The consequences of these purges are devastating for the environment and public health. The toxic water that seeps out of the ground kills crops, contaminates water sources, and damages ecosystems. The chemicals present in the wastewater, including carcinogens, pose a serious risk to human health, especially for those living near the affected areas.
Despite the mounting evidence of the harm caused by these purges, the state regulators have been slow to take action. The oil and gas industry wields significant power in Oklahoma, and there is a reluctance to impose stricter regulations that could impact profits. Ray and his team have faced pushback from industry representatives and even some within the agency itself who are resistant to change.
However, Ray remains determined to address the problem and protect the people and environment of Oklahoma. He continues to investigate the root causes of the purges and push for stronger regulations to prevent future incidents. His work is crucial in holding the oil and gas industry accountable for the damage they have caused and ensuring that measures are put in place to safeguard the state’s natural resources.
The ongoing battle to regulate oil and gas wastewater pollution in Oklahoma is a stark reminder of the need for vigilant oversight and accountability in the extraction industry. As the state grapples with the consequences of decades of unchecked drilling, it is up to dedicated individuals like Danny Ray to advocate for change and protect the well-being of the land and its inhabitants.
But Ray believed the state’s rules were outdated and inadequate. He thought the pressure limits should be set lower to prevent future purges. “We need to change our rules, and we need to change our permits,” Ray said. “We need to go back and find out what the real pressure should be on these wells.”
However, changing the state’s rules would require a lengthy regulatory process, and Ray’s efforts to push for stricter regulations were met with resistance. He encountered pushback from industry representatives who argued that lowering the pressure limits would hinder production and increase costs.
In a state heavily reliant on oil and gas production for its economy, balancing environmental concerns with economic interests has always been a delicate dance. But for Ray, the consequences of inaction were too severe to ignore. “We can’t continue to allow this to happen,” he said. “We can’t continue to allow these companies to keep doing what they’re doing.”
Despite the challenges he faced, Ray remained committed to his mission of protecting Oklahoma’s groundwater and environment. He continued to document and report purges, hoping to raise awareness about the issue and pressure regulators to take action.
The ongoing investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica sheds light on a longstanding problem that has plagued Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry. The state’s vast landscape of unplugged holes combined with its large number of injection wells operating at high pressures creates conditions ripe for purges. Without stronger regulations and oversight, the risk of future incidents remains high.
As Ray reflects on his time at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, he remains hopeful that change is possible. “We have to do something,” he said. “We can’t just sit back and watch this happen.”
Ray believed that purges could be prevented by lowering pressure limits to the point where injection would not crack the softer sandy layers where most oil and gas is found. His calculations and memos on rock formations breaking under pressure led to some short-term success in reducing injection pressures on a case-by-case basis in the oil division in 2020. Regulators added more scrutiny for proposed injection wells, requesting maps showing potential collisions and data on rock cracking pressure.
However, despite Ray’s efforts, lowering injection pressures statewide proved to be a challenge. Oil and gas industry representatives resisted proposed rule changes that he considered incremental. Ray’s proposal to significantly reduce injection pressures statewide was met with resistance from Robyn Strickland, the oil division director at the time, who excluded him from subsequent rule meetings.
As the year came to a close, purges in oil fields near Velma, Oklahoma, highlighted the pressure problem. Old wells were expelling toxic salt water at alarming rates, prompting the discovery that nearby injection wells were operating at pressures that were too high or injecting more wastewater than legally allowed. Citation Oil and Gas Corp., one of the largest operators in Oklahoma, agreed to plug some of the purging wells, but Ray likened this approach to a game of Whac-A-Mole.
Despite efforts to reduce injection pressures and temporarily shut down some wells, Ray believed that all injection near Velma needed to be halted indefinitely to lower the underground fluid and pressure buildup. However, his superiors did not agree, allowing companies to continue injecting near active purges. Ray expressed frustration at the lack of regulatory action, stating that the agency prioritized industry interests over preventing environmental harm.
The agency’s spokesperson denied claims of leniency towards oil companies, stating that Ray advocated for changes that the oil division could not implement independently. While progress was made in addressing injection pressures, Ray’s efforts highlighted the challenges of balancing industry interests with environmental protection in the oil and gas sector. Oil and gas companies in Oklahoma have been under scrutiny for causing pollution through a process known as purging. Purging is the practice of releasing contaminated water or other substances from oil and gas wells into the environment, often in violation of federal clean water laws. This has led to environmental damage and threats to public health in the state.
Charles Teacle III, regulatory affairs chairman for the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance, acknowledged that purges usually occur in areas with a history of outdated practices that do not reflect current industry standards. He emphasized the need for collaboration between regulators and companies to address and rectify these issues.
Several recent purges in Oklahoma raised concerns about violating clean water laws, prompting federal officials to conduct inspections alongside state oil division employees. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found evidence of inappropriate injection practices that added pressure to an already over-pressurized system, further exacerbating the problem.
