Congratulations to Dan Arthur and the ALL Team for having such an impact on a landmark case!
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 1, 2025 – The U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of Marathon Oil and Dow Chemical in a landmark case involving the historic Recreation Gun Club (RGC) #10 well in Marina Del Rey, California. The case, rooted in an incident that occurred during redevelopment of the site for a hotel, underscores the lasting challenges of legacy oil and gas wells in urban environments.
The RGC #10 well was originally drilled in 1931 by the Ohio Oil Company (later Marathon, now ConocoPhillips) and produced oil for a decade before being converted by Dow Chemical for brine extraction and iodine recovery. Decades later, as the well was re-plugged to accommodate hotel construction, a major blowout occurred in a densely populated area, leading to litigation by the developer.
To defend against the claims, Marathon and Dow retained Dan Arthur, a nationally recognized expert in well plugging and abandonment, well control, and oilfield history. After reviewing decades of records and conducting detailed well control analysis, Arthur testified in December 2024.
On September 29, 2025, the Court issued its ruling, siding with Marathon and Dow. The judge described Mr. Arthur as “a highly qualified and compelling expert witness” and found his testimony “credible and persuasive,” while noting the plaintiff’s expert was significantly less credible.
“This case demonstrates how historical knowledge and technical expertise are essential to managing complex legacy well issues,” said Mr. Arthur following the ruling. “I’m honored that my testimony helped the Court arrive at a fair and technically sound decision.”
The case highlights the importance of understanding historical drilling and plugging practices, particularly as redevelopment projects encounter wells drilled nearly a century ago. It also reinforces the vital role of expert testimony in high-stakes energy litigation.
About Dan Arthur:
Dan Arthur is a leading authority on well plugging and abandonment, well control, and oil and gas operations. With decades of experience across drilling, completions, brine production, safety, and environmental compliance, he has served as an expert witness in state and federal cases nationwide.
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