Summary of an article, published June 3, 2025, by Signal Ohio:
At least 55 of 240 oil wells owned by Southeast Ohio Landowners Bob Lane and Bob Wilson have been flooded with brine since 2019, which they believe is due to leaking from nearby Class II injection wells used to store fracking wastewater. Cleanup costs have mounted, and the landowners say the waste has made the wells unusable. Neighbors share concerns that the leaks could contaminate the aquifer that supplies water to thousands of homes and businesses in the Marietta area.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) confirms seven injection wells have leaked underground since 2019. The Bobs have filed lawsuits against several injection well operators. The ODNR recently permitted an additional class II waste injection well in Washington County, adding to the community’s concerns.
Read the full article here: https://signalohio.org/ohio-landowners-say-fracking-wastewater-is-leaking-underground-threatening-drinking-water/
Video of the Kris-Mar #5 conventional production gas and oil well in Washington County. Conventional wells do not typically contain high pressures and large volumes of water. Credit: Buckeye Environmental Network
Bob Wilson, 65, is seen in front of his oil well in Marietta, Ohio. Brine from injection wells has migrated underground, “flooding” the oil wells and raising concerns for him about the safety of the area’s drinking water. Credit: Jake Zuckerman
A bucket of the brine coming out of Bob Wilson’s oil well. He says the brine is coming from Class II injection wells nearby, which house fracking wastewater deep underground. Source: Jake Zuckerman
Joe Wigal holds a jug full of brine he said he pulled from an oil well on his property that has been flooded by injection wells. He brought two jugs of the stuff to a community meeting organized to discuss the injection wells: one jug was for testing, the other he said he wanted to give to Chavez.