The situation escalated in August 2022 when a purge in Velma, Oklahoma, resulted in thousands of gallons of wastewater containing high concentrations of salts and chemicals flowing into a creek. Despite initial shutdowns of injection wells, subsequent purges continued to occur, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Danny Ray, an advocate for stricter regulations, raised concerns about the agency’s response to purges and urged for more proactive measures to prevent future incidents. He recommended legal action against companies responsible for pollution, emphasizing the importance of holding them accountable for their actions.
While agency officials expressed support for taking legal action against polluting companies, no contempt cases or fines have been issued in the last five years for purges in Oklahoma. Instead, the agency focuses on cooperation with companies to address the issues voluntarily, avoiding additional financial penalties.
However, the lack of accountability for companies responsible for pollution raises questions about the effectiveness of current regulatory measures. Despite efforts to shut down injection wells and clean up surface pollution, groundwater contamination caused by purges is rarely addressed, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement and cleanup procedures in the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma. Removing pollution from underground water sources is a challenging and expensive task, according to McGinnis, the agency’s deputy director. The complexity of the process lies in the fact that pollutants can seep deep into the ground, making them difficult to reach and extract. In addition, the cost of remediation efforts can be prohibitive, further complicating the task of cleaning up contaminated water sources.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, responsible for regulating oil and gas activities in the state, has faced criticism for its perceived inaction in addressing groundwater contamination issues. Everett Plummer, a supervisor at the agency’s oil division, expressed frustration over the agency’s failure to address the root cause of the problem, namely overpressure in injection wells. Plummer’s emails to agency leaders highlighted the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action to prevent further contamination of groundwater sources.
Some oil and gas companies have been cited for operating injection wells at excess pressure, causing toxic wastewater to seep into the ground. A hydrogeologist who worked in saltwater disposal for a large Oklahoma oil company revealed that some wells were injecting wastewater at rates that exceeded the capacity of the rock layer to absorb, leading to concerns about the extent of pollution that may be going unnoticed by state regulators.
As the agency grappled with responding to purges and contamination incidents, residents in areas like Cement, Oklahoma, experienced firsthand the consequences of groundwater pollution. John and Misty Roberts, whose private water well showed elevated levels of salts and benzene, a known carcinogen, raised concerns about the health risks posed by contaminated water sources. State investigations near Cement revealed numerous violations by injection wells, including operating at excessive pressures, injecting into the wrong geologic formations, and proximity to old unplugged wells that could lead to leaks.
Despite these challenges, efforts to address groundwater pollution and contamination continue. The agency has been urged to take more decisive action to prevent further incidents of pollution and protect the health and safety of residents living near oil and gas operations. The task of removing pollutants from underground water sources remains a daunting one, requiring careful oversight, technical expertise, and financial resources to effectively clean up contaminated sites and prevent future contamination incidents. The state report analyzed water samples and injection data and found that the cause of pollution in Misty and Robertses’ drinking water was due to overpressurized injection. Misty and Robertses sued Citation in federal district court, claiming that the company’s injection was causing new pollution and contamination on a daily basis. Citation denied the allegations and argued that the case should be decided by the commission’s administrative law court. The federal lawsuit is currently on hold until the administrative case with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission concludes.
Misty Roberts expressed her frustration, stating that they have installed filtration systems to keep toxic chemicals out of their drinking water, but it is a constant headache to ensure they are functioning properly. Citation recommended that they connect to city water, but their neighbor refused to offer them an easement to dig a water line.
The company did not provide any comments regarding the lawsuit, but Bob Redweik, the company’s vice president of environmental health and safety and regulatory affairs, mentioned that Citation Oil & Gas Corp. is working with the OCC to investigate the sources and causes of the alleged pollution.
The oil and gas industry’s toxic legacy can persist long after production has ceased, as seen in cases like Misty and Robertses’. For rancher Tim Ramsey, his pastures in northeastern Oklahoma are plagued with orphan oil and gas wells leaking oil and purging oil field brine. Despite submitting cleanup requests to the state for years, many unplugged wells remain, causing significant pollution.
Tim Ramsey, a 67-year-old former coal miner, expressed his anger towards the oil industry’s pollution and regulators’ failure to prevent it. He criticized the state for being slow at taking action and questioned why they allowed such pollution to occur in the first place.
Similarly, Ray, in his final months at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, also felt disappointment at the lack of regulatory oversight and enforcement in addressing environmental issues caused by the oil and gas industry. The need for stricter regulations and accountability is evident to prevent further pollution and protect communities like Misty and Robertses’ from harmful contamination in their drinking water. The situation in Oklahoma regarding oil and gas purges has been a cause for concern for quite some time, and recent developments have only exacerbated the issue. Despite the urging of officials, the oil division did not take legal action against companies responsible for the purges, even as the crisis continued to worsen.
