Norman staff: Barber Energy remediated plugged Norman No. 1‑18 well; one‑page agreement placed on consent agenda

Beth from the city legal department told the council the remediation agreement with Barber Energy Corporation is a short, one‑page acknowledgement that the operator plugged the Norman No. 1‑18 well and remediated the surface to a condition acceptable for future use by the Norman Utilities Authority.

She said the well was drilled in 1967 — about 15 years before the Oklahoma Surface Damages Act — and that Barber Energy (the long‑time operator) reported the plugging to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which oversaw the plugging activities. Beth said the city confirmed forms on the OCC wells website and that the city’s oil and gas inspector, Jeffrey Pote, collaborated with OCC and the operator on site oversight.

Beth said the city’s environmental and sustainability manager, Michelle Ladenback, participated in the remediation and “saw some stuff that she didn’t like.” According to Beth, staff asked the operator and its contractor to redo portions of the surface work; the contractor returned and staff accepted the second‑pass work as meeting the city’s standard.

Councilor Dixon asked whether operator responsibility for plugging and abandonment (P&A) is effectively perpetual — for example, if the well begins leaking years from now — and Beth said she would follow up with the oil and gas inspector to clarify how long OCC or the operator remains responsible and whether the OCC places sites on a working‑well list. The transcript did not record a final legal determination of long‑term liability.

The agreement is on the consent agenda as item 21 for formal council action; staff said they would bring back any follow‑up information about long‑term oversight or liability when available.