DEP: New Marcellus Shale Wells Drilled In First 3 Months Up Over 60 Percent

In the first three months of 2017, the number of new unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells drilled in Pennsylvania has increased by 61 percent-- 104 to 169-- over the same period in 2016, according to reports submitted to DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council in April 2017 and April of 2016.

The number of violations cited by DEP for conventional drilling operations-- 624-- is still running over three and a half times the number of violations unconventional drillers are cited for-- 170-- during the first three months.

Inspections of conventional wells decreased from 3,778 to 2,682 this year so far.  The number of inspections increased for unconventional wells-- from 3,434 to 3,890 this year.

The number of new unconventional wells permitted decreased from 391 to 275 and the number of new conventional wells permitted increased from 34 to 52 for the first three months.

Since DEP began reviewing conventional oil and gas permit applications, there are now 103,336 active conventional well permits of the 196,153 permits issued. DEP has processed 197,374 permit applications for conventional wells as of March 24, 2017.

Again, since DEP began reviewing unconventional oil and gas applications, there are now 10,260 active unconventional (Marcellus Shale) well permits of the 22,264 permits issued.  DEP has processed 22,728 applications for unconventional wells as of March 24, 2017.

Conventional Wells

Comparing the numbers on conventional wells from January 1 through mid-March--

	2017*	2016**
Inspections	2,682	3,778
Violations	624	758
Enforcement Actions	62	86
Wells Drilled	18	15
Permits Issued	52	34
Wells Permitted	52	34

* Jan. 1 to March 24

** Jan. 1 to March 25

Unconventional (Marcellus) Wells

Comparing the numbers on unconventional wells from January 1 through mid- March--

	2017*	2016**
Inspections	3,890	3,434
Violations	170	169
Enforcement Actions	27	44
Wells Drilled	169	104
Permits Issued	276	392
Wells Permitted	275	391

* Jan. 1 to March 24

** Jan. 1 to March 25

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s report to the Citizens Advisory Council in April 2016.  Click Here for a copy of DEP’s report in April 2017.