Living with Oil and Gas on Ranch Land
Texas produces more oil and natural gas than any other state, with over 180,000 active oil wells and hundreds of thousands of miles of pipelines crossing ranch land. All that petroleum infrastructure creates unique risks for livestock operations. From minor equipment leaks to major pipeline ruptures, petroleum product exposure can seriously sicken or kill cattle.
This guide covers the types of petroleum hazards, how cattle get exposed, symptoms of toxicity, emergency response procedures, and strategies for prevention and risk management.
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Types of Petroleum Hazards
Crude Oil
- Heavy sour crude (higher sulfur, more toxic)
- Condensate (very light, highly volatile)
- Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, vanadium)
- Hydrogen sulfide in sour crudes
- Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM)
Refined Products
- Common on ranches for equipment
- Less volatile than gasoline
- GI irritation primary concern
- Contains benzene and other aromatics
- Aspiration into lungs particularly dangerous
- Heavy metals accumulate
- Improperly disposed oil a common exposure source
Production Chemicals
- May contain biocides, lubricants, heavy metals
- Flowback water highly toxic
- High salinity (often 5-10× seawater)
- May contain radioactive materials
- Very high salt content
- Contains hydrocarbons
- May contain heavy metals and NORM
Routes of Livestock Exposure
Direct Contact
- Lying in contaminated areas
- Oil on fencing or equipment
- Dermatitis
- Absorbed toxins
Ingestion
- Cattle attracted to oil's mineral taste
- May lick crude oil
- Drink from contaminated water sources
- Grazing contaminated pastures
- Soil ingestion
- Chronic low-level exposure causes cumulative damage
Inhalation
- Light crude oil fumes
- Natural gas leaks
- Hydrogen sulfide (extremely dangerous)
Contaminated Water
- Pipeline ruptures near water
- Produced water discharge
- Runoff from spill sites
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Signs of Petroleum Poisoning
Acute Exposure (High Doses)
- Bloating
- Severe colic/abdominal pain
- Vomiting attempts
- Bloody diarrhea
- Incoordination, staggering
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Coma
- Chemical pneumonia (if aspirated)
- Pulmonary edema
- Rapid, shallow respiration
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Circulatory collapse
Chronic Exposure (Lower Doses Over Time)
- Rough hair coat
- Decreased milk production
- Reduced fertility
- Poor feed conversion
- Reduced appetite
- Poor wound healing
- Chronic respiratory issues
- May see jaundice in severe cases
Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) Exposure
- Detectable "rotten egg" odor
- Respiratory distress
- Eye damage
- Loss of consciousness
- Respiratory arrest
- Death within minutes
Emergency Response
Immediate Actions
- Do NOT enter low-lying areas near leaks (gas accumulation)
- Report immediately:
- Railroad Commission of Texas: (512) 463-6788
- Pipeline operator emergency number (posted on markers)
- National Response Center: (800) 424-8802
- Document:
- Photographs/video
- GPS coordinates
- Time discovered
- Weather conditions
- Animals potentially affected
For Exposed Animals
- Do NOT use water to wash oil (spreads it)
- Use vegetable oil or mineral oil to dissolve petroleum, then dish soap
- Clip heavily contaminated hair
- Keep animals warm (oil removes insulating hair oils)
- Do NOT induce vomiting (aspiration risk)
- Provide fresh water
- Activated charcoal may be administered by vet
- Supportive care critical
- Monitor breathing
- Seek veterinary care for respiratory distress
Veterinary Treatment
- IV fluids for dehydration and toxin flushing
- Rumen lavage in severe cases
- Supportive care for organ damage
- Treatment of secondary infections
- Pain management
Prevention Strategies
Lease and Right-of-Way Management
- Require proper containment
- Specify notification requirements
- Include indemnification clauses
- Document pre-existing conditions
- Establish communication protocols
- Know your rights under Texas law
Physical Barriers
- Fence abandoned wells and plugged locations
- Create setbacks from active equipment
- Gate access for emergency vehicles
- Posts no more than 20 feet apart
- Self-closing gates
- Clear "No Livestock" signage
Monitoring Programs
- Check around production facilities weekly
- Inspect after weather events
- Note any unusual odors, dead vegetation, or sheens
- Oil sheens on water
- Unusual odors
- Equipment damage
- Ground disturbance
- Dead wildlife
Water Protection
- Upstream of production facilities
- Protected from runoff paths
- Install overflow controls
- Create bermed areas
- Regular water quality monitoring
Working with Operators
Establishing Communication
- Request notification of planned activities
- Establish emergency contacts
- Tour facilities together to identify risks
- Field supervisor contact
- Main office contact
- Spill response contractor
Reporting Requirements
- Any release affecting water
- H₂S releases above threshold
- Equipment failures with release potential
- Document impacts to livestock
- File complaints if violations observed
- Maintain records of all incidents
Documentation and Compensation
Recording Incidents
- Weather conditions
- How discovered
- Size/extent of contamination
- Photos and video
- Animals affected or potentially exposed
- Actions taken
- Animal death losses
- Production impacts
- Clean-up activities
- Communication with operator
Seeking Compensation
- Veterinary expenses
- Reduced production
- Contaminated pasture/hay
- Clean-up costs
- Lost use of land
- Document all damages thoroughly
- Obtain veterinary statements linking causation
- Keep all receipts and records
- Consider legal consultation for significant damages
Insurance Considerations
- Livestock mortality clauses
- Business interruption
- Environmental liability
Regulatory Framework
Railroad Commission of Texas
- Drilling permits
- Production operations
- Pipelines
- Environmental compliance
- Plugging abandoned wells
- Phone: (512) 463-6788
- District offices statewide
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Soil contamination
- Air quality
- Waste disposal
Federal Agencies
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Special Situations
Abandoned Wells and Equipment
- Report to Railroad Commission
- State plugging fund may apply
- Document hazards
- Fence off pending remediation
- May contain residual contamination
- Test soil if repurposing areas
Pipeline Right-of-Way Grazing
- Know marker locations
- Report any ground disturbance
- Avoid concentrating livestock on ROW
- Don't graze immediately after construction
Natural Gas Leaks
- Bubbling in water
- Hissing sounds
- Rotten egg odor (if odorant present)
- Unexplained animal deaths
- Call operator emergency number
- Don't create sparks or flames
- Report to Railroad Commission
Resources
Emergency Contacts
- 24-hour spill reporting: (512) 463-6788
Educational Resources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Oil and gas landowner resources
- Texas Railroad Commission - Landowner guides
- Texas Farm Bureau - Mineral rights information
The Bottom Line on Petroleum Hazards
Petroleum operations are a fact of life for Texas ranching, but with proper awareness, communication, and prevention measures, you can minimize the risks to your livestock. It comes down to knowing what's on your land, staying in touch with operators, putting physical barriers in place, and monitoring regularly.
When incidents do happen, fast response and thorough documentation protect both your animals and your ability to recover damages. Work cooperatively with operators — but don't hesitate to firmly protect your interests.
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