So far this year-- as of November 3--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 58 conventional, 8 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,653 conventional and 1,098 unconventional
-- Inspections Last Week: 381 conventional and 269 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 13,958 conventional and 19,654 unconventional
-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 2 conventional and 0 unconventional
-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 164 conventional and 353 unconventional
8 More Abandoned Conventional Wells
On November 9, 2023, DEP did routine inspections of conventional gas wells operated by Prosperity Oil Co, Inc. in Hanover Township, Washington County and found two of the wells abandoned without being plugged-- Coventry 5 and 11.
DEP noted in the inspection reports the inspection was part of the ongoing search for “historic” conventional wells.
DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by November 21, 2023 on how the wells will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report - Coventry 11]
On November 6, 2023, DEP did an inspection of the Aloysiuss J. Rinderle 2 conventional gas well operated by BCD Prop Inc. in Waterford Township, Erie County and found the well to be abandoned and not plugged.
The original abandoned well violation was issued on June 28, 2021.
The inspection report notes the operator wrote to DEP on April 7, 2023 and said the violations would be rectified and some work had been done, but not all violations have been corrected.
DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by November 27, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
On November 7, 2023, DEP did an inspection of the Russell 3 conventional well operated by Medina Res Dev Co LLC in Waterford Township, Erie County and found the well to be abandoned without being plugged.
DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by November 27, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
On November 8, 2023, DEP did a followup inspection of the Brown 4 conventional gas well operated by Randy A. Dietterich in Robinson Township, Washington County and found the well continues to vent natural gas that is a “hazard to the public health and safety” and continues to be abandoned without being plugged.
The original notices of violation for venting gas and well abandonment were issued on July 5, 2023.
There was an attempt to repair the well with electrical tape and other measures, but they did not succeed because the inspection report said “an odor of gas was apparent upon approach to the well.”
No followup actions were noted in the DEP inspection report.
On November 9, 2023, DEP did an administrative file review of a conventional coalbed methane well [125-23340] operated by Tunnel Ridge LLC in West Finley Township, Washington County and determined it to be abandoned without being plugged.
On November 6, 2023, DEP inspected the Campbell 1 conventional gas well operated by Cougar Energy Inc. in Rockland Township, Venango County in response to a well transfer application for home gas use.
The well is on DEP’s Abandoned List “as a result of an enforcement action/litigation.”
DEP’s inspector spoke with the individuals who want to transfer the well for their use about well registration and reporting requirements.
The “application was not approved at time of inspection,” and no other follow up action was indicated in DEP’s inspection report.
On November 1, 2023, DEP inspected the John D. Young 2 conventional well operated by Rannuff Oil & Gas Co. in South Franklin Township, Washington County and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.
Improperly Plugged Conventional Well
On November 6, 2023, DEP did a followup inspection of the Warrant 4336 110 conventional well operated by Blackhawk Energy LLC in Foster Township, McKean County as part of a stray gas migration investigation begun on April 25, 2023 as a result of a citizen complaint.
At the time of the April inspection, DEP determined the well was producing, but slam bar holes placed outside the well casing found no gas was detected. [DEP 4.25.23 inspection report]
As part of the initial investigation DEP inspected 12 Blackhawk Energy LLC wells in the same area. [DEP list]
The most recent inspection report said DEP reviewed the cement job log from October 18, 2023 and found the well was not cleaned out and plugged to the total drilled depth leaving the entire Bradford 2 formation uncemented and not properly plugged.
DEP reached out to the operator and advised him of the finding. The operator noted he had not submitted a plugging certification so was not yet formally completed well plugging.
“In lieu of violations OGA3220(a) and 78.91(a) being issued for improperly plugging of a well, the operator has stated voluntarily, that they will have the cement plugs drilled out and clean the well-bore out to original TD [total depth], from where they will properly plug and abandon this well.”
No violations were issued and no specific other followup was noted in DEP’s inspection report.
Conventional Well Leaking Gas
On November 6, 2023, DEP did a followup inspection of the Beavers 1 conventional gas well operated by BCD Prop Inc. in Waterford Township, Erie County and found natural gas bubbling up out of the ground outside the well casing.
A notice of violation was issued for the leaking natural gas.
DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by November 27, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
Conventional Wastewater Tank, Well Spills
On November 6, 2023, DEP did an inspection of the Cole 1-P017 conventional well operated by K Petroleum Inc. in Somerset Township, Washington County and found a tank holding production wastewater had been leaking.
A company representative said roughly 630 gallons of wastewater had leaked from the tank due to a faulty value which had since been replaced.
The company said they would begin remediation of the site in the next few days.
DEP issued notices of violation for the release and requested the operator to submit a written plan by November 17, 2023 on how the well site will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
On November 2, 2023, DEP inspected the Keeno 2 conventional well operated by Apollo Resources LLC in Derry Township, Westmoreland County and found the well had been leaking fluid for an unknown period of time.
