Former Champlin Refinery

Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“Anadarko”), an oil and natural gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, and an affiliate of Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc. Anadarko has been a part of the Enid community since 2000 when we purchased Union Pacific Resources, which owned the Champlin Refinery property. Although the Champlin Refinery closed 16 years prior to being acquired by Anadarko, our top priority has been, and continues to be, managing our Enid property responsibly and in compliance with all regulations.  Since 2000, Anadarko has worked closely with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to address environmental impacts in the former Champlin Refinery area and continues working through the regulatory process. One area that we are monitoring is located south of the former Champlin Refinery. The area is shown as the Study Area in the map attached.

The water you receive in your home for drinking, washing, and other potable purposes is provided from the City of Enid Public Water Supply. There is no water quality issue associated with this water supply. The groundwater that is subject to this ongoing monitoring is separate from the city’s public water supply, and cannot be used for any potable purposes, according to city ordinance.

WhatAnadarko is working closely with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to address environmental impacts in the former Champlin Refinery area. One area being monitored is located south of the former Champlin Refinery. If you have a water well on your property that has not been sampled or, are considering the installation of a water well in the Study Area, please contact Anadarko to discuss the location of the well so that you can be fully informed about the expected water quality of the well. Anadarko, the City of Enid, and DEQ strongly discourage you from proceeding with plans for installing a well due to potential groundwater quality issues.
WhyWe are undertaking this effort to ensure we have the latest and most accurate data concerning private water wells in the area. As has been known for many years, the groundwater in this area was impacted by past operations at the former refinery and does not meet allowable limits for petroleum compounds. Enid Ordinance 8-2-2(f) provides that water not meeting allowable limits cannot be used for potable purposes, meaning it should not be used for drinking, cooking, bathing, filling wading ponds or swimming pools, providing water to animals or washing edible items.  If you have a private water well located within the impacted area, please comply with Enid ordinance 8-2-2(f) and do not use your well for any potable purpose.
HowIndependent environmental technicians will collect well water samples. The water samples from these private wells will be sent to and analyzed by an independent laboratory using methods approved by DEQ. The results of the sampling will then be provided to the applicable property owner and renter and DEQ.
WhereThe properties of interest are within the “Private Water Well Study Area” which includes the groundwater impacted by the former Champlin Refinery including a 200 feet buffer.  Click here to view the map.

Contact

We prioritize transparency and will ensure that Enid residents are informed about this process.

Questions? Contact us at:

Anadarko: Jennifer Douma (918) 561-4111, admin@champlinrefinery.com

DEQ: Mike Schornick (405) 702-5166

For more information, please visit the DEQ site

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use water from my well?

The water you receive in your home for drinking, washing, and other potable purposes is provided from the City of Enid Public Water Supply. There is no water quality issue associated with this water supply. The groundwater that is subject to this ongoing monitoring is separate from the city’s public water supply, and cannot be used for any potable purposes, according to city ordinance.

 

Whether water from your private wells may be used and for what purposes depends upon the quality of the water, which may vary from well to well. Private water well testing for total water quality is available via DEQ. However, prior water well tests in 1991, 2003 and 2019 showed that water in some private wells in the former Champlin Refinery area contained petroleum compounds, or other elements such as nitrates and manganese, above allowable limits.  Enid Ordinance 8-2-2(f) provides that water not meeting allowable limits should not be used for potable purposes, meaning it should not be used for drinking, cooking, bathing, filling wading ponds or swimming pools, providing water to animals or washing edible items.

If you have a water well that we have not already tested that is within our Study Area, please contact Anadarko to set up a meeting to determine where the well is located within the Study Area. With your permission, we will test the water and provide the results to you free of charge. When we have obtained the results, we will schedule a meeting to discuss the results and or send you a letter that has recommendations regarding the well.

Have there been any assessment efforts in the past?

Yes. Private water well sampling was conducted in the Former Champlin Refinery area under the guidance of DEQ in 1991, 2003 and again in 2019.  Ongoing sampling and analysis will update those records, in accordance with DEQ protocols.

Where can I find more information?

  • John Mitsdarfer (DEQ): 405-702-5145 / Department of Environmental Quality
  • Jennifer Douma: (855) 223-4868 / Email – champlin@anadarko.com
  • Reviewing the record maintained by Anadarko at the “Site Information Repository for the Former Champlin Refinery Post Closure RCRA Permit #007234586,” located at the Enid Public Library, 120 W. Maine St., Enid, Oklahoma