Mysterious 100-foot geyser erupts in US state’s oilfield recently hit by earthquakes

A mysterious geyser erupted in a West Texas oilfield on Wednesday, sending salty water contaminated with oil 100 feet into the air.

Responders reported a smell of oil and rotten eggs coming from the geyser, which is a sign of hydrogen sulfide gas.

The fumes are poisonous and are typically present in natural gas deposits and at high levels, exposure can cause shock, convulsions, coma and death.

The geyser was located off of Interstate 20 near Toyah in Reeves County, an area that is known for hydraulic fracturing sites that inject wastewater into the ground.

This comes amid a series of earthquakes that have plagued the region, which experts have suggested are due to fracking. 

Reeves County Emergency Management responded to the geyser and reported that the toxic fumes coming from the eruption measured 250 parts per million.

The measurement is considered to be a moderately high level and can lead to symptoms like nausea, throat burning, dizziness and headaches.

Oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner and well control specialist Hawk Dunlap also responded to the eruption and told the Houston Chronicle that the area has been plagued by geyser eruptions, like this one, that stemmed from ‘zombie’ wells. 

A zombie well is an abandoned oil or gas well that leaks toxic waste into the groundwater but can erupt if they aren’t filled properly.

Local officials are blaming the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) for the eruptions, saying the wells should be plugged once they’re no longer needed for hydraulic fracturing.

West Texas has been hit by a recent spate of earthquakes – the strongest of which was a 3.2-magnitude that took place that same day and originated 134 miles away from the geyser in Midland, Texas.

Wastewater injections have been linked to increased seismic activity and in January, the commission suspended 23 permits that allow oil and gas companies to inject wastewater into the ground after it found their practices were causing fault lines to rupture, inducing earthquakes.

Scientists have attributed the recent spate of earthquakes in Texas to hydraulic fracturing and determined that the increase in seismic activity could be causing the geysers to erupt. Pictured: Hydraulic fracturing locations and injection wells in Texas

Texas is listed as the number one state for hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – and as of 2023, that number had increased to 373,133 active wells. 

Fracking involves miners drilling deep into the earth’s surface and releasing high-pressure water that creates a small explosion to release natural gas and oil that can be used to create energy.

The action brings groundwater to the surface and when it is injected back into the ground, it puts pressure on fault lines, resulting in more earthquakes. 

The RRC told hydraulic fracturing operators last year that it plans to start suspending permits that allowed companies to inject wastewater into the ground, although it has not stated when this would go into effect.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Texas Railroad Commission and Reeves County Emergency Management for comment.