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Groundwater board ratifies Straub engagement and moves to verify Railroad Commission complaint over flowing well near Orla
Summary
The Reeves County Groundwater Conservation District ratified hiring Straub Corporation to investigate a flowing well near Orla and authorized the general manager to contact NGL and the Railroad Commission before filing an informal complaint; board recorded owner costs to manage flowback.
The Reeves County Groundwater Conservation District on Nov. 21 ratified hiring Straub Corporation to investigate a flowing well near Orla and approved limited next steps toward seeking an investigation by the Railroad Commission.
Raymond Straub of Straub Corporation updated the board on his investigation and said the property owner, identified in the minutes as “Mr. Knox,” installed an attachment and tank to manage the well’s flowback and must haul water offsite about once a week. Sarah Stogner told the board the property owner is spending about $2,000 a month to manage the flowing well.
Bill Dugat, the district attorney, said he had drafted an informal complaint letter asking the Railroad Commission to start an investigation. After a closed-session consultation with counsel under Texas Gov't Code §551.071, the board returned to open session and approved a motion allowing General Manager Greg Perrin to contact by phone NGL and the Railroad Commission prior to sending the complaint letter. The motion was made by Ben Burnham and seconded by Luke Brown and passed 4-0 with President James Ward recorded as abstaining.
The board also ratified its engagement of Straub Corporation for the Orla well investigation; that ratification was moved by Ben Burnham, seconded by Ginny Barmore and approved 5-0.
No timeline for when a formal complaint would be filed was recorded in the minutes. The district did not record technical findings or a proposed remedy in the minutes; the next procedural step recorded is for staff to place permits and further updates on the Dec. 19 meeting agenda.
