PA Environment Digest Blog: 5 Months Later, Roulette Oil & Gas Still Has Not Resolved Violations For Abandoning A Shale Gas Well Without Plugging It In Potter County

Since August 8, 2023, Roulette Oil and Gas LLC has failed to resolve abandoned well violations involving the Guardian B shale gas well pad in Hebron Township, Potter County, even after DEP met with the operator-- Jim Reynolds-- twice on the site, according to DEP inspection reports.

On January 3, 2024 DEP did a routine inspection of the Guardian B shale gas well pad operated by Roulette Oil and Gas LLC in Hebron Township, Potter County and continued a violation for “Failure to plug the well upon abandoning it” for well 6H.

DEP’s January 3 inspection report said the purpose of the inspection was to review the pending submission of a Regulatory Inactive Well Status Extension by the operator to address the well abandonment violations.

Jim Reynolds from Roulette Oil and Gas was present at the inspection as was the property owner, according to the inspection report.

A DEP inspection report for October 5, 2023 found the 6H well continued a violation for “Failure to plug the well upon abandoning it” and failure to monitor the well during inactive status.

The report used the exact same language to say-- the purpose of the inspection was to review the pending submission of a Regulatory Inactive Well Status Extension by the operator to address the well abandonment violations.

Jim Reynolds from Roulette Oil and Gas was present at the inspection as was the property owner.

A DEP inspection report for August 8, 2023 first reported the 6H well was issued a notice of violation for “Failure to plug the well upon abandoning it” and failing to monitor the well during inactive status.

The inspection report noted, “This gas well is currently listed as Abandoned.”

The August 8 inspection report and each following report say this well is an “unconventional" well and noted the producing formation is the “Marcellus.”

Roulette has permits for Marcellus wells 2H, 4H and 6H at the Guardian Pad B.

The report explained, “The Guardian Pad B 6H was drilled in 2011 and has not been produced to date; this well was granted Inactive Status for a period of five years beginning on 9/7/2012.

“Inactive Status expired for the Guardian Pad B 6H on 9/7/2017. The Department has not received a request to extend inactive status prior to the expiration of inactive status on 9/7/2017,”

The report went on to say no record of well integrity reports have been submitted annually as required.

The August 8 inspection report requested the operator to submit a plan by September 23, 2023 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

DEP is still waiting for Roulette Oil and Gas LLC to resolve the violation.

Troubled Compliance History

Roulette Oil and Gas LLC has a very long and troubled environmental compliance history.

Inspection reports and the Save Our Streams PA citizens group have documented the fact Roulette has been issued violations for abandoning and not plugging eight drilling wastewater injection wells and most recently at least one conventional gas well in Clara and Hebron Townships, Potter County. Read more here.

DEP’s eFACTS database shows Roulette has permits for 347 oil and gas wells-- 19 are listed as “abandoned.”

Roulette withdrew an application for another drilling wastewater inspection well in December, also in Clara Township, Potter County. Read more here.

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: Guardian 6H wellhead and production wastewater tank.)

[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 Weekly Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 20 to 26 - 15 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Plugging Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; Revolution Pipeline Land Slip; Brief Compressor Fire; Crypto Mining? What's That Pink Stuff? [PaEN]

-- 5 Months Later, Roulette Oil & Gas Still Has Not Resolved Violations For Abandoning A Shale Gas Well Without Plugging It In Potter County [PaEN]

-- XTO Energy Begins Plugging First Of 4 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells At Butler County Well Pad [PaEN]

-- 66 Months Later, DEP Worked With Conventional Well Owner, But Multiple Spills At A Well Site Have Still Not Been Cleaned Up; No Protections In Place For Operators Or Taxpayers [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 27 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 84 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 27 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

2023 Oil & Gas Compliance Reports:

-- DEP Issued At Least 512 Violations To 95 Conventional Oil & Gas Operators For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them In 2023; 10 Shale Gas Operators Were Issued NOVs For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Record 6,860 Notices Of Violation To Conventional Oil & Gas Operators In 2023-- Nearly 52% More Than In 2021; ‘Culture Of Non-Compliance’ Continues [PaEN]

-- 2023 Shale Gas Operator Compliance Report: 1,310 Violations; Explosions; Pad Fire, Evacuation; Uncontrolled Gas Venting; Frack-Outs; Polluting Water Supply; Spills; Pipeline Crashing Thru A Home; More [PaEN]

-- PA Environment Digest: Articles On Oil & Gas Facility Impacts