The Oakland Press, Sterling Heights, Mich.
(TNS)
Nov. 28—An explosion and fire at an oil production facility in White Lake Township remains under investigation by the fire department and state officials. No one was hurt.
Township officials and Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) each issued statements after the incident at 600 Young Road. Township officials did not respond to interview requests from The Oakland Press.
White Lake fire officials issued a statement that no one was hurt in the fire, though they were on the scene for several hours Friday night. Firefighters called to the scene at 10:23 p.m. Friday evacuated fewer than 100 people from nearby residences and received mutual aid from Oakland County's Hazardous Materials Response Team and Waterford Regional Fire Department as well as the townships of Highland, Springfield, Commerce and Milford.
Township Supervisor Rik Kowall said in a statement published on White Lake's social media pages that he takes this event "very seriously," adding there would be a thorough investigation and "results may take some time but once the investigation is completed, we'll share that information with the public."
Kowall described the site does not share underground storage tanks or pipes and said the above-ground storage was a "specifically designed containment berm," which operated as intended during the incident. He said the facility's operations started in 1995.
Because the facility's operation and licensing is EGLE's Oil Gas and Minerals Division's responsibility, Kowall referred inquiries to state officials.
Information provided by EGLE distinguished the operation at 600 Young Road in White Lake as an oil and gas central production facility — not an oil refinery.
The Young Road facility has a single well, which sends oil and salt water pulled from the ground to a separator and treatment equipment that removes hydrogen sulfide gas. A 2020 state site inspection for air quality noted the gas is burned at the site to relieve pressure, a process called flaring, "without simply venting dangerous chemicals to the environment." The 2020 inspection found no air-quality violations. The state report noted that the site produced about 20 barrels of oil per day.
State oil and gas regulations are meant to limit the risk of fire or explosion incidents to nearby properties and the environment. In the White Lake case, EGLE's statement noted that the rules appeared to have limited ill effects for nearby residents and the environment.
The state's air quality inspection happened when the site was operated by the Whiting Oil and Gas Co., but in 2020, Romeo-based Hound Resources took over operations of the White Lake site and a similar site located elsewhere in Oakland County and 31 other wells throughout the state. The company's website is not currently active, but a history of the site describes Hound as an " exploration and production company operating in the Michigan basin with multiple interests in numerous states throughout the country."
State records show Hound Resources was cited for a minor violation in Manistee County for vegetation issues and some oil within tanks and containment areas, which is currently being remediated. The state is also investigating some odor complaints in Manistee County but no citation had been issued as of Monday.
In White Lake, EGLE is requiring Hound to remove any contaminated fluids and/or soil and properly dispose of it. Hound hired McConnell and Scully, Inc., for cleanup help, which will include especially lined containers to avoid any secondary contamination, according to EGLE.
The state will also track all the work to ensure it meets EGLE standards.
EGLE's statement notes that once the fire's cause is determined, there may be other rules put in place to limit another incident. There are no concerns that Friday's explosion and fire is connected to negligence or lack of regulation, according to EGLE officials.
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