Oklahoma Oil Company Closes Well Threatening City's Water Supply

On September 14, BCE-Mach III Midstream Holdings LLC, the current owner of the Flying Monkey disposal well in Enid, Oklahoma, permanently sealed off the well after an investigation revealed that it had been approved by regulators in violation of state rules designed to protect public groundwater supplies. The well, which injects toxic oil field wastewater underground, was less than a quarter-mile from two municipal water supply sites serving the city.

The Flying Monkey disposal well's proximity to Enid’s drinking water sources raised significant concerns about potential contamination. State regulations mandate that regulators hold a hearing before approving any injection wells within half a mile of public water wells to ensure they will not pollute groundwater supplies. However, in 2018, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved the Flying Monkey without conducting such a hearing.

In response to these violations, Enid city officials filed a complaint last year requesting that the state revoke the well’s operating permit. The city's legal team noted that the original operator of the well, Hinkle Oil & Gas, had incorrectly stated in its application that the injection well was not within half a mile of public water supply wells. This statement was described as "demonstrably false" by Enid’s lawyers.

Despite the ongoing complaint, BCE-Mach III Midstream Holdings decided to permanently plug and abandon the Flying Monkey well on September 14. The company dropped a cast iron plug into the bottom of the well followed by more than 200 sacks of cement to ensure it was sealed off properly. A representative from the state corporation commission witnessed the plugging process.

Eric Huddleston, an attorney representing BCE-Mach III Midstream Holdings, stated that the decision to seal the well came after determining it was "underutilized and operationally unnecessary." However, city officials in Enid were unaware of the well’s closure until informed by a reporter. Frank Baker, an Enid city commissioner, expressed relief at the news: “This decision is thrilling because this is such a vital issue for our community.”

The closure of the Flying Monkey disposal well marks a significant victory for environmental advocates and local residents concerned about water safety in Enid. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing regulations designed to protect public health from industrial pollution, particularly in areas heavily reliant on oil and gas industries.

While this development is positive for Enid’s drinking water supply, it also raises broader questions about regulatory oversight and compliance within the state's oil and gas industry. The lack of proper hearings before approving such wells underscores the need for stricter enforcement mechanisms to prevent similar violations in the future.