In an area with no history of hydrocarbon exploration, neighbors and local authorities were surprised to discover the unexpected: a thick and black liquid emerged from a well that had been intended to obtain drinking water.
The incident occurred in the yard of School 122 in Bajada Los Molles, in Villa Puente Picún Leufú, in the province of Neuquén, and quickly caused a stir among the inhabitants of the rural area, according to the LMN portal.
The images began to spread rapidly on social media, showing the outbreak of a dark and dense fluid that, due to its appearance and smell, many identified as possible oil. The scene was recorded a few meters from the educational establishment, where a contracted company was carrying out drilling work.
In this context, the president of the local development commission, Ramón Cuevas, explained in statements to the media that a request had previously been submitted to the Ministry of Human Development, Local Governments, and Women, both provincial and local, to carry out three drillings to extract water.
After receiving the necessary authorization and funds, a company from Zapala was hired, which conducted the technical studies and decided to start the first drilling in the Bajada Los Molles area, near the school.
