So far this year-- as of February 9--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 238 conventional, 14 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 781 conventional and 142 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 58 conventional and 11 unconventional
-- Inspections Last Week: 293 conventional and 384 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 1,573 conventional and 3,023 unconventional
-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 1 conventional and 5 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Wells Drilled: 13 conventional and 44 unconventional
Court Action
-- On February 14, 2024, the Environmental Hearing Board closed one of two appeals by Petro Erie, Inc. related to DEP orders to clean up a wastewater release from conventional oil wells that contaminated the Village of Reno’s water supply in Venango County based on a request from Petro Erie, Inc. saying there was no basis for challenging a August 16, 2023 DEP administrative order. The second appeal remains active [Docket# 2023075]. Read more here.
31 More Abandoned Conventional Well NOVs
On February 6 & 7, 2024, DEP did routine inspections of 27 more conventional wells operated by Rock Oil Resources, Inc. in Allegheny Township, Venango County and found them all to be abandoned and not plugged.
The wells included Breene-Eagle Rock #3- 1Q, 2Q, 3Q, 4Q, 5Q, 6Q, 7Q, 8Q, 9Q, 10Q, 11Q, 12Q, 20Q, 21Q, 22Q, 23Q, 25Q, 27Q, 28Q, 29Q, 30Q, 31Q, 32Q, 33Q, 34Q, 35Q, 37Q
This follows inspections of nine other conventional wells on this same lease by the same operator last week that were also found to be abandoned and not plugged.
The inspector noted these wells were part of a lease with 36 conventional wells operated by Elizabeth Wagner (a.k.a. Rock Oil Resources LLC) that she attempted to transfer to another owner-- Samuel Esh (a.k.a. Great Cacapon Enterprises)-- but the application was withdrawn in 2023.
According to DEP’s eFACT database, Rock Oil has permits for 130 conventional wells.
DEP issued notices of violations for abandonment, failure to submit annual production and waste generation and well integrity reports and for other violations.
Some of DEP’s inspection reports [31Q example] included a request for a written report to be submitted by March 8, 2024 on how the operator planned to bring the wells into compliance and others didn’t include any follow-up actions.
On February 12, 2024, DEP conducted a complaint investigation in Waterford Township, Erie County related to conventional gas wells operated by Medina Res Dev Co. Inc. and found three wells abandoned and not plugged.
The wells included Calvin Niemeyer 1, 2 and 4.
DEP issued violations for abandonment, failure to restore well sites, failure to comply with corrosion control requirements and other violations.
Medina was issued at least 10 NOVs for well abandonment in 2023. Read more here.
The company has permits for 486 conventional wells, at least 65 of which are listed as abandoned by DEP.
DEP’s inspection report [Niemeyer 2 - example] requested the operator to submit a written report by March 4, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.
On February 13, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the North Star 3 conventional well in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County operated by Randy A. Dietterich and found it to be abandoned and not plugged and leaking gas.
According to DEP’s eFACTS database, Dietterich has permits for six conventional wells.
DEP issued violations for abandonment and failure to submit a well integrity report.
DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by March 1, 2024 on how the well is to be brought into compliance.
103 Conventional Abandoned Well NOVs
So far in 2024, DEP issued new or continued 103 notices of violation for conventional oil and gas well abandonment.
Conventional Abandoned Well Follow-Ups
On February 13, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection on two abandoned conventional wells being plugged by Timberline Energy, Inc. in Cranberry Township, Venango County.
DEP found the Ostroske 6 well in the process of being plugged and the Ostroske 4 well “waiting for warmer weather” for plugging operations to begin.
Violations related to well abandonment and failure to submit annual production and waste generation and well integrity reports remain in place. [DEP inspection report - Ostroske 6]
Timberline Energy, Inc. operates 730 oil and gas wells, 16 are listed as abandoned and more are listed as inactive, according to DEP’s eFACTS database.
4 Abandoned XTO Shale Gas Wells Plugged
On February 13, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection at the XTO Energy, Inc. [Exxon] Coretsky shale gas well pad to observe the final steps of plugging Patton 2H, 3H, 4H and 5H abandoned wells located in Prospect Borough, Butler County. DEP inspection report.
