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Site is location of 9 abandoned oil wells that are leaking into Laurel Run which is a tributary to Goose Creek that runs into the Ohio River.
A. On this date, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Oil and Gas Inspector David Belcher reported to the NRC that there was a cluster of wells that were leaking into Laurel Run.
B. OSC Kelly, who was in the area on another assignment, met with Inspector Belcher and visited the Site.
C. The OSC observed oil stains around each well and evidence that they have discharged into Laurel Run and will continue to discharge if immediate action is not taken.
D. When asked about a Reponsible Party, the OSC was told that these wells are on the Grant District track where WVDEP, under a PRFA, plugged wells last year and it was determined through a title search that they are pre-1929 and no Respnsible Party was found.
E. The OSC, using CANAPS, requested and received a ceiling of $50,000 to take immediate emergency containment actions on the wells.
F. The OSC requested and received from WVDEP a total cost estimate of $237,165.50 to properly plug all 9 wells.
E. The OSC issued the WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas a PRFA in the amount of $45,000. This amount will be used for compiling applications for plugging permits, survey commencements and cost work with plugging contractor (bidding out job). Additionally, WVDEP will perform emergency containment on stream, start work on access road to Well #1 and start plugging operations on Well #1.
Plugging of all wells will be on-going to mitigate the threat of oil reaching the navigable waters of West Virginia.
A. The OSC will request from the NPFC an additional $200,000 to address the plugging of the remaining 8 wells.
B. The OSC will continue to monitor and coordinate all plugging activities with the WVDEP.
C. The OSC will task START Contractor to provide written and photo documentation for Cost Reimbursement to the State after all wells are plugged.
Oil discharging from wells into the navigable waters of West Virginia.
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