The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has finalized nearly $375,000 in penalties against three natural gas exploration companies for methane gas migration violations that impacted private drinking water wells in Bradford, Lycoming, and Tioga counties.
“These were complex and lengthy investigations that took a considerable amount of time to resolve, but the department was able to conclusively determine that methane gas from natural gas wells had migrated off-site and impacted private wells serving homes and hunting clubs,” said DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder.
The penalties included Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, $193,135 for the Rockwell Road migration in Leroy Township, Bradford County; XTO Energy Inc., $95,753 for the German Run migration in Franklin and Moreland townships, Lycoming County; and SWEPI LP, $85,593 for the French Lick Run migration in Union Township, Tioga County.
DEP provided these additional details of each case--
-- Chesapeake: Initial notification from Chesapeake on May 19, 2012; Four private water wells impacted; Surface expressions of methane in 14 locations within the Towanda Creek watershed; and Caused by casing issues at Chesapeake’s Morse gas well.
-- XTO Energy: Initial citizen complaint on May 17, 2011;Seven private water wells impacted; Surface expressions of methane in Little Muncy Creek and German Run; and Caused by casing and cementing issues at XTO’s Moser and Tome gas wells.
-- SWEPI LP: Initial notification from SWEPI on June 17, 2012; Two hunting club water wells impacted; Surface expressions of methane in French Lick Run; Pressurized surface expression discharging water 40 feet into the air through a shallow conduit; and Caused by communication between an old abandoned gas well and one or more of SWEPI’s gas wells on its Cochran, Guindon, and/or Yaggie well pads
All of the impacted water wells were permanently replaced, had treatment systems installed by the responsible company, or have returned to background conditions. In addition, remedial work on the defective wells was properly completed as required by the department’s regulations
All three cases included violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act, Clean Streams Law, and DEP’s Chapter 78 regulations. The penalties have been paid.
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