DEP first issued notices of violation for “failure to plug the well upon abandoning it” for the Patton C 2H, 3H, 4H and 5H at the Coretsky shale gas well pad on September 24, 2023. Read more here.
So far in 2024, DEP has issued notices of violation for seven abandoned shale gas wells. Four of the wells have been plugged by the operator.
Conventional Well Leaks/Spills
On February 9, 2024, DEP inspected the Krajewski 5 conventional well in Winslow Township, Jefferson County operated by Diversified Prod LLC after notification of a wastewater tank leak by the operator on February 8.
An estimated 210 gallons of wastewater was released from a 2,100 gallon tank.
DEP’s inspection report notes violations were issued for the release and the operator was requested to submit a report by February 28, 2024 on how the well site will be cleaned up and brought into compliance.
On February 15, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Skirpan 1399 conventional well in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County operated by Questa Petro Co. and discovered an unreported release of wastewater occurred at the site.
DEP’s inspection report notes violations were issued related to the release and other violations at the well site and requested a written plan by March 1, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On February 14, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the McMillen Lease 2514 conventional well in Sugar Grove Township, Warren County operated by Pitt Oil and Gas LLC and found none of the earlier violations have been corrected.
In addition, the inspector reported a section of the containment dike around a wastewater tank battery with a capacity of at least 1,320 gallons was missing.
DEP’s inspection report issued fresh notices of violation related to the lack of a containment dike and requested the operator to submit a report by March 1, 2024 on how the violations will be corrected.
DCNR Double Shale Gas Well Pad Leaks
On February 12, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of DCNR State Forest 007 Oak Ridge Trail Pad K double shale gas well pads in Delmar Township, Tioga County operated by Seneca Resources Co. LLC found multiple spill areas.
“Because of the large area where elevated conductance fluid and elevated conductance soil was discovered on the pad surface, the DEP recommends pursuing Act 2 [Land Recycling Program] due to the unknown volume of elevated conductance fluid impacting the unprotected pad surface.”
There were also several containment areas where water was not removed.
DEP’s inspection report noted violations were issued related to the spills and the operator was requested to submit a written report by March 5, 2024 on how the well pad will be brought into compliance.
2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received these Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility cleanups: Final Reports--48 Approved-- 25 Technical Deficiencies-- 4 Disapproved-- 1 Remedial Investigations-- 1 Risk Assessments/Cleanup Plans - 2, Disapproved - 1
EQT Lumber Shale Gas Well Pad Water Supply Complaints
DEP is investigating two separate water supply contamination complaints related to the EQT Prod Co. Lumber shale gas well pad in Springhill Township, Greene County.
On February 7, 2024, DEP took water samples at one water supply - DEP inspection report.
On February 14, 2024, DEP took water samples at another water supply - DEP inspection report.
DEP keeps the locations and names of the complaints confidential.
On January 25, 2024, DEP did an inspection at the Lumber shale gas drill pad in response to a report by EQT Prod Co that a spill of 20 gallons of fluid onto the well pad.
DEP issued notices of violations related to the spill.
DEP inspection report said the spill was limited to just outside a secondary containment areas and requested a written report by February 20, 2024 on how the pad was to be brought into compliance.
The Lumber and nearby Spleen Splitter shale gas well pad have been the subject of frack-out allegations that contaminated local well water supplies. Read more here.
Conventional Wells Leaking Gas
On February 5, 2024, DEP inspected Consolidate Rail 1 conventional well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in North Versailles Township, Allegheny County and found it to be venting gas.
DEP’s inspection report notes a violation was issued and the operator was requested to submit a report by February 27, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On February 5, 2024, DEP inspected Consolidated Rail 2 conventional well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Monroeville Borough, Allegheny County and found it to be vending gas.
DEP’s inspection report notes a violation was issued and the operator was requested to submit a report by February 27, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
Stray Gas Complaint Investigation In Warren County
On February 12, 2024, DEP conducted a series of conventional gas well inspections as part of a stray gas investigation related to a private water supply in Pleasant Township, Warren County.
