The “stuff” killed the cows.

That’s Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator’s assessment of what contributed to the deaths of 17 cows in late April near a natural gas drilling location south of Spring Ridge.

Until now, none of the state agencies involved in the ongoing inquiry into the incident has stated what caused the cattle to drop dead in Skipper Williams Jr.’s pasture on state Highway 169.

The deaths were reported at some point after a liquid leaked from the well, which was in the completion process, and pooled into a low area accessible to the cows. The substance later was determined to contain elevated chlorides, oil, grease and some organic compounds.


No state agency took responsibility for testing the animals.


Today, Prator gathered representatives of his and the Caddo district attorney’s offices, state police and the state Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Forestry departments in one room to review all the reports connected to the incident.


“We went over for an hour exactly what everybody’s response was, and everybody’s response and cooperation was really good,” the sheriff said. “We responded to the scene well. When everyone found out about it we all worked together very well.


“We have determined — although no one agency except me will say this — by piecing everything together, there was a spill from the site that ran off of the site and that was ingested by the cows and that’s what caused the cows to die.”


The site has been cleaned, and the soil and water have been tested. They do not pose a health risk to the public, Prator said.


“So I’m staying the stuff killed the cows.”


Still undetermined is whether the spill was reported and, if so, whether it was reported in a timely manner. “We contend it should have been reported. And (the) timeliness of it we’re investigating,” Prator said.


Chesapeake Energy Corp., which owns the well, and its services contractor, Schlumberger, have “strict policies” concerning site spills.


“But there are employees (who) did not follow the policy, it appears,” Prator said. Chesapeake Energy is being contacted by The Times for comment.


State police, the sheriff’s office and Environmental Quality still looking into that. Findings of the sheriff’s office and state police will be turned over to Caddo District Attorney Charles Scott for review. Environmental Quality will move its report through its channels.


“I am extremely serious when I say this better not happen again,” Prator said. “As fast as that phone can dial, we better get a call. This is unacceptable to us.


“If at (the) time it happened if proper notification had been made, there are chances cows would still be alive right now,” the sheriff said. “In this case, this was cows, how unfortunate. But what if it was children? The companies are working with us and understand the dangers.”