1.1.1 Incident Category

This incident is an oil discharge into navigable waters of the United States from an abandoned oil production facility consisting of at least one well.

1.1.2 Site Description

The subject Site consists of a discharge of oil into a flowing perennial tributary of Wheeling Creek located in Ohio County, West Virginia.  The tributary is mapped and known as Stackyard Run and exists (at the location of the discharge) within a box culvert constructed over the flowing water.  Stackyard Run discharges to Wheeling Creek which is a tributary of the Ohio River in Wheeling, WV.  A pipe was found running between the location of the well and Stackyard Run.  Oil discharges from this pipe, from around this pipe, and directly through the stone wall of the box culvert into Stackyard Run.  Oil and gas is also observed issuing from the base of the wall and through seams in the concrete floor of the culvert.  The source of the oil has been determined to be at least one abandoned and leaking oil well found underneath a nearby residential dwelling.  The well is less than about 25 feet from the flowing water of Stackyard Run and at the end of the above-mentioned pipe.  The well is a component of an on-shore oil production facility that may contain 5 wells and relating equipment according to documents (deeds and leases) reviewed by the OSC.

At this time, activities relating to the removal of oil and plugging of the well have completed and the equipment is now being dismantled and the disposal is underway.  All available information indicates that the discharge onto Stackyard Run, which is still present, is most likely occurring from a shallow water flow zone penetrated by the subject well (and likely by other nearby wells component to the facility which are not the subject of the present action).  See information below.

1.1.2.1 Location

The discharge point for the oil onto the flowing waters of Stackyard Run is located in a box culvert beneath a residential structure located along Joan Street, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV 26003. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

See prior POLREPs.  

Historically, oil has discharged from a pipe that begins near the subject well and penetrates through the wall of the culvert.  The discharge has also occurred directly through the wall of the culvert and up through the floor of the culvert.  At this time, it appears that the discharge is still occurring through the wall and through the floor of the culvert and causing a sheen upon Stackyard Run.  This discharge may result from residual oil in the soils around the well and/or from other wells nearby.  The presence of gas bubbles issuing from the floor of the culvert suggest an active source is still present.  Conditions in the subject well indicate that oil and gas may be located and migrated through a shallow zone (e.g., about 100 feet below grade) due to improperly plugged wells nearby.  The OSC believes that  the shallow zone is directly connected to Stackyard Run via fractures or other improperly plugged boreholes.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

See prior POLREPS.

The OSC continues to conduct Assessment activities at this Site. 

The drilling activities in the well advanced to a depth of 1092 feet which was determined to be the total depth of the well.  At this time, the oily debris and blockages from the well have been removed.  Cement plugs have been placed into the well from its depth to the surface (see further information below). At this time no gas or oil issues from the surface of the well into the overlying residential structure.  However, a small amount of gas and oil is still issuing into Stackyard Run.  The OSC believes that this discharge either results from residual oil in the soil around the subject well and/or from connections between Stackyard Run and a water zone found in the subject well (and likely in other nearby improperly plugged wells) about 100 feet below ground.

During investigations in the well bore to facilitate plugging operations, a four foot zone of turbulent flowing water was encountered beginning about 100 feet down.  Obvious gas bubbles were observed by camera within the turbulent water flow.   A caliper log indicated that the 4 foot zone of flowing water and gas was greater in diameter than the reach of the caliper indicative of a void, fracture, or large washout.  A temperature log and gamma log also showed an obvious temperature drop below this zone and at about 115 feet suggestive of a possible productive sandstone.  Geology of the area indicates an alternating series of sandstones, shale, mudstones, and clay.  A shallow producing zone is not known, but caving material and shallow water zones have been noted in wells located within 5 miles of the subject well expected to be in similar geology.  The OSC believes that any well drilled through this zone and improperly plugged is presently allowing oil and gas to travel along this zone and enter other well bores and/or Stackyard Run.  There are several known and probably several unknown wells nearby comprising the facility which is the subject of this action.  Any one of these other wells (or all of them) could be contributing to the subject discharge.

The OSC continues to observe a discharge and identify a threat to the navigable waters.  Now that the threat of discharge of oil and gas into the residence has been addressed, the OSC will work to notify the City of Wheeling Health Department to work with the property owner about the status of residents now relocated from the property by the owner of the property.  The owner of the building continues to assist EPA and WVDEP and the OSC will coordinate with this owner relating to our demobilization from the premises in order that his property repair can begin.

