Environmental Considerations for Real Estate Development of Oil Well Drilling Properties

Dawn H. Garcia, Evan C. Henry

Developable land is at a premium in urban areas. Oil well drilling properties in many areas represent a large percentage of the remaining open space that has captured the interest of real estate developers. Successful urban development is taking place in areas where past and present oil production has taken place. However, in response to increasing public environmental awareness, regulations have been developed to ensure public safety at oil well drilling properties that undergo residential, commercial, and industrial development.

Environmental concerns include proper handling and storage of the crude petroleum from natural gas to heavy crude, handling and storage of oil field chemicals, disposition of drilling fluids, and proper abandonment of inactive wells. Regulatory agencies include state and local health departments, oil well drilling agencies and local building departments. Environmental investigation combined with agency compliance and cooperation prior to acquisition and construction can expedite successful real estate development of oil well drilling properties.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91024©1989 AAPG Pacific Section, May 10-12, 1989, Palm Springs, California.