Oil Spill into navigable waters of the United States, reported as 100 bbls of crude oil.  Spill impacted a tributary of the Canadian River.  The spill was reportedly caused by vandalism/theft of the main valve on the 202 bbl storage tank.   

The Site, the Whitney Lease Tank Battery, is an oil production facility consisting of a well, initial separation (gun barrel) and storage tanks (2@150 bbl oil, 1@202 bbl, 1 produced water tank and 2 gun barrels). The facility reportedly had been “shut in” for several months.

1.1.2.1 Location
The incident occurred at the Halcon Resources, Whitney Lease Tank Battery. The facility is located on the North Side of W. Broadway, approximately 150 yards East of Highway 377, Byng, Pontotoc County, OK.  

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
At approximately 1200 hours on June 1, 2013, Halcon Resources, discovered a discharge of 100 bbls of crude oil.  The oil appears to have been released from a 202 bbl stock tank, due to someone removing the main drain valve.  Halcon reported that they believe the release was caused by theft or vandalism.  Based on Halcon’s calculations, the tank volume was 1.64 bbls/inch and the tank had contained 66” of oil.  Therefore, 108 bbls of oil were released from the tank.  The discharge traveled through surface drainage and storm drains to an unnamed tributary of the Canadian River.  Approximately, 1 mile of stream was impacted by the spill before the spill was contained at the distal underflow dam, just before the Canadian River.  Primary threat is to fish and wildlife resources in and around the stream and in the Canadian River.  A small amount of oil (< 1 bbl) was documented in the stream and River downstream of the final underflow dam.

On 6/5/2013, Halcon Resources revised the amount of oil spilled from the tank battery to 73 bbls.  The revision was based on the most recent pumper information regarding the depth of oil in the 202 bbl stock tank.  At this time Halcon estimates to have recovered between 35 and 40 bbls of oil. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

OSC Smalley responded to the incident on June 2, 2013, and met with Halcon representatives.  The discharge traveled through surface drainage and storm drains under the highway, to an unnamed tributary of the Canadian River.  Approximately, 1 mile of heavily vegetated stream was impacted by the spill before the spill was contained at the distal underflow dam.  Halcon has installed two underflow dams, one approximately 50 yards downstream of where the oil entered the stream and the other just before the confluence with the Canadian River.   During the Initial assessment no fish or wildlife impacts were documented.  However, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will make a site visit on June 5, 2013.

On June 4 2013, EPA START Samuel Cheek mobilized to the site. Upon arriving on site START Cheek met with Halcon Resources representatives to determine current status of clean up activities.  Based on conversations with OSC Smalley, the Halcon Resources representives believed he was not to disturb the creek area until the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service arrived on site to determine if the area impacted by the oil spill was habitat for the American Burying Beetle (ABB). START Cheek contacted OSC Smalley and informed him of the current activities which essentially only involved in the placement of boom in catch basins of the creek or in temporary catch basins/underflow dams that OSC Smalley had instructed Halcon to build.  OSC Smalley communicated to Halcon Resources that activities that minimally effect the areas impacted by the oil spill could occur such as oiled debris removal, extraction of free standing oil, deployment of skimming devices to recover free oil within the creek could be conducted. Heavy rain events had continued to hamper site activities and had washed out the up stream underflow dam.  Additional Halcon representaives arrive on site including a Biologist to help determine if any of the areas impacted are believed to be habitat for the ABB.  Halcon Resources biologist did not believe the area impacted with oil was habitat for the ABB due to the wet conditions of the soil and soil type. 

Currently Halcon is flushing the spill path with fresh water and recovering the oil with vacuum trucks.  The OSC instructed Halcon to install hard containment boom downstream of the final underflow dam to catch any oil that escapes, build up the underflow dams and install larger pipes (if rain is imminent) and acquire drum skimmers for oil recovery operations.  Halcon was also instructed to minimize clearing or excavation until the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service could make a site visit and provide guidance. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Halcon reported they had recovered approximately 30 bbls from the upstream underflow dam on June 1, 2013, of which they estimated 2/3 was oil.  Response activities continued to be focused on flushing and recovery with a vacuum truck. 

