Saying they must be held accountable, Democratic candidate for Oklahoma Attorney General Mark Myles is calling for an investigation of state regulators regarding drilling in Rogers County.
He contends the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has failed to properly protect Oklahomans from the risks of drilling by BP/Amoco, GTI, GRI Catoosa and others.
“We have a serious issue in Rogers County where BP/Amoco and GTI drilled test wells without permits that reached under property they did not have the rights to drill,” charged Myles. “They have potentially made hundreds of millions of dollars from this area and no taxes have been paid to the state or royalties to landowners that they drilled under their land with horizontal drilling.”
Myles contends the companies in question drilled between 150 and 1,200 horizontal wells extending in every direction for up to nearly a half mile. The testing utilized drilling muds and chemical concoctions including toxic drilling materials, he claimed. He also says there was insufficient documentation with regard to drilling fluids and the disposal and closure of pits where drilling fluids and cuttings were stored.
“More than 25 years of waste byproducts were improperly stored on the site by covering with soil or injected into a disposal well, again without permits,” continued Myles in his accusations. “The pit storing drilling fluids and tailings was also improperly covered by soil. Most of the residents in the area have no idea of the potential for environmental harm.”
Myles pointed out that the existence of the problems came to light in 2011 when Ganer Oil Company, which had 11 producing wells on their own valid lease, started to produce drilling mud instead of oil and gas. Ganer owned half of the mineral rights and the Commissioners of the Land Office owned the rest. Ganer’s wells were air drilled that never used drilling mud. Marc Ganer, representing his mother went to the OCC for relief which resulted in an adverse ruling.
However, the decision of the OCC was upheld on appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
“We see no reason to re-articulate the OCC’s clear and specific findings of fact and conclusions of law which more than adequately explain the basis for dismissing Ganer’s application. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we agree that the OCC lacked subject matter jurisdiction. We see no error in the judgment entered by the OCC and affirm the order pursuant to Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.202(d), 12 O.S. 201 1, ch. 15, app. 1. SUMMARILY AFFIRMED UNDER RULE 1.202 (d).”
(Full link here: http://imaging.occeweb.com/AP/CaseFiles/occ5240164.pdf)
Myles, running against Republican incumbent Mike Hunter charged that Hunter is aware of the situation and has taken no action.
“The important thing here is win or lose in this election, I am committed to getting to the bottom of this problem and helping the people whose lives, property and livelihoods have been threatened and fighting to protect Oklahoma taxpayers.”
His press release included the legal background that led to the situation.
Click here for more legal documents.
