Residents of the Preserve at Medina subdivision in southwest San Antonio are living beside a legacy oil well that continues to leak hazardous gases despite multiple attempts to seal it. The well, known as Thompson Callaway Spears #1, was originally drilled in 1955 and plugged in 2006. Since the neighborhood was developed in the early 2020s, homeowners have reported a persistent smell of rotten eggs and concerns about methane and hydrogen sulfide emissions.
Repeated re‑plugging and ongoing monitoring
The Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that oversees oil and gas operations, has re‑plugged the well five times, most recently in May 2023. Bryce Dubee, a spokesperson for the commission, said the agency is reviewing a new plugging strategy and that both the Railroad Commission and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are conducting regular monitoring of soil and air around the site.
In June, contractors informed the commission that methane plumes were moving through the soil toward nearby homes, raising the risk of an explosion. The TCEQ warned that detected hydrogen sulfide levels could cause odors, headaches, and nausea.
Homeowners voice concerns
“We had no idea when we moved here,” said Krystal Solis, who lives across the street from the well with her husband and three children. “No one told us anything.” Other residents, such as Amanda and Anthony Pacheco, who moved in 2021, describe the smell as “reeking” and worry that a stray cigarette could ignite the gas. They also reported vibrations from drilling equipment when the well was re‑plugged in 2024, which caused cracks in their home’s foundation.
Regulatory gaps and calls for disclosure
Texas currently lacks statewide laws requiring developers to disclose the presence of plugged or orphan wells to prospective buyers. Julie Range, policy manager for the nonprofit watchdog Commission Shift, argued that mandatory disclosure and setback standards could protect families from unexpected hazards.
Developers D.R. Horton and LGI Homes, as well as the Preserve at Medina Homeowners Association, did not respond to requests for comment.
Legacy wells a broader issue
Legacy wells have caused incidents across North America, from a 2021 explosion in Wheatley, Ontario, to a 2025 evacuation in Newport Beach, California. While the Environmental Defense Fund notes that plugged‑well failures are relatively rare, it acknowledges that the full frequency of such events is unknown.
Experts advise homebuyers to conduct independent due diligence on historic oil and gas activity when purchasing property, especially in regions with a long drilling history like the Austin Chalk formation that underlies much of central Texas.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