Two DEP inspectors inspected four conventional gas wells operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr., including Hook & Eddy 8, 18, 24 and 32.
DEP’s inspection report [Eddy 18 - example] said gas was detectable in slam bar holes within 2 feet of the wells, but the operator excavated the ground around the well and additional slam bar holes were placed with no methane detected and no bubbles visible in the water collected around the wells.
“This action has satisfied the Department’s requests.”
Land Slips Along Pipeline Routes
On February 6. 2024, DEP did an inspection of the Lumber to Aurora Shale Gas Pads Interconnection pipeline project in Freeport Township, Greene County in response to a notification of a small land slip by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC on January 29, 2024.
DEP’s inspection report noted violations were issued related to the slide and the operator was requested to submit a written report by February 27, 2024 on how the site will be stabilized and brought into compliance.
On February 9, 2024 DEP inspected the NITMH023 Pipeline Project construction site in Gilmore Township, Greene County in response to a notification by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC of a “significant” slope failure on February 8.
DEP’s inspection report noted violations were issued and the operator was requested to submit a written report by March 5, 2024 on how the site will be stabilized and brought into compliance.
On February 9, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Pijanowski Well Connect pipeline project near the PMG Annie shale gas well pad in Springville Township, Susquehanna County operated by Williams Field Services Co., LLC and found a small slope failure had occurred.
DEP’s inspection report noted violations were issued and requested a written report by March 1, 2024 on how the area will be repaired and brought into compliance with erosion and sedimentation requirements.
On February 15, 2024, DEP followed-up on a February 7 inspection of land slips along the Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline in Center Township, Beaver County operated by ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC.
The operator submitted a Slope Movement Plan that DEP is reviewing which proposes a method to stabilize the land slips.
DEP’s inspection report notes violations were issued to the operator related to the land slips and a final plan for bringing the site into compliance is due February 23, 2024.
[Note: Both DEP and the operator of the Revolution Pipeline are very sensitive to land slips and slides because the brand new pipeline exploded in September 2018 after landslides put pressure on the newly built pipeline and caused a rupture.
[ETC Northeast Pipeline was fined $30.6 million for violations leading to the explosion [Read more here], was later convicted of criminal charges by the Office of Attorney General for the violations [Read more here] and fined another $1 million for violations related to the pipeline by the Public Utility Commission [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: Row 1- Medina Res Dev Co. Inc. abandoned, corroded conventional well; Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr. stray gas investigation of conventional wells; Timberline Energy, Inc. getting ready to plug conventional well; XTO Energy, Inc. [Exxon] plugged abandoned shale gas well; Diversified Prod LLC conventional well venting gas;
Row 2- EQM Gathering OPCO LLC pipeline construction site slope failure; Rock Oil Resources, Inc. abandoned conventional well; Seneca Resources Co. LLC spills on DCNR State Forest shale gas well pad.
Row 3- Seneca Resources Co. LLC DCNR State Forest shale gas well pad in Tioga County.)