Due to rising flood waters on the Canadian River, Halcon built up the downstream underflow dam and removed the pipe to prevent water from the Canadian from pushing back upstream. 

On June 2, 2013, they reportedly recovered another 30 bbls of oil following the same procedures.

On June 3, 2013, EPA activated START to respond to the spill and assist in monitoring activities. 

On June 4 2013, EPA START mobilized to the site and performed additional assessment of the oil spill and current RP work activities. Additional PRP oil spill response contractors arrive on-site at approximately 1730.
Once arriving on site the PRP oil spill response contractor began deploying additional absorbent boom and repositioned the Hard Boom locations approximately 100 yards further down stream of the down stream underflow dam.  Additionally, the hard boom was bracketed by absorbent boom approximately 10 yards up and down stream.  Multiple absorbent pads were placed in any areas with free standing oil.  Oily debris was collected and bagged into poly drum liners.  The PRP is still determining the location of the solid waste disposal facility. The PRP spill contractor is making rounds to collect any absorbent boom or pads that have are spent and deploying additional absorbent material at each location. 

On June 5, 2013, Halcon Resources revised the amount estimated to have been recovered to 35 and 40 bbls of oil. Halcone is to provide documentation of the amount recovered and disposed.

On June 5 2013, EPA OSC Smalley arrived on site for a site update and to review current work activities.  OSC Smalley, START Cheek, and PRP representatives met with USFW Burgress to perform a site walk.  During the site walk USFW Burgress noted that if a significant amount of oil was released it could affect endangered species in the Canadian river.  In addition USFW Burgress explained that land disturbance should be kept below 1.2 acres and minimized whenever possible and that work activities involving water sprayers should be kept at a pressure not to induce bank destabilization.  PRP oil spill contractors continues work activities including vacuuming up residual oil near the tank battery, replacing/deploying absorbent pads and boom, skimming or using vac truck to remove free standing oil pockets where accessible.  RP representatives, EPA, and START performed additional assessment down stream of the hard boom location to determine if any oil had breached the containment areas.   During the assessment some very small areas of emulsified oil were discovered within approximately one hundred yards of the hard boom.  No additional oil or oil residues were observed during the down stream assessment.  No adverse affects on any type of wildlife was observed during any of the assessment activities. The PRP reported that approximately 4 to 5 bbls of oil had been recovered on June 5 which brought the total of oil recovered to approximately 40 bbls.   

On June 6 2013, EPA OSC Smalley and EPA START Cheek walked the spill pathway from the tank battery to the down stream underflow dam.  During the walk several areas of oil and oil debris was noted within the spill pathway for the upper two-thirds of the spill pathway.  The lower third of the spill pathway had considerable amount of residual oil collected in multiple pockets and large amounts of oil debris.  Three areas of burning were documented and discussed with PRP representatives. The observations from the spill pathway walk was communicated to the PRP.  No adverse affects to any wildlife was observed during the walk. RP oil spill contractors continues work activities including vacuuming up residual oil near the tank battery, replacing/deploying absorbent pads and boom, skimming or using vac truck to remove free standing oil pockets where accessible. After completion of the walk OSC Smalley and START Cheek participated in an ops meeting with PRP representatives. After the meeting, EPA OSC Smalley and EPA START Cheek demobilized from site.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Halcon Resources/Halcon Holdings Inc., 100 E. 13^th Street, Ada Oklahoma, 74820.
Contact: Tommy Jesse, HSE Coordinator – 580-436-9367

Corporate Contact: William Walker, CIH, CSP
Halcon Resources, 1000 Louisiana, Suite 6700, Houston TX 77002

When EPA arrived on scene June 2, 2013, Halcon was just beginning flushing activities.  Halcon was flushing with a mixture of water and “EnviroClean.”  Halcon was directed to cease flushing with this additive and informed that this was not allowable, only fresh water was allowed.

OSC Smalley, Kevin Burgess, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and or START will continue to conduct site visits at an interval determined by site operational milestones and/or the discretion of OSC Smalley.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service