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Abandoned, capped oil well found on convention center site

Muskegon Convention Center drawing

A pipe leading to an abandoned and capped oil well has been found by crews building a convention center in western Michigan. Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson tells the Muskegon Chronicle that the 6-inch pipe uncovered Tuesday ran "a long way" underground. Peterson says changing air pressure caused crude oil to bubble Wednesday afternoon from the pipe. City officials evacuated subcontractors working on the $20 million convention center from the area around the pipe until the oil could be contained. Peterson says there was no public emergency and adds that he believes the well is one of hundreds or thousands of old wells throughout the Muskegon area.