For years, overpressurized injection wells have spewed oil field wastewater belowground in Oklahoma. Regulators know how bad the problem is, but they have not stopped it.
This week, Frontier reporter Nick Bowlin, in partnership with ProPubica’s Local Reporting Network, published the first major investigation into Oklahoma’s saltwater purge problem. Here’s what you need to know:
Under Pressure: Oil companies have polluted groundwater and the environment by injecting oil field waste deep into the earth at pressures high enough to violate Oklahoma law.
Warnings From Within: For years, people working for the state agency charged with regulating Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry have warned about the dangers of high-pressure injection.
Light Regulation: The regulatory agency says it prefers “to lead with a handshake instead of a hammer” and has not fined any company for wastewater leaks in the last five years.
Officials with the state agency’s oil division acknowledged in an interview with The Frontier and ProPublica that overpressurized wells are contributing to the purges. They noted that the state has taken steps to reduce injection pressures on new wells in recent years and is committed to “doing the right thing, holding operators accountable, protecting Oklahoma and its resources, and providing fair and balanced regulation.”
“I am also confident that every employee and every view is heard and considered,” said Brandy Wreath, who as director of administration for the commission is responsible for the agency’s operations, in a follow-up statement. “We will continue to be committed to protecting Oklahoma and supporting the state’s largest industry to perform its role in a safe and economic manner. These goals are not mutually exclusive.”
