News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

May 21, 1999

HOME BUILDERS ALERT

DON’T BUILD OVER OR NEAR AN OLD OIL WELL SITE WITHOUT CHECKING ON IT FIRST

(OKLAHOMA CITY)…If you are among the many Oklahomans looking for a place to build your new home or a builder or developer setting up a new housing addition, there might be more than location, size and cost you will want to consider. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) reminds prospective home builders and home owners that for more than a century this state has been a leader in active oil exploration and production. That means that for more than a hundred years the search for oil and gas has resulted in hundreds of thousands of holes (at least 450,000) being drilled in all areas of Oklahoma, both before and after statehood.

It’s important to remember that many of those earliest holes were drilled in the ground dating back to before the turn of the last century (1890’s) many years before state lawmakers called for regulation of oil and gas drilling (1915, 1917) and before today’s modern methods of plugging abandoned and non-producing wells. That means there are thousands of holes which were drilled from the 1890’s until about 1917 for which the Corporation Commission has limited records. Some companies voluntarily provided records to the Oklahoma Geological Survey during this time.

Many of these early wells, drilled before there were spacing, drilling permits and completion report requirements, go undetected by oil and gas field inspectors and land owners until someone stumbles across them or they purge oil or gas to the surface. Many have not been found because there is little or nothing above ground to indicate their presence. Drilling sites that originally were in the wilderness or on the prairie are now in suburban areas of rapid growth.

To offer an example, a new home built in south Tulsa was constructed with a well in its back yard which was plugged in 1929, before there were any modern safety regulations regarding the closure of wells. After being gone for a few days, the home owners returned. What they apparently did not know is that the old well on the edge of their foundation apparently began leaking odorless natural gas into the house. When the home owner flipped on a switch, the gas ignited causing a mild explosion. As a result, the OCC had to obtain emergency state funds to properly plug the well site to prevent further problems.

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HOME BUILDERS ALERT (Cont’d)…

It is important for everyone involved to work to prevent such problems. The Commission and its field inspectors are prepared to assist with inspection and records when called on by builders, developers and home buyers.

Anyone thinking of building or buying a new home near any well site, including abandoned well sites, should contact the OCC. Field inspectors will verify the location and properly inspect the site. If needed, the well should be re-plugged according to modern safety methods.

The Oil and Gas Conservation Division’s field operations office may be reached in Oklahoma City at 521-2240. Inquiry may also be made to any one of the four oil and gas field offices in Bristow, Kingfisher, Duncan or Ada or to the toll free hot line at 800-522-0034.

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