Abandoned Oil Well Spreads Toxic Fumes, Dread Across San Antonio Subdivision

Abandoned oil wells pose hidden risks for Texas homebuyers

As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.

Abandoned Oil Well Spreads Toxic Fumes, Dread Across San Antonio Subdivision

This article originally appeared on October 18 at Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. This story was a collaboration between Inside Climate News and the San Antonio Express-News. SAN ANTONIO—In Texas, suburbs have sprung up where oil pump jacks once […]

The most annoying neighbor in this San Antonio, Texas, subdivision is a leaking oil well

As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.

Texas suburbs are popping up around old oil wells. Some are starting to leak

Texas suburbs are popping up around old oil wells. Some are starting to leak Zachary Whalen Tue, 10/20/2026 - 08:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption A leaking oil well in Texas. Suburbs are popping near plugged wells in Texas, and developers are not legally obligated to tell homeowners that their new home is near one. In Texas, neighborhoods are springing up near legacy oil wells — and while “plugged wells are usually safe, but several in T…