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XTO Energy - Talco

 
Site Contact:
Eric Delgado
OSC

(delgado.eric@epa.gov)

Site Location:
ST HWY 71
Talco, TX 75487
 response.epa.gov/XTOTalco
NRC#: 1103363

On 13 December 2014 at 1613 hours, the National Response Center (NRC) received a call from XTO Energy reporting a spill of produced water and crude oil from a 750 barrel produced water tank at the XTO, Comingling System No. 6 Crude Oil Production Tank Battery located on the lease road south of highway 71. The incident location is 4.1 miles east of the intersection of TX 71 and TX 271, Talco, Titus County, Texas. An XTO field employee conducting his tank gauging rounds discovered the spill on 13 December 2014 at 0900 hours. XTO Energy is the Responsible Party (RP). The 750 barrel produced water tank was observed to be over flowing salt water and crude oil from the thieve hatch into the facility catchment basin where a previous installed culvert failed resulting in a discharge into an unnamed tributary of White Oak Creek.


View of creek with a light rainbow sheen atop of creek water. View of natural debris build up and snares trapping oil sheen. View of snares located after the second underflow dam. View of light oil sheen in between the the underflow dams. View of the reconstructed first underflow dam and remaining oil sheen. View of the remaining oil sheen at the collection point. View of a crew member utilizing a leaf blow to move the remaining oil sheen down to the collection point. View of the creek where previous oil sheen had been observed. View of the creek where previous clean up efforts such as the use leaf blowers and power washing took place. View of creek with slight oil rainbow sheen atop of creek water. View of the cleared up debris and crude oil by the cattle guard. View of portland cement applied onto the previously tilled pasture land to help solidify. View of portland cement applied onto the previously tilled pasture land to help solidify. View of booms and snares trapping oil sheen after the produced water collection point. View of oil sheen trapped at the produced water collection point. View of the clean up crews continuing to use the leave blowers to move the oil sheen downstream. There is a significant reduction of crude oil atop the creek water. View of the clean up crews continuing to use the leave blowers to move the oil sheen downstream. There is a significant reduction of crude oil atop the creek water. View of accumulated crude oil film located at the produced water collection point downstream of the second underflow dam. View of accumulated crude oil film located at the produced water collection point downstream of the second underflow dam. View of the first reconstructed underflow dam in the foreground and the second reconstructed underflow dam in the background. View of clean up crews using leave blowers to move crude oil film downstream. View of the clean up crews using leave blowers and water power washing to move the crude oil film downstream towards the first collection point. View of the clean up crews using leave blowers and water power washing to move the crude oil film downstream towards the first collection point. View of utilizing absorbent booms and snares to capture any crude oil downstream of the produced water collection point in anticipation of a forecasted overnight rainfall. View of utilizing absorbent booms and snares to capture any crude oil passed the produced water collection point during the pending an overnight rainfall event. View of the cleaned up oil film at the produced water collection point. Oil sheen still present. View of the cleaned up oil film at the produced water collection point. Oil sheen still present. View of crew members utilizing snares to mop the oil sheen located downstream of the second underflow dam. View of crew members utilizing snares to View of a light oil sheen atop the creek water located immediately upstream of the first underflow dam. View of a light oil sheen atop the creek water located immediately upstream of the first underflow dam. View of the continued clean up efforts and the reduction of crude oil atop the creek water. View of the creek showing a significant reduction of crude oil atop the creek water and introduction of fresh water for flushing. View of clean up crew flushing crude oil film downstream. Mark Foreman, XTO Senior EHS Coordinator observing. View of clean up crew, rebuilding the first underflow dam that was washed out, and the skimming of vegetation and crude oil from creek. View of clean up crew, rebuilding the first underflow dam that was washed out, and the skimming of vegetation and crude oil from creek. View of clean up crew, rebuilding the first underflow dam that was washed out, and the skimming of vegetation and crude oil from creek. View of clean up crew flushing crude oil downstream. View of tilled pasture and crude oil build up. View of XTO crew members repairing the catchment basin firewall. View of XTO crew members repairing the catchment basin firewall. View of Oil Gator absorbent trailer and bags. View of Oil Gator absorbent trailer and bags. View of sheen in between the underflow dams. View of sheen in between the underflow dams. View of the completed first and second underflow dam. View of the reconstructed second underflow dam. View of further reconstruction on the first underflow dam. View of the preparation for the construction of the second underflow dam. View of the preparation for the construction of the second underflow dam. View of the first collection point and the construction of the first underflow dam. View of the first collection point and the construction of the first underflow dam. View of the first collection point and the construction of the first underflow dam. View of clean up crew utilizing leave blowers to move crude oil downstream to the first collection point. View of clean up crew flushing crude oil downstream and clearing debris from the creek. View of clean up crew flushing crude oil downstream and clearing debris from the creek. View of clean up crew washing and clearing debris off the banks of the creek. View of clean up crew washing and clearing debris off the banks of the creek. View of end of the day clean up activities as crews wash and flush the banks of the creek. View of backhoe clearing oiled vegetation and soils. View of absorbent pads in the tank battery catchment basin. View of the first underflow dam reconstruction. View of the tank battery catchment basin being drained of crude oil after the overnight rain event. View of the tank battery catchment basin being drained of crude oil after the overnight rain event. View of crude oil film previously not seen at the end of the produced water pathway. View of crude oil at the produced water collection point previously not seen before the rain event. View of crude oil at the produced water collection point previously not seen before the rain event. View of discovered wetland delineation flagging towards the produced water collection point. View of discovered wetland delineation flagging towards the produced water collection point. View of buildup debris acting as a damn holding back oil previous not seen in this location downstream of both washed out underflow dam. View of buildup