Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Conservation Division ("OGCD") Details Efforts Regarding Fort Gibson Homeowner Water Issue
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) Oil and Gas Conservation Division (OGCD) has been contacted by the El Reno-based Bass Law Firm requesting the Commission and/or the OGCD to purchase a residence in Fort Gibson, OK where water has been reported entering the home from beneath the structure. Under Oklahoma law, the OGCD believes that the OCC does not have statutory authority to purchase this property.
Since August 2025, the OGCD staff have conducted an extensive review to determine the potential source of the water intrusion. Over a nine-month period, OGCD staff visited the property on sixteen (16) separate occasions to conduct water sampling, site inspections, and surveys of the surrounding area. OGCD staff also reviewed historical records and conducted multiple tests in an effort to identify the source of the water. To date, those efforts have not identified a definitive source.
The OGCD’s investigation has included a review of historical drilling records in the area. Available records indicate the nearest documented well was drilled approximately 415 feet north of the residence in 1946 and was plugged in the following year after being determined to be a dry well. OGCD staff also examined historical aerial photography and other records but were unable to identify additional wells in the immediate vicinity.
OGCD historical imagery does show evidence of a previously dammed lake in the broader neighborhood area, as well as several ponds, which may indicate the potential for naturally occurring groundwater conditions, including the possibility of an artesian source.
In addition to the OGCD’s work, other agencies have conducted testing and evaluations in the area. Currently, those efforts have likewise not identified a definitive source for the water intrusion.
The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a minor earthquake measuring 2.2 in magnitude on August 21, 2025, with an epicenter located less than 10 miles from the neighborhood. Based on recent site observations, OGCD staff have noted that the volume of water entering the residence has decreased in recent months.
Further investigation into the precise source of the water would likely require invasive measures, including the potential removal or demolition of portions of the structure to access and test conditions beneath the residence. Currently, the OGCD has utilized all available investigative resources and regulatory authorities to evaluate the situation. Based on the information currently available, OGCD staff has been unable to identify a definitive source of the water intrusion.
Disclaimer: Please note that any/all positions asserted above represent the position(s) of the OGCD and not of the Commission.
