Moffett County, CO
A complaint filed with the state oil and gas regulatory agency alleged potential impacts to soil and groundwater from a plugged oil well located in an environmentally sensitive area. Direct-push sampling technology was employed to collect groundwater samples from a shallow aquifer, which was analyzed in the field to efficiently map the contaminant plume, and reduce laboratory costs. The extent of groundwater impact was determined, and a risk assessment was performed to allow the limited benzene plume to naturally attenuate. Soil impacted above the regulatory threshold was treated offsite. No further action was required by the state regulatory agency.