PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Plugs 132 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells So Far; DEP Issued 499 NOVs For New Conventional Well Abandonments So Far In 2023

On December 6, the Shapiro Administration announced it has capped and plugged 132 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells so far in 2023-- plugging more wells in the Governor’s first 11 months than in the previous eight years combined.

Unfortunately, DEP has issued 499 notices of violations for new conventional oil and gas well abandonments without plugging so far in 2023. Read more here. New conventional well abandonments is the number one violation cited by DEP, according to a 2022 compliance report. Read more here.

DEP expects to submit an application for $76 million by December 31 for abandoned and orphan conventional oil and gas well plugging and associated costs for the second year of funding under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Conventional Well Plugging Program. Read more here.

DEP expects to receive an additional $44 million U.S. EPA grant as early as December 15 from the federal Methane Emission Reduction Program authorized by the federal Inflation Reduction Act to plug active, marginal conventional oil and gas wells leaking methane. Read more here.

Capping and plugging orphaned and abandoned wells improves public health, reduces planet-warming methane emissions, and creates good-paying jobs.

That’s why, from Day One of his Administration, Gov. Shapiro directed the Department of Environmental Protection to draw down as much federal funding as possible to cap and plug the orphaned and abandoned wells that dot Pennsylvania.

“By focusing on capping and plugging these wells, my Administration is making real progress towards tackling greenhouse gas emissions here in Pennsylvania and creating thousands of good-paying, union jobs in the process,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “We must reject the false choice between protecting jobs and protecting our planet. I believe we can do both – we can embrace the Commonwealth’s role as an energy leader, create good-paying jobs, and fulfill our constitutional obligation to protect Pennsylvania’s clean air and pure water. Let’s plug the wells, improve our air quality, and strengthen our communities.”

More than 350,000 orphaned wells across our Commonwealth make up nearly 8% of our total methane emissions. Methane is particularly dangerous because it is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide – warming our planet and contributing to air pollution that damages our lungs and our hearts.

Because many wells in Pennsylvania were drilled before modern mapping and regulations, DEP only had locations for about 30,000 wells, a fraction of the estimated 350,000 orphaned wells. For too long, the Commonwealth had inadequate resources to address the problem.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit DEP’s Federal Well Plugging Dashboard and Abandoned & Orphans Wells webpages for more information.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 2 to 8 -- 9 Abandoned Conventional Wells; Failure To Restore Shale Gas Pad; No Progress In Spill Cleanups [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - December 9 [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets Jan. 23 Hearing On Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Frazer Compressor Station In Chester County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 68 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 9 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Senate Republican Leaders Urge DEP To Withdraw Environmental Justice Policy Saying They Lack Statutory Authority, And Out-of-State Groups Not Actual Residents Express EJ Concerns [PaEN]

-- PA Business Report: Senate Republicans Urge DEP To Withdraw Updated Environmental Justice Policy

-- DEP Expects $44 Million To Plug Conventional Wells Leaking Methane; $76 Million For 2nd Year Of Federal Conventional Abandoned Well Plugging Program [PaEN]

-- DEP Plugs 132 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells So Far; DEP Issued 490 NOVs For New Conventional Well Abandonments So Far In 2023 [PaEN]

-- Roulette Oil & Gas LLC Withdraws Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Application In Potter County [PaEN]