graded. Soil disposal from the on site stock pile continued throughout the week resulting in the disposal of 3000 tons of oil contaminated soil. Frac tank cleaning of the 13 frac tanks staged on site also began this week resulting in the demobing of four frac tanks.
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 23rd, EPA’s consultant, Mick Reed began planning additional work at the well head to seal a leak from a lower flange.
Planned Disposal Operations
Disposal of approximately 3800 cubic yards of oil contaminated soil began 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 coordinating clean up efforts with TDEC and TEMA.
EPA Reg 4 Legal Counsel Wilda Cobb continued coordinating order and reimbursement issues with Tenn Oil and Gas attorneys as well as NPFC Legal Counsel.
|
