WASHINGTON CO. DRILLING SITE CLEANING UP LARGE MUD SPILL

  

A drilling site in Washington County is cleaning up over 2,000 gallons of drilling mud that emitted from a well on Friday.

Texas Railroad Commission Spokesperson Ramona Nye reports that they sent an inspector to the site of an uncontrolled well, close to Brandt Road and FM 389 near Brenham.  Verdun Oil and Gas LLC reported the incident, stating they were drilling at 9,000 feet, when the well took a kick.  A “kick” occurs when a well has a jump in pressure that forces drilling mud out of the hole.

A Verdun operator reported an estimated 50 barrels—roughly 2,100 gallons—of mud flowed, with most of it contained in the perimeter of the drilling location.  Verdun has informed the commission they will remove all affected soil to a disposal facility, and will replace the area with new soil.

Nye says the Commission will continue to oversee cleanup of the site, until it is within Railroad Commission lease standards.