The subject well, as well as 2 other nearby wells, were plugged by CG Broaddus in 1949.  EPA re-plugged one of these "Broaddus" wells in the 1990s along with 2 others.  The third Broaddus well is not addressed, but a survey of its location is available.  The State plugged an additional nearby well.  EPA and WVDEP plugged still another nearby well in the 1990s.  At least one other is known to exist nearby under a building.  At least one other nearby well is suspected due to a visible discharge of oil.  Two historic maps show up to 13 wells in the area, but so imprecisely located as to be of no value.  The historical records indicate drilling for gas in Stackyard Hollow in the 1890's with no records of location.  Given the re-development of the area as residential, the age of the oil activity (over 100 years ago) and the lack of good records, the OSC believes that it may not be possible to stop the flow of oil into Stackyard Run without re-entering previously plugged wells and finding other wells that comprise the facility.  However, even the potential for nearby water wells must be considered.

2.1.1 Narrative

Actions to remove debris and oil from the well and then to properly plug the well are continuing.  See prior POLREPs.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

See Prior POLREPs for activities up to June 14, 2016.  Removal of oil and attempts to plug the migration of gas/oil from the well to the surface continued and were completed this period.  At this time, the well no longer delivers product from the oil-bearing formation deep in the well to surface within the residence - however, oil is still presence upon Stackyard Run. 

On May 4 the well had been logged to assist in the plugging process.  The logging showed that there was no casing pipe from the bottom of the surface casing to a depth of 240 feet.  The deep hole plugging operations would account for oil/gas migrating to this depth and plugging operations eventually resulted in placement of cement to a depth of 200 feet (above the casing).  This action shut off the migration of oil from the subject well's known production zone. 

A gel spacer was set between 200 feet and 115 feet at the location of a sandstone according to the available gamma log.  Then on May 19th, a surface plug of cement was set between 115 and the surface.  However, gas issued through this surface plug on May 23rd, and 14 feet of the plug was removed and new cement poured. A video showed gas flow at the depth of 14 feet.  However, gas was still evident at the surface on May 31st.

After considering available information, the team felt that gas must still be issuing from the bottom of the borehole due to an improper seal along the borehole wall and coming around the top hole plug via the original EPA work in Fall 2015.  Additionally, the OSC believes that the use of the heavy gel to keep the gas and oil from discharging during the drilling operations (to avoid an unsafe discharge inside the building) may have impeded development of a good cement seal between the cement and the borehole wall.  WVDEP further believed that the use of the small bit at the top of the hole may have further allowed a condition in which the borehole wall surface was not cleaned off to allow for a good cement seal.  In any event, after all the work, the well was still allowing the passage of borehole fluids to the surface. 

The OSC directed that the top of the well be cleaned to a depth between 115 and 200 feet with a larger diameter bit.  Afterwards, the well would be circulated to provide for removal of cement, cleaning of borehole, and an opportunity to again plug the well in good conditions.  Additionally, the team agreed to try and use a mechanical plug in this zone to improve the chances of success.

Drilling re-commenced in the well.  On June 13th, a depth of 200 feet was again reached.  The gel was removed and water circulated to try and clean the well for camera work and re-plugging operations. 

On June 14th, a camera was sent into the well to evaluate conditions.  At a depth of about 100 feet, the water in the well was observed to be very turbulent and full of gas.  This gas, however, only came to the surface sporadically in the borehole.  This suggested that the column of water was sufficient to hold down the majority of the gas pressure.  A bridge was also encountered at 125 feet indicating collapse of a portion of the borehole.

The response team needed to develop a means to clean and plug the base of the hole (e.g., 115 to 200) to shut off any production zones that could account for the gas observed in the turbulent flow at about 100 as well as a means to clean and plug the top of the hole (e.g., 115 to surface) to prevent the migration of oil and gas into the residence and Stackyard Run considering the turbulent water and gas flow in the void at about 100 feet.

Gel was again inserted into the well to stabilize the borehole wall.  The borehole wall was sloughing into the well somewhere above about 125 feet.  A depth of 185 feet was reached on the 16th when operations were secured for the weekend. The borehole had again filled in to a depth of 134 feet when the crew returned on the 21st.  The OSC requested well logging to evaluate conditions. 

Caliper, gamma, and temperature logs were run on June 22, 2016.  The logs showed a 4 foot void between 108 and 112 and an obvious and rather significant drop in the water temperature beginning at about 100 feet to coincide with the turbulent water flow seen on the camera.  The logs also showed a competent sandstone between about 118 and 120 and then less competent rock below.  The logs further showed a zone between about 134 and 150 feet which had likely sloughed into the well accounting for the filling of the borehole.  The geology of the area is alternating sandstones, shale, mudstones, and clay.

