Merit Energy - Government 2-9 Station Oil Extraction Facility in Elkhart, Kansas

Merit Energy - Government 2-9 Station is an oil extraction facility located in Elkhart, Morton County, Kansas, United States. The facility is operational and engages in the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, as indicated by its NAICS codes 211111 and 211120. It is situated in a region known for oil and gas production within the Hugoton Embayment of the Anadarko Basin. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kansas Corporation Commission. Oil extraction activities are subject to the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and state-specific drilling and production regulations. Typical operations involve drilling, well completion, and production using conventional or enhanced recovery methods. As an oil extraction site, the facility contributes to the domestic energy supply and local economy. Environmental considerations include potential impacts on groundwater, air quality from flaring or venting, and surface disturbance. The facility's location in a rural area with low population density may reduce some community exposure risks.

The facility is located in the High Plains region of southwestern Kansas, an area with semi-arid climate and agricultural land use. Oil extraction activities can affect local water resources through potential groundwater contamination from drilling fluids or produced water. Air emissions from engines, flares, and fugitive sources may contribute to local air quality impacts. The region's ecology includes shortgrass prairie and wildlife habitats that could be disturbed by well pad construction and access roads.