C&E Operating Hankammer #1 Well

C&E Operating, Inc. submitted an application for exemption from the NPS regulations dealing with nonfederal oil and gas development in units of the National Park System to directionally drill the Hankammer #1 well beneath the Neches Bottom and Jack Gore Baygall Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve. A public scoping notice to this effect was released on 11/29/2004. The National Park Service reviewed the application, and completed an environmental assessment of the proposed operation which was released to the public on 04/09/2005. A finding of no significant impact was issued regarding the proposal by the Intermountain Regional Director on 05/10/2005. The operations proposed were exempted from compliance with the NPS's nonfederal oil and gas regulations, and no mitigation was considered necessary to protect Preserve resources. The well was drilled from a privately owned surface location approximately one half mile from the Preserve boundary in Hardin County, Texas and reached its bottomhole target underneath the Preserve in Jasper County, Texas. The well was found to be a dry hole. According to information provided to the Railroad Commission of Texas by C&E Operating, plugging and abandonment activities were completed on 11/12/2005.

Contact Information

Haigler "Dusty" Pate
Biologist, Oil and Gas Program Manager
National Park Service
Big Thicket National Preserve
6044 FM 420
Kountze, TX 77625
409-951-6822
409-951-6868 fax