The smell of oil wells has long permeated Caldwell County, near Austin and San Antonio. Now researchers have documented wells releasing dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas.
‘Very aggressive’ SAPD officer suspended 10 days after detaining man at the wrong addressSelma police make arrest in connection with death of UIW student Joseph BanalesGet ready to travel this fall with these Insider DealsA cow stands next to a non-producing oil well in Caldwell County . Gas has been venting out of the well even though it no longer produces oil.
“Here in Texas we rely heavily on the oil industry and protect the oil industry. And I think rightfully so,” Edgar said. “But there has to be something done for these neighbors. We’re slowly poisoning these communities.” The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates ambient concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Agency spokesperson Richard Richter said that the measurements in the study cannot be used to evaluate the exposure to the general public. He said that in an unspecified number of TCEQ investigations in Caldwell County since 2017 the H2S concentrations in ambient air did not exceed state standards.The railroad town of Luling in Caldwell County, about 50 miles south of Austin, boomed after Edgar B.
The methane emissions measured at the wells were similar to previous studies of marginal oil wells. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations ranged from zero parts per million to at least 300 parts per million, the maximum reading on the Gas Rover. Townsend-Small said plugging the Caldwell County wells or capturing the gas is “low-hanging fruit” to reduce methane emissions and health effects of hydrogen sulfide without significant impacts to oil production.
“Just because it has a smell doesn’t mean it’s always bad,” he said. “That’s part of being in the oilfield.”
Energy Environment State Government Oil And Natural Gas Luling Caldwell County Texas Legislature
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