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Bobcat Well 1-25H Produced Water

Notices

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Site Description 9/13/2022 00 Background

On September 11, 2022, Zavannah LLC (an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Williston Basin in North Dakota) reported that an underground produced water pipeline attached to its Bobcat wellhead developed a leak and discharged approximately 9600 barrels of produced water into the soil.  This material surfaced and flowed down a short ephemeral drainage and entered Stony Creek. Stony Creek is a tributary of the Missouri River.

EPA mobilized an On-Scene Coordinator to the Site on September 12, 2022.



Safety Message 9/13/2022 00 Background
The incident resulted in a fish kill. Chlorides and salinity are the main contaminants of concern.
Site Objectives 9/13/2022 00 Background

Savannah LLC shut down the pipeline and isolated the impacted waterway.

The State of North Dakota is the lead Agency for the remediation effort. The goals of this effort as of September 13, 2022, when EPA's On-Scene Coordinator demobilized were to:

  1. Maintain containment of the isolated waterway.
  2. Conduct sampling to determine the nature and extent of contamination.
  3. Remove and dispose of impacted soil and water pending sampling results.
Planned Activities 9/13/2022 01 Sept 12-13
No future EPA response activities are planned.
Operational Objectives 9/13/2022 01 Sept 12-13

EPA's On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) arrived at the Site the evening of September 12, 2022 and met with response personnel as well as a representative from the State of North Dakota Division of Water Quality.

EPA's Operational Objectives were to assess the situation and review the initial response activities.
Activities Accomplished 9/13/2022 01 Sept 12-13

Zavannah personnel reported that a pressure drop had been monitored in the pipeline and personnel sent to investigate had discovered produced water "bubbling" to the surface and flowing down an ephemeral drainage to Stony Creek.

The OSC identified dozens of dead fish and very limited oil sheen in the waterway.

Two sets of containment dams and isolation boom had been placed in the water. Stony Creek is a very slow moving waterway at the location of the incident and the OSC determined that the impacted area was contained.

Zavannah personnel reported approximately 85 barrels of produced water had been removed from the pipeline itself and approximately 40 barrels of produced water had been recovered from the drainage leading down to Stony Creek.

EPA's OSC discussed future remediation efforts with State of North Dakota personnel and demobilized from the Site on September 13, 2022.