Overview
Big Walt Central Tank Battery is an operational oil extraction facility located 13.5 miles west of Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States. It operates within the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil regions globally.
Big Walt Central Tank Battery is an oil extraction facility situated in Eddy County, New Mexico, approximately 13.5 miles west of Carlsbad. The facility is part of the broader Permian Basin, a prolific oil-producing region that spans West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. As a central tank battery, it serves as a gathering point for crude oil from multiple wells, where it is stored and prepared for transport via pipeline or truck. The facility operates under the regulatory oversight of the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (NM OCD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Oil extraction in this region is subject to federal and state regulations, including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA), which govern emissions, produced water management, and spill prevention. The Permian Basin's oil infrastructure is characterized by a high density of wells, tank batteries, and pipelines, with typical production scales ranging from small to large operations. Big Walt Central Tank Battery plays a key role in the local oil supply chain, aggregating production from surrounding wells. Its location in the Permian Basin places it within a region of significant economic importance for oil and gas production. The facility's operational status contributes to the energy infrastructure of New Mexico, supporting both local employment and broader U.S. energy markets.
Environmental context
The facility is located in the arid climate of southeastern New Mexico, where water scarcity is a key environmental concern. Oil extraction operations in this region must manage produced water, a byproduct that is often reinjected into disposal wells to prevent surface contamination. The proximity to the Pecos River and sensitive desert ecosystems requires careful adherence to spill prevention and groundwater protection measures. Air emissions from tank batteries, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are regulated under EPA's CAA to minimize impacts on local air quality.
Frequently asked questions
Big Walt Central Tank Battery is located 13.5 miles west of Carlsbad, in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States.
It is an oil extraction facility that serves as a central tank battery, collecting and storing crude oil from multiple wells before transport.
The Permian Basin is one of the largest oil-producing regions in the world, accounting for a significant portion of U.S. crude oil output, with extensive infrastructure including tank batteries and pipelines.
Facilities like Big Walt Central Tank Battery are regulated by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division and the U.S. EPA, under laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which address emissions, water management, and spill prevention.
In arid regions like southeastern New Mexico, oil extraction must manage water usage and produced water disposal to protect scarce groundwater resources and minimize air emissions from volatile organic compounds.
Other Oil Extraction plants in United States · 6 nearby