Three old oil and gas wells have been found near where the company plans to inject CO2. An EPA spokesperson said those wells will have to be replugged before the project can move forward.
Commission Shift Executive Direction Virginia Palacios is also concerned. Her group is dedicated to improving how the state regulates oil and gas. She argues Oxy’s proposal will only add to recent problems in the West Texas oilfield.
“We have been seeing geyser-like blowouts in the Permian. We are seeing a lot of leaks from unplugged wells across the basin,” she said. “I’m very worried that if this Ector County class VI injection permit is approved we’re going to see even more problems.”
