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Buford Curtis, Inc. Rafferty Fee #1 Wellsite - Characterize and Delineate Contamination
Big Thicket National Preserve » Buford Curtis, Inc. Rafferty Fee #1 Wellsite - Characterize and Delineate Contamination » Document List
The Buford Curtis, Inc. (Curtis) Rafferty Fee #1, an oil and gas producing well in the Neches Bottom and Jack Gore Baygall Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve, was plugged in December of 2002. As part of the plugging and abandonment process, surface equipment was removed from the location, some obviously contaminated site stabilization material and soil was removed from the site and replaced with clean fill, and the site was re-leveled.
The National Park Service (NPS) completed a focused site investigation at the wellsite in 2005 with the goal of providing recommendations for the restoration of the site. Crude oil was detected above screening criteria during the focused site investigation.
Contaminant migration pathways at the wellsite include soil-to-groundwater, groundwater migration and human/ecological uptake. Impacts appear to be limited to flora and fauna exposure to surface soil. Human contact with surface soil is possible, but this risk is limited by the use and location of the site.
The NPS estimated that a minimum of 100 cubic yards of soils contaminated above screening criteria exist at the site. Additional soil and groundwater sampling is required to further delineate the extent of contamination.
Curtis provided the NPS with a work plan regarding additional sampling of soils and groundwater at the site in April of 2007. The NPS reviewed the plan, and several changes were adopted by Curtis. The objectives of the work were: 1) determine if shallow groundwater beneath the site is adversely impacted and 2) define the horizontal and vertical extent of soils where concentrations of crude oil exceed 10,000 parts per million. The information thus acquired would be used in the development of a plan of operations as per 36 CFR 9.36 to reclaim the site in accordance with the requirements of 36 CFR 9.39.
Curtis requested a temporary access permit as per 36 CFR 9.38 in order to perform the sampling described in the work plan in July of 2007. The request was granted by the NPS the next month subject to the implementation of changes to the scope based on the NPS's review. All activities were conducted under the direct supervision and direction of a State of Texas registered Professional Geoscientist, and the NPS was onsite for the bulk of the sampling operations.
In September of 2007, Curtis installed 1 temporary monitoring well, completed 10 shallow soil borings, and took 2 samples from the bottom of a pit at the site. The temporary monitoring well was completed with a tractor-mounted drilling rig. The soil borings were made with a hand auger.
Equipment was continuously decontaminated during all sampling activities in accordance with applicable Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, United States Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety & Health Administration guidelines. Soil sampling core barrels were washed with Alconox soap and rinsed with potable water. Excess soil cuttings, groundwater from the development and purging of the temporary monitoring well and personal protective equipment generated during the sampling effort were temporarily stored in sealed and properly labeled 55-gallon drums at the site. These materials will be removed, and properly disposed of by Curtis.
In October of 2007, the NPS received the results of Curtis' sampling effort. These results indicated that soils in the pit onsite were in need of remediation to achieve NPS attainment goals. After reviewing the results of the sampling effort, the NPS determined that the report provided sufficient information on which to base a plan of operations for the remediation of those soils.
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
The National Park Service (NPS) completed a focused site investigation at the wellsite in 2005 with the goal of providing recommendations for the restoration of the site. Crude oil was detected above screening criteria during the focused site investigation.
Contaminant migration pathways at the wellsite include soil-to-groundwater, groundwater migration and human/ecological uptake. Impacts appear to be limited to flora and fauna exposure to surface soil. Human contact with surface soil is possible, but this risk is limited by the use and location of the site.
The NPS estimated that a minimum of 100 cubic yards of soils contaminated above screening criteria exist at the site. Additional soil and groundwater sampling is required to further delineate the extent of contamination.
Curtis provided the NPS with a work plan regarding additional sampling of soils and groundwater at the site in April of 2007. The NPS reviewed the plan, and several changes were adopted by Curtis. The objectives of the work were: 1) determine if shallow groundwater beneath the site is adversely impacted and 2) define the horizontal and vertical extent of soils where concentrations of crude oil exceed 10,000 parts per million. The information thus acquired would be used in the development of a plan of operations as per 36 CFR 9.36 to reclaim the site in accordance with the requirements of 36 CFR 9.39.
Curtis requested a temporary access permit as per 36 CFR 9.38 in order to perform the sampling described in the work plan in July of 2007. The request was granted by the NPS the next month subject to the implementation of changes to the scope based on the NPS's review. All activities were conducted under the direct supervision and direction of a State of Texas registered Professional Geoscientist, and the NPS was onsite for the bulk of the sampling operations.
In September of 2007, Curtis installed 1 temporary monitoring well, completed 10 shallow soil borings, and took 2 samples from the bottom of a pit at the site. The temporary monitoring well was completed with a tractor-mounted drilling rig. The soil borings were made with a hand auger.
Equipment was continuously decontaminated during all sampling activities in accordance with applicable Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, United States Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety & Health Administration guidelines. Soil sampling core barrels were washed with Alconox soap and rinsed with potable water. Excess soil cuttings, groundwater from the development and purging of the temporary monitoring well and personal protective equipment generated during the sampling effort were temporarily stored in sealed and properly labeled 55-gallon drums at the site. These materials will be removed, and properly disposed of by Curtis.
In October of 2007, the NPS received the results of Curtis' sampling effort. These results indicated that soils in the pit onsite were in need of remediation to achieve NPS attainment goals. After reviewing the results of the sampling effort, the NPS determined that the report provided sufficient information on which to base a plan of operations for the remediation of those soils.
Contact Information
Haigler "Dusty" PateBiologist, 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