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White Lake 29 CPF incident
During this incident, the produced water tank at this location exploded and the contents of an adjacent crude oil tank were released into secondary containment area and subsequently caught on fire.
Central Production Facilities are regulated locations where production equipment (storage tanks, vessels, compressors, treatment equipment) are used to handle produced hydrocarbons. This CPF is surrounded by security fencing and includes the oil producing well and tanks that hold produced water (brine) and crude oil. The tanks and are surrounded and underlain by a secondary containment system – as seen in the figure below.
Secondary containment is a safeguard that prevents seepage of tank contents into the surrounding soils, surface water, and groundwater by creating a diked/bermed area around the tanks that is lined with impervious material. At the White Lake CPF the secondary containment was designed with an additional liner that covered the bottom of the system.
Based upon site inspections, the first layer of this liner was burned during the fire, however lower most liner and it is believed to have remained largely intact. No fluids appear to have breached the bermed area surrounding the tanks and the crude oil burned within the secondary recovery area until it was final extinguished.
Out of an abundance of caution because of hydrogen sulfide potential, the local fire department evacuated approximately 30 residences during this fire. Multiple fire agencies responded to this fire and were on the scene for several hours. No injuries or property damage (beyond that of the CPF) have been reported and area residents were permitted to return to their homes the following day.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently being investigated by Hound Resources and the White Lake Township Fire Department.
To date, based upon field screenings and observations during cleanup operations, the GRMD does not believe that there has been an impact to groundwater and/or surface water. The oil producing well at this location has been shut-in and the flowlines have been purged and capped.
Additional site clean-up and environmental testing remains on-going and EGLE will be using this page to provide updates.
Contact information
Mark Snow, SnowM@Michigan.gov or 517-230-8233
Updates
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August 9, 2024
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May 16, 2024
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February 29, 2024
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February 9, 2024
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January 26, 2024
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January 19, 2024
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January 5, 2024
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December 21, 2023
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December 15, 2023
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December 8, 2023