AP report indicates high-risk oil & gas wells not prioritized

An Associated Press review released last year indicates that 4 in 10 new oil and gas wells near fragile watersheds and national forests go uninspected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Data obtained by the Associated Press in June 2014, reveals that the BLM has been overwhelmed by a surge in a new drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.”  The fracking technique has resulted in the government agency to not adequately inspect some of the country’s highest priority oil and gas wells.

The BLM is responsible for maintaining 100,000 oil and gas wells on public lands.  Of these wells, 3,486 are considered high priority wells.  During fiscal years 2009 to 2012, 1,400 of those high priority wells were not federally inspected.  In Wyoming, 632 wells went uninspected.  50% of high priority wells in South Dakota and 1 in 6 high priority wells in Pennsylvania went uninspected.
For more information about the Bureau of Land Management visit: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas/Hydraulic_Fracturing.html

Source:
Yen, Hope. “US fails to inspect many new higher-risk oil, gas well.” Associated Press. June 17, 2014.

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