In early 2009, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) requested EPA-R6 assistance with several abandoned oil production wells that were discharging crude oil in areas located near Lake Oologah and its tributaries. The wells were from oil leases that were initially part of Phase I of the Lake Oologah Oil Spill Project and were not addressed then because they were part of an active lease or were secured at the time. With no viable responsible party (RP) now, EPA proceeded to address the wells by Plugging and Abandonment (P&A) and decided to re-assess all the wells from previous project phases that were not P&A by EPA at the time. The re-assessment was to determine if the wells are now discharging or threatening to discharge crude oil into the lake and tributaries. EPA noticed that many of the wells from these previous phases are now discharging or threatening to discharge, unsecured, and potentially abandoned with no viable RP. EPA has determined to address the wells by conducting a title search for a viable RP and, if any, required them to perform a removal to stop a discharge or threat of a discharge of oil. For those wells without a viable RP, EPA will proceed with P&A activities.
Due to the close location of the wells to the lake and the topography, EPA OSC Bernier has determined that the discharge or potential discharge of oil had or could continue impacting navigable waters of the U.S. and adjoining shorelines if not addressed promptly.
