Oil and natural gas exploration in the Apalachicola River basin has encountered a setback. For the second time in three years, an exploratory well in the area has found nothing worth developing.
Apalachicola Riverkeeper Georgia Ackerman said the latest attempt to find oil and natural gas in the area has been unsuccessful.
"The Bear Creek well that Spooner Petroleum was drilling in Gulf County near the Wetappo Creek headwaters has come up dry."
Ackerman said the wellhead has now been permanently capped. Although that doesn't mean exploration in the area has totally ceased.
"Currently in Calhoun County, Cholla Petroleum of Dallas, Texas has 6 oil and gas permits that are active. Drilling has not begun. As we understand it, the buildout for some of those pads has begun. So we'll continue to monitor to stay abreast of what's happening out there."
Nearly three years ago, another exploratory well in Calhoun County also turned out nonproductive.
