EPA v. CASE DRILLING CO., INC.

Case summary

10/21/09 - ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT ISSUED. THE RECORD FILES FOR THE SUBJECT WELLS SHOW THAT THE WELLS HAVE NOT BEEN INJECTED INTO FOR OVER 2 YEARS. RESPONDENT CONDUCTED A DEMONSTRATION OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY FOR THE G.T. O'BRYAN 2-W WELL ON NOV 21, 2008. RESPONDENT CONDUCTED A DEMONSTRATION OF MECHANICAL INTREGRITY FOR THE R.L. O'BRYAN 1-W INJECTION WELL ON APR 8, 2009. THE REMAINING WELLS HAVE NEITHER HAD A DEMONSTRATION OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY NOR HAVE THE WELLS BEEN PLUGGED AND ABANDONED. THEREFORE, THE 3 REMAINING WELLS ARE CURRENTLY IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH 40 CFR 144.28(c)(2)(iv). EACH OF THE WELLS WAS FORMERLY OWNED BY DOME DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC., WHICH WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISSOLVED ON NOV 3, 1998. RESPONDENT ACQUIRED THE WELLS AND INFORMED EPA OF HIS INTENT TO EITHER PLUG AND ABANDON, CONVERT TO PRODUCTION, OR REMEDIATE AND DEMONSTRATE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY FOR EACH WELL. SPECIFICALLY, RESPONDENT STATED HIS INTENT TO: CONVERT THE G.T. O'BRYAN W-3 INJECTION WELL TO A PRODUCTION WELL AFTER A DEMONSTRATION OF THE WELLS MECHANICAL INTEGRITY; PLUG AND ABANDON THE L.B. JACOBS #6 INJECTION WELL BY DEC 31, 2009; DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE R.L. O'BRYAN 1-W INJECTION WELL. ORDER REQUIRES: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS INJECTION TO RESUME INTO ANY INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT WELL UNTIL RESPONDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED MECHANICAL INTEGRITY. NO LATER THAN DEC 31, 2009, RESPONDENT MUST EITHER DEMONSTRATE BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF ALL OF THE SUBJECT WELLS, CONVERT TO PRODUCTION, OR P&A THE WELLS. IF ANY WELLS FAILS THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST, RESPONDENTS SHALL EITHER P&A THE WELL OR TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO REMEDIATE AND RETEST THE WELL. ANY INJECTION WELL TO BE CONVERTED TO PRODUCTION MUST FIRST HAVE A DEMONSTRATION OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY. NO LATER THAN DEC 31, 2009, RESPONDENT SHALL SUBMIT TO EPA A WRITTEN REPORT ON THE PROGRESS BEING MADE TO BRING THE WELLS INTO COMPLIANCE.

Defendants (1)

• CASE DRILLING CO., INC. (SB)Named in settlement

Facilities (4)

• L.B. JACOBS #6 UIC WELL (CASE DRILLING CO., INC.)

  LAT/LONG: N37.799988 X W-87.224036, OWENSBORO, KY, 42301

  Registry ID: 110040416305

• G.T. O'BRYAN 3-W UIC WELL (CASE DRILLING CO. INC.)

  LAT/LONG: N37.79519 X W-87.2195, OWENSBORO, KY, 42301

  Registry ID: 110040416341

• R.L. O'BRYAN 1-W UIC WELL (CASE DRILLING CO., INC.)

  LAT/LONG: N37.79582 X W-87.22377, OWENSBORO, KY, 42301

  Registry ID: 110040416323

• G.T. O'BRYAN 2-W UIC WELL (CASE DRILLING CO., INC.)

  LAT/LONG: N37.79287 X W-87.2208, OWENSBORO, KY, 42301

  Registry ID: 110040416369

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CASE DRILLING CO., INC.entered 2009-10-21

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2009-10-21Final Order Issued
• 2009-12-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2011-03-08Enforcement Action Closed