PA Environment Digest Blog: September 2023

On September 26, 2023, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Warren Rail Car conventional gas well operated by Armac Resources, LLC in the City of Warren, Warren County and found the first attempt to plug the well failed.

On September 5, 2023, DEP issued a notice of violation to the operator for abandoning the well without plugging it and the operator tried to plug it, but a camera inserted into the well found natural gas was still bubbling up through the well indicating it had failed.

The company said a contractor will be hired to make a another attempt.

DEP requested a written report from the operator by October 6, 2023 on how they plan to bring the well into compliance. [DEP inspection report + photos]

No Action On Well Plugging

On September 27, 2023, DEP inspected the Sara Gorley conventional well operated by Fortress Energy Corp. in Luzerne Township, Fayette County and the operator failed to take action to plug a well they abandoned.

DEP issued the original notice of violation on May 3, 2023. [DEP inspection report]

On September 27, 2023, DEP inspected the Adam Shriver 1 conventional gas well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Wayne Township, Greene County and found the operator failed to address notices of violation to plug a well they abandoned.

DEP’s inspection revealed natural gas was continuing to leak from the well and Diversified failed to comply with its own plan for bringing the well into compliance and the above ground marker showing the location of the well was taken away.

DEP issued the original notice of violation on February 13, 2023.

DEP requested the operator to submit a written plan by October 6, 2023 to bring the well into compliance. [DEP inspection report + photos]

Preparing To Plug Wells

On September 26, 2023, DEP inspected three ARG Resources Inc. conventional wells in Highland Township, Elk County-- Gilbert 05, Warrant 3783 289 and Warrant 3783 387-- to review and confirm the information the operator submitted in its notice of intent to plug the wells.

At the Warrant 3783 289, the site was found to be prepared to begin well plugging [DEP inspection report] and the information submitted on the other two was found to be accurate.

No violations were issued.

Village Of Reno Water Supply Contamination

On September 25, 2023, DEP did a follow up inspection of the Lower Reno 1 conventional oil well operated by Petro Erie, Inc. in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County and found a limited amount of excavation was done in a drainage ditch impacted by the production wastewater spill that contaminated the Village of Reno water supply and the dirt was stockpiled for later disposal.

DEP did not report on any other work done on the site. [DEP inspection report + photos]

DEP’s orders requiring cleanup of the wastewater spill and restoration of the Village of Reno’s water supply remain under appeal at the Environmental Hearing Board. Read more here.

Conventional Gas Wells Venting/Leaking

On September 25, 2023, DEP inspected the Fogel 114 conventional gas well in Mead Township, Warren County operated by Bearcat Oil Co, LLC and found the recently drilled well was being vented to the atmosphere, as is the normal procedure for new wells.

Erosion and sedimentation controls were in place. No violations were issued. [DEP inspection report + photos]

The Oil and Gas Program does not issue notices of violations for natural gas leaks unless they pose a public safety hazard and this is not the first time PA Environment Digest has seen these reports in DEP’s inspection records.

The DEP Air Quality Program adopted final regulations in April setting limits on volatile organic compound emissions that also limit methane methane emissions. [Read more here.] It was unknown whether these incidents were referred to the Air Quality Program.

On September 27, 2023, DEP did a routine inspection of the Ruscitto 13 conventional gas well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Deemston Borough, Washington County and found natural gas leaking into the surrounding soils and the air.

DEP issued a notice of violation for failure to construct and operate the well to keep health, safety, environment and property protected.

DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by October 12, 2023 on how they will bring the well into compliance. [DEP inspection report + photos]

Complaint Investigation

On September 25, 2023 in response to a citizen complaint, DEP inspected three conventional gas wells operated by Cameron Energy Co. in Sheffield Township, Warren County-- Lot 9 DR, Lot 9 P-21 and Lot 9 P-24.

There was no indication in the inspection reports about what the issue was, but the inspection report for Lot 9 P-24 included a photo of a methane gas meter being used to check for a natural gas leak. [DEP inspection report + photos]

There was no notation of a gas leak in the report, but all three reports said, “Spoke with the operator and made them aware of the issue, they indicated they will be investigating the well as soon as possible. Contractors will notify the department throughout their progress. A follow up inspection will be conducted once repairs have been made.”

The Oil and Gas Program does not issue notices of violations for natural gas leaks unless they pose a public safety hazard.

Submitted Well Integrity Reports

On September 26, 2023, DEP noted Dorso LP submitted 23 conventional well integrity reports and several annual production and waste management reports as required by previous notices of violations for conventional gas wells-- Alyssa 4, Baker 4, 5, 6, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, Bruce 7, Cathay 6, Connie 1, Hibbs 1, 2, Hibbs/Quertinmont 3, Jenna 3, Kim 8, Melissa 2, Rose O’Brokta 1, Sportsmens Club 2, 3, Tom 9 and Shawn 5 in German and Nicholson Townships, Fayette County eliminating those violations from their record.

Continuing Inspection Focus Areas

DEP continued to focus inspections last week on Coterra Energy, Inc. shale gas drilling sites in Susquehanna County, federally-funded well plugging project sites and another underground natural gas storage facility-- Equitrans LP’s Truittsburg Gas Storage Reserve in Clarion County.

No violations were found.

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

(Photos: top- Armac Resources, LLC failed conventional well plugging + photo down the well bore; Petro Erie, Inc. limited excavation of contaminated soil; middle- Bearcat Oil Co. LLC new conventional gas well venting to atmosphere; Diversified Prod LLC conventional gas well marker removed without plugging the well, marker from previous inspection; bottom- Cameron Energy, Co. gas meter reading a conventional well; Diversified Prod LLC leaking conventional gas well.)

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

[Note: These may not be all the NOVs issued to oil and gas companies during this time period. Additional inspection reports may be added to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - September 30 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Title V Air Quality Permit For Eastern Gas Transmission Compressor Station In Westmoreland County At Oct. 31 Hearing [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 54 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 30 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro, The Fracking Clock Is Ticking - By Megan McDonough, Food & Water Watch

-- AP: Gov. Shapiro Noncommittal On Greenhouse Gas Strategy As Climate Task Force Finishes Work

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA’s Approval Of 2nd Plum Boro Oil/Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Allegheny County Raises Fears That More Are On The Way

-- Grist - Will Peischel: Inside The Rough-And-Tumble Race To Clean Up America’s Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells [PA Highlighted]

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio: Cleaning Up Our Energy Systems, Oct. 5 At 4:00 p.m.

-- Observer-Reporter: Pipeline Operator Faces $100,000 PUC Penalty For 2020 House Explosion In Greene County

-- WTAE: Natural Gas Pipeline Leak In Collier Twp., Allegheny County Forces People Out Of Their Homes