Conservation group: Despite dip, N.M. oil, gas spills still ‘a problem’

Nearly 13,000 gallons of toxic water, crude oil and natural gas were spilled on average each day in New Mexico during 2016 as a result of oil and gas production, with the majority of the spills occurring in Eddy and Lea counties, according to a report released Thursday.

There were 1,310 reported spills in the state last year — more than three each day — according to data from the state Oil Conservation Division compiled in a report by the Center for Western Priorities, a Denverbased conservation group.

“What this data shows is we have a problem,” said Jesse Prentice-Dunn, advocacy director for the center.

While New Mexico saw an 11 percent decrease in spills from 2015 to 2016, the state still had more spills than Colorado over the same time period. Colorado produces far more natural gas than New Mexico.

Companies extracted slightly less natural gas in 2016 in New Mexico, but the amount of oil production increased slightly over the same period.

The report also found 848 million cubic feet of natural gas were leaked last year, or more than 46,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. That is the equivalent of burning 49 million pounds of coal and enough energy to fuel nearly 10,000 cars for a year, according to the report.

Roughly 83 percent of spills occurred in San Juan, Eddy and Lea counties, the state’s largest extraction areas. Nearly 40 percent of the incidents can be attributed to five companies.

Beth Wojahn, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, said, “The Oil Conservation Division actively encourages all operators to employ best management practices to prevent spills and has worked with industry to help achieve reductions in spill events.”

She said that when a spill occurs, the department requires “cleanup and remediation consistent with the state law.”

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced a rollback of any cumbersome regulations related to energy development. Efforts also are ongoing in Congress and by the U.S. Interior Department to repeal a federal methane waste rule that requires companies to monitor and install leak-detection equipment on wells.