Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Winganon Oil Spill Project
Winganon, OK - EPA Region VI
POLREP #8
Re-Mobilization - Winganon-Panther Creek Wells

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Winganon Oil Spill Project - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VI

Subject:

POLREP #8
Re-Mobilization - Winganon-Panther Creek Wells
Winganon Oil Spill Project
V6KC
Winganon, OK
Latitude: 36.5797986 Longitude: -95.5333757

To:

From:

Roberto Bernier, FOSC

Date:

4/17/2013

Reporting Period:

4/15-17/2013

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	V6KC	Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	OPA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	4/15/2013	Start Date:
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:	E10606	Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Discharging or Threatening to Discharge Abandoned Oil Production Wells.

1.1.2 Site Description

This is a continuation of the Winganon Phase of the EPA Lake Oologah Oil Spill Project (Oologah Project), which started in early 2009 when the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) requested EPA-R6 assistance with abandoned oil wells leaking oil near Lake Oologah and its tributaries. The wells were at project areas that were initially part of late 1990s Phase I of the Oologah Project but not addressed then because they were either part of an active lease or were secured at the time. With no viable responsible party (RP), EPA proceeded to address the wells by Plugging and Abandonment (P&A). During the Winganon Phase, EPA P&A 116 wells and demobilized from the Oologah project knowing that property owners and the OCC will possibly contact EPA again for additional leaking wells. EPA recognizes that these are very old abandoned oil fields with dilapidated infrastructure and that the possibility exist that more wells that are secured at one point will eventually fail and start leaking.

After shutting down the Oologah Project at the end of the Winganon Phase in the fall of 2011, EPA was notified by the locals during the fall of 2012 that two wells in close proximity to the lake started to leak, threatening to discharge oil into the tributaries. After assessing the wells, EPA noticed both wells heavily leaking oil and decided to P&A the wells before the 2013 wet weather season.

1.1.2.1 Location

The wells are located within Nowata County, Oklahoma, in specific, Section 20, Township (T) 25N, Range (R) 17E (39-0003) and Section 29 of T 25N, R 17E (37-0075).

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The wells seemed to be abandoned, unsecured and discharging oil onto the surrounding area. The wells are located next to a creek that drains directly to Lake Oologah within a short distance. Lake Oologah is a navigable waterway of the U.S. and a drinking water source for the city of Tulsa and other smaller municipalities in the area.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

After assessing the wells, EPA noticed both wells heavily leaking oil and decided to P&A the wells before the 2013 wet weather season. The wells are abandoned with no possibility that a viable potential RP (PRP) could be found.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

On 04/15/2013, EPA arrived on site with START-3 and ERRS to initiate removal activities consisting of preparing the roads for the equipment to access the well locations and setup for P&A. P&A consists of removing the old tubing and cementing to the bottom of the well until it circulates to the top thru the back casing if one exists. Then, the cement is allowed to set, the well is "top-off" with more cement to later be cut at 3 feet below grade and capped with a welded ID plate.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Well 37-0075 was addressed first. A rag packer was set at 33’ below top of casing (btoc) on 4” pipe within the 6” casing and cemented in. While running the 2” pipe down hole to total depth an obstruction was reached at 120’ btoc. Well 37-0075 was then drilled to a depth of 248’ and cemented. Activities completed at well 39-0003 to date include ERRS constructing a road to the well and ERRS clearing area around well. The area around well 39-0003 was excavated to 5’ below ground surface (bgs) at which depth the source of the leaking well was found. 6’ of the damaged 6” casing was removed along with 25’ of 1 ½” pipe. A new 6’ section of casing was added to well 39-0003 to return well to surface.

Again, this is a continuation of the Winganon Phase of the Oologah Project. Since initiation of P&A activities on April 20, 2010, EPA has addressed a total of 116 discharging or unsecured, abandoned oil wells, with 7 of them requiring significant drilling of previously poured cement done in the past incorrectly by unknown parties. EPA addressed those wells since oil was seeping and leaking through the bad plug.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

A title and oil & gas records search indicated that a viable PRP could not be found.

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Planned Response Activities

P&A well 37-0075
P&A well 39-0003

2.2.2 Next Steps

Continue and finalize record keeping for all the P&A activities.

2.2.3 Issues

Unexpected drilling at well 37-0075 caused by the obstruction encountered extended P&A activities for the well. Inclement weather is forecasted throughout the week for the Winganon area. If the area receives a substantial amount of rain the P&A equipment will not be able to access well 39-0003 due to poor road conditions leading to the well.

2.3 Logistics Section