MERIT ENERGY - UNGLES 1-34 STATION: Oil Extraction Facility in Sublette, Kansas

MERIT ENERGY - UNGLES 1-34 STATION is an operational oil extraction facility located in Sublette, Haskell County, Kansas. The facility is situated in the Hugoton Gas Field region, a major natural gas and oil producing area in the Midcontinent. As an oil extraction site, it contributes to the domestic energy supply within the United States. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for water discharges. Oil extraction in Kansas is subject to state-level oversight by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Typical extraction methods in this region include conventional vertical wells and horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing. The facility's operational status indicates ongoing production, supporting local employment and energy infrastructure. Its location in Haskell County places it within an agricultural and energy-producing region, where oil extraction coexists with farming and ranching activities. The facility's environmental context involves managing produced water, brine disposal, and air emissions from engines and flares.

The facility is located in the High Plains region of Kansas, an area with semi-arid climate and significant groundwater resources from the Ogallala Aquifer. Oil extraction activities can pose risks to water quality through spills or improper disposal of produced water. Air emissions from engines, flares, and fugitive sources contribute to local air quality concerns. The region also supports agricultural activities, requiring careful management of land use and potential contamination.