BCE-Mach III Midstream Holdings LLC permanently plugged the Flying Monkey disposal well in Enid, Oklahoma, on Sept. 14, ending a years-long regulatory dispute over the well’s proximity to municipal drinking water sources. The action followed an investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica that revealed state regulators had approved the well’s initial permit in 2018 in violation of rules prohibiting wastewater injection within a half-mile of public water wells without a hearing.
The well, located approximately a quarter-mile from two Enid groundwater supply sites, had failed five structural integrity tests since 2021 and was reported to have a tubing leak in early July. Although the city of Enid filed a complaint last year seeking to revoke the well’s permit, the company proceeded to seal the well with a cast iron plug and more than 200 sacks of cement before the administrative law court ruled on the case.
What the Right Is Saying
The oil and gas industry and conservative commentators have focused on the operational realities of energy production. Eric Huddleston, an attorney representing BCE-Mach III Midstream Holdings, stated that the company decided to shut the well because it was "underutilized and operationally unnecessary." This framing suggests the closure was a business decision based on efficiency rather than solely a response to regulatory pressure.
Industry stakeholders often argue that wastewater injection is a standard and necessary component of oil production, and that strict distance regulations can hinder economic activity. While the company complied with the plugging requirement, the broader industry perspective typically emphasizes that wells are subject to multiple layers of state and federal regulation. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission did not respond to requests for comment regarding its role in the well’s closure, leaving the agency’s stance on the specific enforcement actions unarticulated in the immediate reporting.
What the Left Is Saying
Enid city officials expressed relief at the closure, framing it as a necessary protection of public health infrastructure. Frank Baker, an Enid city commissioner, stated that the decision was "thrilling" because the well had put "our water sources in danger." He described the plugging as "the best possible outcome" for the community.
Progressive advocates and local officials argue that the incident highlights systemic failures in state oversight. The city’s legal complaint noted that the original operator, Hinkle Oil & Gas, incorrectly certified on its permit application that the well was not within a half-mile of a public water supply, a statement Enid’s lawyers called "demonstrably false." Critics contend that regulatory agencies prioritized industry expansion over environmental safeguards, allowing non-compliant wells to operate for years.
What the Numbers Show
The Flying Monkey well was located roughly 0.25 miles from Enid’s municipal groundwater supply sites, violating the state’s 0.5-mile buffer zone rule for wastewater injection wells unless a hearing is held. Since 2021, the well failed five structural integrity tests. In early July, following the publication of the news investigation, the owner reported another leak in the well’s tubing, prompting the state to issue a 90-day deadline to fix the leak or plug the well.
The issue extends beyond Enid. The joint investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica identified at least 114 injection wells across Oklahoma located within a half-mile of a public water supply well. More than 300,000 Oklahomans live in communities that rely on these water wells. Two other wells in Enid that violated the distance rule remain active, owned by different companies.
The Bottom Line
The plugging of the Flying Monkey well sets a precedent for how state regulators may handle non-compliant disposal sites, particularly when public water supplies are at risk. Enid officials are now urging the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to plug other injection wells that threaten public water supplies and to implement stronger regulations, including wider distance buffers. The city notes a recent uptick in wastewater injection in the Enid area, raising concerns that other wells may face similar scrutiny. The status of the two remaining active wells that violate distance rules remains under review by the corporation commission.