An Oil Well Sinkhole Grows in the Permian Basin

UPTON COUNTY, Texas—A sinkhole around an old oil well is growing at an alarming rate on the Kelton Ranch in West Texas.

Radford Grocery #17 was originally drilled as an oil well in the 1950s and later converted to a saltwater disposal well, according to state records. The well was plugged in 1977.

The Kelton family, which owns the ranch, became alarmed recently as a sinkhole around the well rapidly grew. Water pooled in the bottom of the sinkhole. Then crude oil began migrating up from underground and formed a dark layer over the water…

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