In the 1950s, an oil well was drilled into some land in West Texas which was later converted into a saltwater disposal well. The hole was plugged in 1977.
However, the owners of the land, the Kelton Ranch, have seen an enormous sinkhole grow around the well.
According to the The Texas Tribune, the well currently is about 200-feet-wide and about 40-feet-deep, and space large enough to house a four-story building.
Records indicate that the well "caved in" after it was plugged in the '70s. The Keltons say the sinkhole has grown significantly in the past 18 months.
There's a legal matter of who is responsible to plug the hole, as the hole on their property is not considered an "orphan well," which is the responsibility of the Railroad Commission.
To fill the hole can be done, but it'll come with a price. Hawk Dunlap, a well integrity expert, explained as he looked over the hole earlier this month, "It can be fixed, but it's not going to be cheap."
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow 100.3 JACK-FM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
