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News Release 025
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF ABANDONED OIL WELL PLUGGING PROJECT IN CASS COUNTY
Volume 35-025 |
Contact: Hylan Beydler |
(For immediate release) |
573-368-2118 |
ROLLA, MO, JAN. 18, 2007 -- Seven abandoned oil and gas wells no longer pose safety or environmental threats to Cass County residents, thanks to a Missouri Department of Natural Resources program that permanently plugged the wells in the county near Garden City.
Geologists from the department's Division of Geology and Land Survey conducted a final inspection of the abandoned wells, which were recently cleaned and plugged by a contractor.
A well is considered abandoned when it is no longer used to produce oil or natural gas. Wells can provide a direct conduit for contamination to either enter the groundwater or to rise from a well to the land surface. Improperly constructed, maintained or abandoned wells present a safety risk to humans as well as a potential risk to pollute underground resources. Proper plugging of oil and gas wells is necessary to protect public health and safety, conserve natural resources and to enable the oil and gas industry to efficiently develop Missouri's oil and gas resources.
During the initial site investigation in Cass County, one gas well was identified but was not plugged because the current landowner decided to assume ownership of the well by posting bond with the State Oil and Gas Council to operate it as a domestic gas well. There are more than 470 domestic gas wells in Missouri used in private homes to fuel furnaces, water heaters, stoves, ovens and clothes dryers. Use of these wells significantly reduces utility costs.
Scott Kaden, a geologist with the department identified and provided oversight for the project and was on-site when wells were plugged. "Well type, location and site geology affect the requirements for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells," Kaden said.
"Four wells were plugged by squeezing cement into the well to displace the well fluid back into the rock formation," Kaden continued. "Three oil wells were abandoned by using a tremie (an apparatus used to place cement grout into a well from the bottom up displacing well fluids). This tremie was made from hollow steel pipe (basically a straw) lowered into the well from a mobile drill rig. As the cement was pumped through the tremie, the oily water was forced out of the top of the well casing into an overflow pit for proper disposal."
More than 9,900 oil and gas wells have been drilled in Missouri since the early 1900s. Oil and gas wells are most prevalent in the western part of Missouri, including the Kansas City area; in Cass, Bates, Vernon, Jackson, Caldwell and Platte counties.
Geologists with the department are often made aware of abandoned oil and gas wells through referrals from citizens who have observed abandoned wells on their property. Citizens should call the Division of Geology and Land Survey if they suspect that a well has been improperly abandoned. For additional information, call 800-361-4827 or 573-368-2100, or visit online: www.dnr.mo.gov/geology.
For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.
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