debris acting as a damn holding back oil previous not seen in this location downstream of both washed out underflow dam. View of cured oil buildup after the secondary underflow dam, snares, and absorbent booms. View of cured oil buildup after the secondary underflow dam, snares, and absorbent booms. View of the washed out secondary underflow dam. View of the washed out secondary underflow dam. View of crude oil in between the underflow dams. View of crude oil in between the underflow dams. View of first and second underflow dam that were washed out due to the overnight rain event. View of first and second underflow dam that were washed out due to the overnight rain event. View of crude oil build up atop of creek water located immediately upstream of the former first underflow dam (the first and second underflow dams were washed out by the over night rain event). View of crude oil build up atop of creek water located immediately upstream of the former first underflow dam (the first and second underflow dams were washed out by the over night rain event). View of backup of crude oil on a new location due to the rise of the water level in the creek from the overnight rain event. View of backup of crude oil on a new location due to the rise of the water level in the creek from the overnight rain event. View of visible crude oil skim downstream of wooden dam. View of visible crude oil skim downstream of wooden dam. View of temporary 2X16 wooden plank dam and visible crude oil atop of creek water. View of temporary 2X16 wooden plank dam and visible crude oil atop of creek water. View of temporary 2X16 wooden plank dam and visible crude oil atop of creek water. View of flowing creek after the over night rain fall event with skim of crude oil. View of overnight rain fall event flushing water into affected creek. View of overnight rain fall event flushing water into affected creek. View of overnight rain fall event flushing water into affected creek. View of creek after the removal of build up debris. View of crude oil film and absorbent booms downstream of the former second underflow dam. View of crude oil containment immediately before the former second underflow dam. View of crude oil containment immediately before the former second underflow dam. View of crude oil containment due to the deployment of absorbent snares and booms immediately before the former first underflow dam. View of crude oil containment due to the deployment of absorbent snares and booms immediately before the former first underflow dam. View of crew members' active clean up efforts immediately before the former first underflow dam. View of crew members' active clean up efforts immediately before the former first underflow dam. View of the clean up efforts at the backed up crude oil location due to the overnight rain event. View of the clean up efforts at the backed up crude oil location due to the overnight rain event. View of crude oil atop of creek water further downstream. View of crude oil atop of creek water further downstream. View of crude oil film after the 2X16 wooden plank was removed from the creek. View of crude oil film after the 2X16 wooden plank was removed from the creek. View of crude oil film atop of the creek water after receding water level from the overnight rain event. View of crude oil accumulation trapped by the cattle guard. View of crude oil accumulation trapped by the cattle guard. View of water flushing from the banks of the creek. View of water flushing from the banks of the creek. View of underflow dam and first collection point View of underflow dam and first collection point View of underflow dam and first collection point View of underflow dam and first collection point View directed towards the iron bridge next to the under flow dam and the first collection point View directed towards the iron bridge next to the under flow dam and the first collection point View of affected creek with the first collection point in the background View of affected unnamed creek and vac trucks in the background View of affected unnamed creek View of affected unnamed creek View of the affected unnamed creek View directed south of cattle guard of the affected unnamed creek View directed south of cattle guard of the affected unnamed creek View of cattle guard and crew continuing clean up activities View of cattle guard and crew continuing clean up activities Location of initial entrance of spill into an unnamed creek, crew in the background initiate clean up activities Location of initial entrance of spill into an unnamed creek, crew in the background initiate clean up activities Location of initial entrance of spill into an unnamed creek, crew in the background initiate clean up activities View directed south towards the horizontal spread of the spill onto adjacent pasture and the application of absorbent pads onto free standing crude oil View directed south towards the horizontal spread of the spill onto adjacent pasture and the application of absorbent pads onto free standing crude oil View directed south towards the horizontal spread of the spill onto adjacent pasture and the application of absorbent pads onto free standing crude oil Initial field to be affected by the spill Initial field to be affected by the spill View of catchment basin breach View of catchment basin breach View of catchment basin breach Origin of spill from the produced water tank (1000 bbls) and view towards the catchment basin breach Origin of spill from the produced water tank (1000 bbls) and view towards the catchment basin breach Origin of spill from the produced water tank (1000 bbls) and view towards the catchment basin breach Site Information Construction of a rock pad for over night vac trucks at the first underflow dam Construction of a rock pad for over night vac trucks at the first underflow dam View towards culvert and end of spill way View towards culvert and end of spill way View of well pad drainage ditch View of second collection point for produced water View of second collection point for produced water View of unnamed creek View of unnamed creek View of unnamed creek View of unnamed creek View of the unnamed creek south of the secondary underflow dam and view of snares within the creek View of the secondary underflow dam View of the secondary underflow dam View of the secondary underflow dam Reinforcement of the underflow dam, the blockage of crude oil in creek to skim the surface and view if a secondary underflow dam in the background. Reinforcement of the underflow dam, the blockage of crude oil in creek to skim the surface and view if a secondary underflow dam in the background. Reinforcement of the underflow dam, the blockage of crude oil in creek to skim the surface and view if a secondary underflow dam in the background. Tilling operation towards the southern end of the open pasture before the initial entrance into the unnamed creek Tilling operation towards the southern end of the open pasture before the initial entrance into the unnamed creek Tilling operation towards the southern end of the open pasture before the initial entrance into the unnamed creek Tilling operation towards the southern end of the open pasture before the initial entrance into the unnamed creek
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.