Organization Celebrates 15,000th Well Site Cleanup

<p>The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) achieved the restoration of 15,000 orphaned and abandoned well sites across the state, with $100 million spent voluntarily by the state&rsquo;s oil and gas producers and royalty owners.&nbsp;</p>

Wednesday, April 13th 2016, 4:35 pm

By: News 9


The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) achieved the restoration of 15,000 orphaned and abandoned well sites across the state, with $100 million spent voluntarily by the state’s oil and gas producers and royalty owners.

OERB Chairman Danny Morgan made the announcement during a ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning.

“The monumental, voluntary investment by the industry in restoration of abandoned well sites has had a significant impact in our communities,” Morgan said. “For more than 20 years, we have been working on sites across the state, resulting in acres and acres of new parks, business lots, fertile farmland, clear ponds and streams, and so much more.”

Launched in 1993 as the first organization of its kind, the OERB currently restores 2-3 sites each day.

“This milestone is made possible by the ongoing investment of Oklahoma’s oil and gas producers and royalty owners,” said OERB Environmental Director Steve Sowers. “With the industry’s support, we look forward to carrying on the OERB’s mission of restoring orphaned and abandoned well sites across Oklahoma.”

The 15,000th site lies adjacent to the eastern edge of Oklahoma City’s Bricktown District, where development of a new hotel is planned. Other sites across the state have been repurposed for farming, playgrounds and business development.

“The $100 million investment by the industry has had a significant impact in building and revitalizing our communities,” OERB Executive Director Mindy Stitt, said. “We are proud of our role in restoring Oklahoma land and for all of the new opportunities it creates.”

For more information on the OERB’s environmental restoration program, call 1-800-664-1301 or visit the OERB's web site.

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