[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 - February 17 [PaEN]
-- DEP Approves PennEnergy Resources 1.5 Million Gallon/Day Water Withdrawal For Shale Gas Drilling From Big Sewickley Creek In Beaver County [PaEN]
-- DEP Sets March 20 Hearing [If Requested] On Air Quality Permit Change For The Eastern Gas Transmission Punxsutawney Compressor Station In Jefferson County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Mariner East II Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Chapter 102 Permit Amendment For An Area In West Goshen Twp., Chester County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On MarkWest Project To Expose 4 Natural Gas Pipelines For 5,500+ Feet Ahead Of Longwall Mining In Donegal Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- Public Comments Invited On State Air Quality Plan Amendment For PEI Power Corp Natural Gas-fired Power Plant In Lackawanna County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 109 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 17 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- PUC Public Hearings In Early March For Proposed $156 Million Peoples Natural Gas Rate Increase
Related Articles - Gas:
-- DEP Approves PennEnergy Resources 1.5 Million Gallon/Day Water Withdrawal For Shale Gas Drilling From Big Sewickley Creek In Beaver County; Citizens Group Opposes DEP Decision [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission March 14 Meeting On Rulemakings, Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 8 Related To Shale Gas Development; And On Cooperative Fish Nursery General Permit [PaEN]
-- PA Taxpayers To Give $130.9 Million In Tax Credits To Subsidize Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County; Total Expected To Be $1.17 Billion Thru 2042; No Regard For Environmental Compliance Record [PaEN]
-- Ohio River Basin Alliance, National Wildlife Federation Report Identifies Community Concerns, Priorities For Local Waters In Ohio River Watershed [Road-Dumping Drilling Wastewater] [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: National Fuel Gas Lawsuit Alleges Fraud, Counterfeit Parts Used At Natural Gas Compressor Stations [PaEN]
-- Natural Gas Intelligence: 76% Increase In LNG Natural Gas Export Capacity Already Under Construction; US Group Fears Buildout Will Hurt American Businesses Urge ‘US Consumers First’ Policy [PaEN]
-- Bloomberg TV: Canada’s Energy Minister: Period Of Using Natural Gas As Transition Fuel Should Be Short; Gas Should Not Replace Renewables; Canada Has Adopted Controls On LNG Exports The US Has Not [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials: Unraveling Hydrogen Rainbow; Renewable Energy On The Farm; Carbon Markets, Climate-Smart Forestry [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension March 14 Webinar On Oil & Gas Wastewater Management - Project PARETO [PaEN]
NewsClips - Gas:
-- TribLive: Beaver County Man Sues Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution
-- The Energy Age Blog: Resident Files Lawsuit Against Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution
-- Beaver County Times: Shell CEO Puts Beaver County Petrochemical Plant Price Tag At $14 Billion
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Political Battle Brews Over Natural Gas Exports Over Impacts To Gas Prices, Climate, Demand For Gas
-- Reuters: European Union Says Biden’s Pause On Approvals Of New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Will Have No Effect On US LNG Supplies To Europe Over Next 2 or 3 Years [LNG Exports Are Expected To Double By 2030 On Already-Approved Projects]
-- TribLive Guest Essay: A Fossil Fuel Export Economy Is Wrong For America - By Tyson Slocum, Public Citizen
-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OKs Cold Weather Reliability Standards [Driven In Large Part By Natural Gas Infrastructure Failures In 2021]
-- Reuters: US Regulators To Review Power System Performance During Recent Winter Storms
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh-Based EQT Could Curtail Some Natural Gas Production As Gas Prices Fade
-- Reuters: Pittsburgh-Based EQT Drilling Misses Profit Estimates On Lower Natural Gas Prices
-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Drillers Cut Spending, Reduce Activity Amid Price Crash
-- Natural Gas Intelligence: Global Natural Gas Prices Continue Freefall Amid Weak Demand, Warm Weather
-- PUC Public Hearings In Early March For Proposed $156 Million Peoples Natural Gas Rate Increase
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples’ Gas Proposed 7.6% to 21.4% Rate Hikes Will Get Their Time In The Court Of Public Opinion Next Month
-- TribLive Guest Essay: Record Oil And Gas Production Means Energy And Economic Security - By Independent Petroleum Association Of America
-- Yale360 - Jon Hurdle: How A Legal Clean Air Law Loophole Allows Natural Gas Leaks To Keep Flowing [Aggregation Of Air Emissions Issue]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Is Coterra Energy Headed For Buyout And Split As Forbes Article Speculates?
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Carbon Dioxide Storage Hub Landmen Seek 80,000 Acres Across Western PA, Ohio, WV
-- Marcellus Drilling News: NAPE Speakers Say Carbon Capture & Sequestration A Risky Business
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: Carbon Capture And Storage Can Keep Rural Economies Strong - By Erick Coolidge, Fmr Tioga County Commissioner
-- The Energy Age Blog: Dangerous Workplaces - US Drilling, Fracking Operations - 1,566 Workers Have Died In US
-- Financial Times: Geologists Signal Start Of Hydrogen Energy ‘Gold Rush’
[Posted: February 18, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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