A landslide on Thursday afternoon closed a portion of the Black Mountain Oil and Gas Field on public land on the Washakie/Hot Springs county line.
The BLM estimates the landslide to be approximately 10 acres with a depth of 20-30 feet. It destroyed the road to nine wells at the eastern end of the oilfield in Section 31. Approximately the last mile of the Black Mountain Road, from the landslide to the top of Black Mountain, is signed and closed until further notice.
Thanks to the quick thinking of Breitburn Operating employees who witnessed the beginning of the slide, the wells were shut-in immediately to avoid oil spilling from any broken pipelines.
The BLM will work with Breitburn Operating to determine a path forward. For more information, please contact the Worland Field Office at 307-347-5100.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
