A number of well owners in eastern Kentucky are finding oil and natural gas in their water. A lot of oil and gas drilling takes place in that area, and this problem is not new. Three years ago, a well house exploded and burned a man who sued the gas company and was awarded $270 million (he settled for less).
Petroleum people say it doesn't make sense that natural gas could manuever horizontally into a water well because they drill staright down to the gas. They blame naturally occuring gas as the culprit.
Others say that the oil and gas exploration drilling takes place too close to residential areas and that oil and gas moves into the water wells when the companies remove well casings.