The rapidly growing sinkhole in Upton County, Texas, forms around long-term oil wells, leaking crude oil and threatening groundwater, and there is no clear responsibility to address this issue.
Martha Pskowski reports on Inside Climate News.
in short:
The sinkhole formed around Radford Grocery #17, which was excavated in the 1950s and plugged in in 1977, expanding to 200 and 40 feet deep in 1977, when crude oil surfaced and expanded. The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas, monitors the situation, but no restoration plans have been provided. Blowing away and contamination of groundwater.
Important Quotes:
“You can fix it, but it’s not cheap.”
– Hawk Dunlap, Integrity Expert
Why is this important:
Old and failed oil wells pose serious environmental and public health risks, especially in areas like the Permian Basin of Texas. These wells are often inappropriately sealed or neglected, allowing harmful gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide to leak into the surrounding environment. The results range from contaminated drinking water and degraded farmland to explosions and air pollution that exacerbate respiratory illnesses.
More and more sinkholes are linked to failure of failed plugs as underground pressure shifts and sediment of dissolved salt collapses the land. These geological disruptions pose serious risks to homes, roads and critical infrastructure.
This issue is exacerbated by the difficulty of assigning responsibility. Many of these wells are being drilled by businesses that no longer exist, and landowners and taxpayers now deal with fallout. The nation has secured funding for ample plugs, but the scale of the issue is far beyond the available resources. Without stricter regulations and enforcement, the community will continue to cover the costs of industries that have long benefited.
Related EHN coverage: 17 million people living near active oil or gas wells in the US
