Oil and Gas Lawyer Blog
Three scientists with the Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University have published the results of a study of blowouts of old wells in the Permian Basin caused by injection of produced water. The summary from the study:
Wastewater, a byproduct during oil extraction, is generally injected back into the ground. Permian Basin has witnessed several incidents of leakage of wastewater in the last 3 years. Recently in January 2022, huge amounts of wastewater were expelled at a high pressure from an old well. We used satellite data and wastewater injection data to understand the cause of these events. We found that the wastewater injection happening nearly several kilometers away is responsible for these leakages. We also discovered a highly pressurized wastewater lake below the surface in this region using geophysical modeling. Due to high pressures, the land in this region rose by 40 cm in just 2 years. Meanwhile, a part of this region sunk by 3 cm because of the leakage in January 2022. Our findings raise concerns about the potential for more leakages in the near future if action is not taken.
The study focused on the Central Basin Platform in the Permian Basin:
The study’s conclusion:
This study combines InSAR analysis with geodetic modeling to reveal the source of oil well blowouts in Crane County, West Texas. The results suggest that the injected wastewater leaked to shallower formations and propagated through subsurface flow paths. The water then accumulated in an aquifer several kilometers away resulting in excess pressure that was manifested as a surface uplift exceeding 40 cm in less than 3 years. The failure of aged oil well casings under this pressure led to wastewater blowouts over the aquifer and along the path. The sealing of the failed wells offered only a temporary solution, and the persistent pressurization in the subsurface poses an ongoing risk of future blowouts. The proximity of the highly pressurized area to the Pecos River, less than 5 km away, raises significant environmental concerns. Our findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on wastewater injection practices and proper management of abandoned wells to prevent environmental risks such as well failures, surface subsidence, and potential groundwater contamination.
Numerous recent blowouts evidence the problems caused by wastewater injection into shallow zones.
The Railroad Commissioners have failed to address this problem despite mounting evidence and numerous complaints from landowners. The State has spent millions of dollars trying to plug these old abandoned wells, often without success.