In the spring of 2023, an internal spreadsheet identified 42 active purges, most of which were still flowing. This alarming revelation prompted Ray to resign from his position in August 2023. Around the same time, the oil division sought the help of the environmental consulting firm, Halff, to mediate disputes among its employees on how to address the purges.
Reports prepared by Halff echoed Ray’s findings, attributing the purges to overpressurized injection wells and years of lax regulation. However, tensions persisted within the commission, with Shawn Coslett, the pollution abatement division manager, criticizing the agency for its lack of accountability in holding companies responsible for pollution.
Coslett pushed for legal action against Citation for a major purge near Ardmore, but his efforts were met with resistance. The agency’s decision to exclude Coslett and his team from meetings with companies implicated in pollution events raised concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability within the organization.
Despite some attempts to implement changes, such as requiring companies to test injection well fracture points, the oil division faced opposition from industry groups. Ultimately, the new rules only applied to new wells, leaving existing wells with high injection pressures unaddressed.
In January, the commission approved a revised formula for maximum injection pressures, but it only applied to new wells. Retroactively reducing pressures would require legislative action. As the state grappled with ongoing purges, Jeremy Hodges took over as the new director of the oil division.
Under Hodges’ leadership, the agency marked several purge cases as “resolved.” However, reports of new purges continued to surface, including one that resulted in the death of cattle and threatened public water supplies. Despite assurances from Hodges that purges were under control, ongoing incidents raised doubts about the agency’s ability to effectively address the crisis.
Ray, who returned to consulting for oil and gas companies, accompanied a reporter to a purge site in southern Oklahoma. The scene painted a grim picture of environmental damage, with oil slicks on the water’s surface and evidence of past wastewater spills. Ray expressed disbelief at the agency’s apparent neglect of the issue, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent further harm to the environment. The water was coming up from beneath the ground, bubbling to the surface in Wildhorse Creek in February 2025. As oil field wastewater seeped into the creek, the consequences were devastating for the environment and the local community.
To uncover the full extent of the damage, The Frontier and ProPublica embarked on an investigative journey, sifting through thousands of documents obtained through public records requests. These documents revealed a disturbing pattern of negligence and mismanagement within the regulatory agency’s oil division, as well as the complicity of elected officials and state legislators.
The investigation also involved interviews with over 30 individuals, including current and former state employees, Oklahoma oil and gas industry workers, and citizens directly impacted by the injected oil field waste. Their stories painted a grim picture of contaminated water sources, polluted land, and a community left to deal with the aftermath of industrial pollution.
Funded by reporting grants from the Fund for Investigative Journalism and the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources, this in-depth reporting shed light on a pressing environmental issue that had long been overlooked. The support of pro bono legal assistance from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also played a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the investigation.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the purges of oil field wastewater were not isolated incidents, but rather a systemic problem that required immediate attention and action. The work of dedicated journalists like Mark Olalde of ProPublica helped bring these issues to the forefront, prompting calls for accountability and reform within the oil and gas industry.
The bubbling water in Wildhorse Creek was a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked industrial practices. It served as a wake-up call for regulators, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders to prioritize environmental protection and public health in their decision-making processes. Only through collective action and responsible stewardship can we hope to prevent future disasters and safeguard our natural resources for generations to come. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the most significant technological advancements of the 21st century. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries, improve efficiency, and enhance the way we live and work. From self-driving cars to virtual assistants, AI is already changing the way we interact with technology.
One of the key areas where AI is making a major impact is in healthcare. AI has the potential to transform the healthcare industry by providing faster and more accurate diagnoses, improving patient outcomes, and reducing costs. AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of medical data to identify patterns and trends that can help healthcare providers make more informed decisions.
One example of how AI is being used in healthcare is in medical imaging. AI algorithms can analyze medical images, such as X-rays and MRIs, to detect abnormalities and make diagnoses. This can help radiologists and other healthcare providers make more accurate diagnoses faster, leading to better patient outcomes.
AI is also being used to personalize treatment plans for patients. By analyzing a patient’s medical history, genetic information, and other data, AI algorithms can recommend personalized treatment options that are tailored to the individual patient’s needs. This can lead to more effective treatments and better outcomes for patients.
In addition to improving patient care, AI is also helping to streamline healthcare operations and reduce costs. AI-powered tools can automate administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and processing medical records, freeing up healthcare providers to focus on patient care. This can help reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency in healthcare organizations.
Despite the many benefits of AI in healthcare, there are also challenges and concerns that need to be addressed. One of the main concerns is the potential for bias in AI algorithms. If AI algorithms are trained on biased data, they may produce biased results, which could lead to disparities in healthcare outcomes. It is important for healthcare providers to carefully evaluate and monitor AI algorithms to ensure they are producing fair and unbiased results.
Overall, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to revolutionize the industry and improve patient care. By harnessing the power of AI to analyze data, personalize treatment plans, and streamline operations, healthcare providers can deliver better care to patients and improve outcomes. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of AI in healthcare in the future.
