A well in Ector County is actively leaking hydrocarbons through the annulus to the surface. The well is located on a golf course and has no…

The State of Texas awarded an emergency contract to Shemia Valentine on August 27, 2026, to address an active hydrocarbon leak at a well located on a golf course in Ector County. The well, which currently lacks a wellhead, is discharging hydrocarbons through the annulus to the surface, creating an environmental hazard requiring immediate remediation. The contract scope encompasses construction of access infrastructure and installation of a temporary wellhead to contain the leak pending transition to the State Managed Plugging program. The contractor was selected through a competitive process in which the Midland district office solicited proposals from three vendors, ultimately selecting Valentine based on demonstrated capacity for immediate mobilization and best value determination for the State.

The services procured fall within well services and oilfield operations categories, as evidenced by the assigned UNSPSC codes for well completion services, oilfield drilling performance services, and related oilfield operations, and the NIGP classification for well services including drilling, plugging, and maintenance activities. While specific contract value and performance period details were not provided in the award documentation, the emergency nature of the engagement and the contractor's rapid response capability were critical factors in the selection decision. The work is anticipated to serve as a temporary containment solution until the State Managed Plugging program assumes full responsibility for well abandonment procedures.