Photos from the abandoned oil and gas wells in New Mexico series

Tote tanks filled with unknown liquid sit next to a group of large oil tanks in an abandoned oil and gas facility in the Horseshoe Gallup oil field west of Farmington on Wednesday, April 17.

20240507-news-oilandgas-4 — The Eunice Cemetery is nestled among oil wells north of the town.

David Fosdeck points out a crack in a tote tank filled with unknown liquid in an abandoned oil facility in the Horseshoe Gallup oil field.

A hazard sign on an abandoned pump jack — A hazard sign in the Diné language is posted on an abandoned pump jack in the Horseshoe Gallup oil field in April.

An abandoned valve manifold presumed to containing waste oil and contaminated water located in the Horseshoe Gallup oil field on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Bullet casings are scattered on the ground in the area.

A condensate tank, used to hold liquids like produced water, located on the Horseshoe Gallup oilfield. The darker dirt around the tank may indicate soil contamination.

20240507-news-oilandgas-8 — Old cans and litter around an oil well near Eunice.

A plugged well west of Farmington on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Flow pipes from an abandoned oil and gas well site inHorseshoe Gallup oilfield west of Farmington is pictured on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Oil seeps in to the soil from an abandoned oil storage site in the Horseshoe Gallup oilfield west of Farmington is pictured on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

20240509-news-wells-20 — Mark Veteto, owner of Me-Tex, an oil and gas company based in Hobbs.

TOP: Environmentalist Don Schreiber talks next to an abandoned pump jack during a tour of the Horseshoe Gallup oil field

20240507-news-megan-1 — Albuquerque Journal reporter Megan Gleason taking a close look at a pump jack near Eunice, Tuesday May 7, 2024

Don Schreiber leaves his truck to approach an abandoned pump jack located in the Horseshoe Gallup oil field.

20240509-news-oilandgas-r360-3 — Workers carry loads of contaminated dirt and other waste from oil well sites to be stored at R360, between Hobbs and Carlsbad, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

20240509-news-oilandgas-r360-2 — Workers carry loads of contaminated dirt and other waste from oil well sites to be stored at R360, between Hobbs and Carlsbad, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

20240507-news-oilandgas-2 — Pump jacks extract oil at a site north of Eunice on May 7.

20240509-news-oilandgas-8 — Oil and gas wells southeast of Artesia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

20240509-news-oilandgas-7 — Oil and gas wells southeast of Artesia on May 7, 2024.

20240507-news-oilandgas-6 — Cattle graze near Eunice May 7.

20240507-news-oilandgas-3 — Pump jacks pump oil on land north of Eunice.

20240507-news-oilandgas-1 — Cattle graze around an oil well near Eunice, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

20240508-news-oilandgas-9 — Oil and gas wells operate and flare in New Mexico’s Lea County in May.

Eddie Moore

Eddie Moore Eddie Moore Eddie Moore Photographer

Jon Austria

Jon Austria Jon Austria Jon Austria Visuals editor

Published May 29, 2024 - 11:32 a.m. Modified May 29, 2024 - 1:56 p.m.

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