The responders used this new information to realize that the turbulent flow between 108 and 112, coupled with the gas present in this zone either from a producing sand just below or from nearby wells contributing oil and gas to this zone, would likely reduce the chances for completely stopping the discharge of oil into Stackyard Run.  The OSC requested cement operations such to fill the hole from approximate 200 feet to approximate 115 and then from somewhere immediately above 104 to the surface (in order to try and avoid the turbulent flow interfering with cement operations).  The excessive diameter of the borehole also negated the ability to use a mechanical plug.

On June 23, the bottom of the hole was circulated to remove debris to a depth of 190 feet at which point 34 sacks of cement were inserted.  On June 27th, it was found that the cement settled to a depth of 150 feet.  An additional 36 sacks of cement were inserted into the hole which was estimated to bring the level of cement above the void in an attempt to allow some of the cement to bridge.  The primary goal of this cement pour was to completely cover all sands and zones below about 115 feet with cement and to leave just enough above the flow zone to allow for a bridge.

On June 28th, the cement was found at 101 feet indicating a bridge above the turbulent flow.  An additional 35 sacks of cement were set to bring the level of cement to the surface at which point 80 pounds of pressure was applied.  On June 29th, it was observed by the OSC that the cement settled about 10 feet, but no gas was observed at the surface.  The well was finally deemed plugged.  WVDEP and the OSC determined that the present condition of the well was the best practical solution to the present given the conditions.  It is most probable that the water flow zone between 104 and 108 is not cemented.

A final seven sacks of cement were placed and the steel riser used to secure the well during operations was removed.  A steel plate was placed atop the well and the base of the pit around the well head was filled with cement.  An offset monument was placed behind the residential structure.  On June 29th, the process of dismantling the equipment and rig was begun.

On June 30th, disposal of the remaining oily debris located in the tank outside the structure was begun.  It was discovered that some of the heavy gel and cement had hardened in the tank thus complicating the removal and disposal process.  Some of the material had to be transferred to a second tank.  The tanks were then removed from the location and transported to temporary storage in Buckhannon to allow for effort to remove remaining oilfield equipment from the residential neighborhood. Additional work is now required to complete disposal. 

At this time the OSC, in consultation with WVDEP, believe that the turbulent water zone with gas which is located below 104 feet is being fed by other deep wells.  During the entire operation, no gel or cement from the current operations entered into Stackyard Run through known cracks or crevices through which oil and gas have routinely issued into Stackyard Run.  Such a connection would make it apparent that the subject well could be the sole or primary contributor to the discharge.  However, since it is probable that other nearby wells (both known and unknown to the OSC) were likely plugged without consideration for the turbulent water flow condition, any such improperly plugged well is likely contributing to the discharge in Stackyard Run.  Without knowledge of the location of all abandoned wells comprising the facility, the OSC believes it may not be possible to completely stop the discharge of oil into Stackyard Run.

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

See Prior POLREPs.   

The records indicated the last owner of the subject well to be C.G. Broaddus.  Broaddus plugged the well in 1949 along with at least 2 others.  A 1968 map indicates all wells in the area to be either dry or plugged.  The OSC is able to find the original owners and/or drillers and/or lease holders of many, but not all, of the wells likely comprising the facility constructed along Stackyard Run.  The OSC believes that the subject well was part of a 5 well facility last operated Glenwood Oil and Gas (and possibly by J. Hamm).  In 1949, CG Broaddus identified himself as owner of 3 wells (only two of which (including the subject well) are part of the 5 well Glenwood facility.  The EPA OSC with the assistance of an EPA civil investigator are unable to locate Broaddus or any heirs or assigns.

The current conditions (I.e., water flow zone with gas at shallow depth) suggest that any one of the wells drilled along Stackyard Run or nearby could be contributing to the present discharge.  It is not likely that the entirety of the facility can be located such that the discharge onto Stackyard Run can be completely stopped.  At this time the OSC cannot definitively identify the well/wells contributing to the discharge of oil onto Stackyard Run and/or whether they are or are not component to the identified 5 well facility.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

The table below reflects disposal through June 13, 2016.  Oily debris and liquids located in two boxes removed from the Site on June 30, 2016, is not yet disposed

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Complete demobilization from the Site inclusive of dismantling the rig.  Complete disposal of wastes re-located to Buckhannon for temporary storage (some of the material has hardened inside the container). 

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Demobilization and Disposal

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Demobilization and Disposal

2.2.2 Issues

A discharge of oil is still present on Stackyard Run.