EPA v. CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.

Case summary

6/11/10 - CONSENT AGMT AND FINAL ORDER ISSUED, ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $9,000. ALLEGATIONS: RECENT FIELD INSPECTIONS AND REVIEW OF RECORDS SHOW THAT THE FRAZIER FRYE #8 WELL HAS BEEN INACTIVE SINCE JANUARY 2000. THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST (MIT) RECORDS IN THE FILE FOR THE FRAZIER FRYE #8 WELL, NOR A P&A AFFIDAVIT. THEREFORE, THE RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SDWA, ITS UIC PERMIT AND 40 CFR 144.51(a) FOR FAILURE TO EITHER DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAZIER FRYE #8 WELL EVERY TWO YEARS WHILE INACTIVE, OR P&A THE WELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EPA-APPROVED P&A PLAN. RECEND FIELD INSPECTIONS AND REVIEW OF RECORDS SHOW THAT THE GANNON-FRANKLIN #2 INJECTION WELL HAS BEEN INACTIVE SINCE JAN 2002. THE RECORDS FILE FOR THE GANNON-FRANKLIN #2 INJECTION WELL SHOWS THAT THE LAST MIT WAS CONDUCTED ON MARCH 18, 2003. THEREFORE, THE RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SDWA, ITS UIC PERMIT AND 40 CFR 144.41(a) FOR FAILURE TO EITHER DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE GANNON-FRANKLIN #2 INJECTION WELL EVERY 2 YEARS WHILE INACTIVE, OR P&A THE WELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EPA-APPROVED P&A PLAN. RECENT FIELD INSPECTIONS AND REVIEW OF RECORDS SHOW THAT THE DENNIS #4 INJECTION WELL HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTION, PERFORATED, AND SHUT-IN SINCE JAN 2002 WITH NO TUBING AND PACKER. THERE ARE NO MIT RECORDS IN THE FILE FOR THE DENNIS #4 INJECTION WELL, NOR A P&A AFFIDAVIT. THEREFORE, THE RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SDWA, ITS UIC PERMIT, AND 40 CFR 144.51(a) FOR FAILURE TO EITHER DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE DENNIS #4 INJECTION WELL EVERY 2 YRS WHILE INACTIVE, OR P&A THE WELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EPA-APPROVED P&A PLAN. ORDER REQUIRES: RESPONDENT SHALL, WITHIN 120 DAYS, DEMONSTRATE BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBJECT WELLS, OR P&A THE WELLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EPA-APPROVED P&A PLAN.

Defendants (1)

• CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC. (SB)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• FRAZIER FRYE #8 UIC WELL (CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.)

  N37.741615 X W-87.378651, MADISONVILLE, KY, 42431

  Registry ID: 110041877671

• DENNIS #4 UIC WELL (CONTINENTIAL RESOURCES, INC.)

  N37.225891 X W-87.37753, MADISONVILLE, KY, 42431

  Registry ID: 110041877742

• GANNON-FRANKLIN #2 UIC WELL (CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.)

  N37.173851 X W-87.484386, MADISONVILLE, KY, 42431

  Registry ID: 110041877733

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1422/1423 — UIC Regulations Classes I - V

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.entered 2010-06-11

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $9,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2010-06-11Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2010-06-11Final Order Issued
• 2010-06-15Enforcement Action Data Entered