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There are four abandoned oil wells and one tank located on Mountwood Park in Parkersburg, WV. These wells have been leaking into the Walker Creek which is a tributary to the Ohio River.
A. On 5/13/04, Mr. David Belcher of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) Office of Oil and Gas called the NRC to report 4 abandoned wells that were discovered leaking into Walker Creek.
B. OSC Bob Kelly and NPFC Chief Mike Steele were meeting with Mr. Belcher on another well site and was told by him of the leaking wells.
C. The OSC and the NPFC Case Officer, along with Mr. Belcher, visited the location of the leaking wells.
D. The OSC, after visiting wells, determined that an actual release had occured into Walker Creek from one of the wells and that the other three were in the flood plain thereby creating a substantial threat to the Ohio River.
E. The OSC questioned Mr. Belcher on ownership of the wells and was told that the initial investigation showed that there was no potential responsible parties as these wells are pre-1929. Mr. Belcher also stated that the WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas did not have the funds to address the containment and plugging of these wells.
F. Mr. Belcher provided OSC Kelly with a cost estimate of $104,000 to plug these wells.
G. On 5/14/04, OSC Kelly, using CANAPS, opened the OPA90 Fund in the amount of $50,000 (ceiling limit for OSCs) for this Site. The FPN number for the site is E04314.
H. The OSC issued the WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas a PRFA in the amount of $40,000 to take immediate actions such as containment either by installing booms in the Creek or digging a ditch around the wells that are in the flood plain.
WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas, through a PRFA, will begin plugging operations on the wells.
A. The OSC will issue a TDD to START contractor to conduct a title search and to provide oversight at the Site as well as gather documentation for reimbursement.
B. By this Pollution Report, the OSC is requesting the NPFC increase the PRFA to $115,000 to address all actions associated with the plugging of these wells.
Four wells leaking into the Walker Creek which leads into the navagible waters of the Ohio River.
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