Denver-based HRM Resources acted as a middleman, moving wells from larger companies to smaller ones that went bankrupt, lawsuit says

A rusting orphan well sits at the end of Cindy McCormick’s driveway. She passes it when she goes out and when she comes home — a horsehead pump jack, a dilapidated shed, big weather-stained tanks and a pit.

The old oil and gas site has become a dumping ground attracting mattresses, couches and an old foosball table. The sign on the well pad located in unincorporated Adams County identifies the owner as Painted Pegasus Petroleum LLC — a bankrupt Texas company.

It is just one orphan well among an estimated 1,800 in Colorado, but a lawsuit filed in Adams County District Court contends it is part of a large, fraudulent scheme to dump old, played-out wells onto the state.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Like billionaires, the fact that they still exist at all is a colossal failure of political policy. And also like billionaires, the reason is that corruption is baked into the system and they hand out hefty legal bribes to politicians.

      • DominusOfMegadeus@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        If Congress want to go ahead and vote themselves, say, a double salary raise, in exchange for no longer subsidizing any oil company anywhere for the rest of time, I am OK with that.