Violations were issued related to the release and DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by November 15, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
Multiple Spills At Shale Gas Well Pad
On November 8, 2023, DEP did a followup inspection of the Laurel Hill shale gas well pad operated by Range Resources Appalachia LLC in Cogan House Township, Lycoming County “to assess overall site conditions after multiple produced fluid releases occurred on the pad.”
The inspection continued to document multiple leaks and spills at the well pad and notices of violations were continued and new ones were issued for those infractions.
Some of the older violations go back to September 13, 2023 and October 17, 2023.
DEP requested the operator submit a written report by November 28, 2023 on how the well pad would be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
Spill Cleanup Not Complete
On November 7, 2023, DEP did a followup inspection of a conventional well-- State Game Lands 244 22-- in McCalmont Township, Jefferson County operated by Diversified Prod LLC and found the well site cleanup had not been completed.
A spill of production wastewater was reported on September 21, 2023 and some site excavation had been completed where the storage tank overflowed into secondary containment and the containment then overflowed.
A consultant has been retained to complete sampling on the site and file an Act 2 Land Recycling Program cleanup report.
No followup actions were noted in the DEP inspection report.
Failed To Restore Shale Gas Pad
On November 3, 2023, DEP denied EQT Chap LLC a notice to terminate activities on the Basista-Dermotta shale gas well pad in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County for a string of violations related to the failure to restore the well site within nine months and comply with erosion and sedimentation control permits. [DEP inspection report]
Major erosion and sedimentation violations were first issued to EQT Chap LLC for this site on October 29, 2020 [DEP inspection report] and continue to the present day.
No followup action was indicated on the most recent DEP inspection report.
Failure To Submit Conventional Well Condition/Waste Reports
On November 1, 2023, DEP conducted an inspection of the Thomas Benson 1 conventional well operated by DRI OPR Co. in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County and found the operator had failed to submit annual production and waste generation reports since 2009 and that there were no annual mechanical integrity reports on file.
DEP issued notice of violation and requested the operator to submit a written report by November 12, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
Failed To Restore Site, Remove Excess Equipment
On November 6, 2023, DEP did a follow up inspection at the Gibson 5 conventional gas well operated by PA Mineral Services, LLC in Burrell Township, Armstrong County and found multiple wastewater tanks and compressors have been left onsite.
None of the wastewater tanks were hooked up to the well, even though it is producing.
The operator was cited for failure to fill in all pits used to contain wastes, fluids and remove unnecessary drilling equipment within nine months from completion of drilling.
DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by December 5, 2023 on how the well site would be brought into compliance. [DEP inspection report]
Inspection Focus Areas
This week’s inspection entries show DEP continues to focus inspection resources on shale gas well pads operated by Coterra Energy, Inc. in and around Dimock, Susquehanna County and on federally-funded conventional oil and gas well plugging projects.
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- Diversified Prod LLC conventional well spill cleanup not completed; Abandoned BCD Prop Inc. conventional gas well; Randy A. Dietterich conventional abandoned well venting gas; middle- Medina Res Dev Co LLC abandoned conventional well; Prosperity Oil Co, Inc. abandoned conventional well; Range Resources Appalachia LLC shale gas well pad with multiple spills; bottom- PA Mineral Services LLC failed to restore well site of excess wastewater tanks, compressors; K Petroleum Inc. leaking conventional wastewater storage tank; Cougar Energy Inc. conventional gas well transfer for possible home use.)
[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.]
Upcoming Events
-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board [PaEN]
-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - November 4 to 10 - Eight More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Venting Gas; Improper Plugging, Failed To Restore Well Pads [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - November 11 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 11 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Health Project: Gov. Shapiro Must Acknowledge Health Risks Of Natural Gas Development And Take Meaningful Action To Protect The Public [PaEN]
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA: Gov. Shapiro's Announcement With CNX Does Not Go Far Enough In Protecting Public Health And The Environment From Natural Gas Development [PaEN]
-- TribLive Editorial: Is Shapiro's Voluntary Agreement With CNX The Right Move For Gas Well Safety? 'We Do Not Trust Foxes To Guard Henhouses' [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Columbia County Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Compressor Station Air Quality Permit And Will Hold A Hearing Dec. 19 - If One Is Requested [PaEN]
-- PUC Seeks More Information On Peoples Gas Over-Pressurization Incident In Indiana County That Damaged Hundreds Of Appliances, Caused Distribution Pipeline Leaks [PaEN]
-- PUC Begins Process To Explore Rulemaking Related To Use Of Distributed Energy Resources And 'Virtual' Power Plants [PaEN]
-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host Nov. 15 Online Discussion - Rethinking Our Connection To Fossil Fuels [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Last 3 Hearings On Interim Final Environmental Justice Permit Review Policy [PaEN]
[Posted: November 11, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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