Oilman’s bid to tap water for drilling wins OK
West Texas conservation board unanimously approves proposal to use aquifer to supply Permian Basin hydraulic fracturing operations
AWest Texas board unanimously approved a contentious project to drill into a desert aquifer near Van Horn, build a 60-mile pipeline and ship 5.4 million gallons of water a day from the Apache Mountains to the heart of the nation’s most prolific oil field, the Permian Basin, to feed thirsty hydraulic fracturing operations.
The Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District voted on Wednesday to allow oilman and land baron Dan Allen Hughes to proceed with his multimillion dollar project, called Agua Grande.
“We’ve dug our heels in for six months,” said Blaine Saathoff, the effort’s chief operations officer and a petroleum engineer for Dan A. Hughes Co. “We’re very excited.”
Ranchers, farmers, residents and environmentalists have protested the application vigorously, packing a June hearing, sending the district dozens of letters and again arguing on Wednesday that the project could steal water from cattle and crops, or dry up the famous spring-fed pool at nearby Balmorhea State Park.
“This is a big deal,” said Mark Brown, a local landowner and land attorney from San Angelo who attended the meeting. “You’re making decisions that affect millions of dollars.”
Others have promised to file suit to stop Hughes.
“The precedent that is set is dangerous. We probably can’t let that stand,” said local rancher and conservationist Bill Addington. “We’re looking at options.”
Agua Grande is likely just the start of the fight over West Texas water. Several companies see a new market in the Permian, where water use in