So far this year, DEP took these actions as of June 21--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 8 conventional, 8 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,289 conventional and 512 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 264 conventional and 68 unconventional
-- Inspections Last Week: 192 conventional and 277 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 7,972 conventional and 11,830 unconventional
-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 6 conventional and 10 unconventional
-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 71 conventional and 163 unconventional
12 More Abandoned Conventional Wells
On June 18 to 20, 2024, DEP did routine inspections of conventional wells owned by Frank D. Washabaugh and found--
-- Allegheny County, South Fayette Twp. - Joseph Campbell 1: abandoned, not plugged
-- Allegheny County, South Fayette Twp. - SS Jackson 5: abandoned, not plugged
-- Washington County, Cecil Twp. - Nettie McPhearson 1: abandoned, not plugged
-- Washington County, Smith Twp. - Scott Heirs 1: abandoned, not plugged
-- Washington County, Smith Twp. - Scott Heirs 2: abandoned, not plugged
-- Washington County, Smith Twp. - Scott Heirs 10: abandoned, not plugged
-- Washington County, Smith Twp. - John Scott 1: abandoned, not plugged
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Frank D. Washabaugh has permits for 20 conventional wells, none of them abandoned except for these.
DEP’s inspection reports [Scott Heirs 2 as example] included violations for abandonment, failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports.
The wells were also venting gas, identified spill areas around the wells and generally failed to manage wastewater and other waste properly.
DEP requested the owner to submit a plan by July 15, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.
On June 24, 2024, DEP continued to inspect conventional wells owned by Frank D. Washabaugh and found--
-- Washington County, Cross Creek Twp. - MW Johnson 2: abandoned, not plugged, leaking gas
-- Washington County, Cross Creek Twp. - Bales 1: abandoned, not plugged, leaking gas
-- Washington County, Cross Creek Twp. - Morgan Sharp 1: abandoned, not plugged, leaking gas
-- Washington County, Smith Twp. - JS Buchanan 1: abandoned, not plugged
DEP’s inspection reports [Bales 1 as example] included violations for abandonment, leaking gas, wastewater spills, failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports.
The owner was requested to submit a plan by July 8, 2024 on how the wells would be brought into compliance.
On June 24, 2024, DEP reported they inspected the Deklewa 1 conventional well in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County on June 6 owned by Big Sand Drilling Co. Inc. and found it abandoned and not plugged.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Big Sand Drilling has three conventional well permits, two inactive, including this week.
DEP’s inspection report included violations for abandonment, failure to submit production, waste and well integrity reports and requested the owner to submit a plan by July 15, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On June 28, 2024, DEP inspected conventional wells owned by Eastern Natural Resources LLC in Perry Township, Clarion County that appear to be abandoned from the photos. The wells included Jordan A 4, A 6 and A9.
DEP’s eFACTs database shows Eastern Natural Resources holds 50 conventional well permits, none listed as abandoned.
DEP inspection reports [Jordan A9 as example] noted the well “falls within part of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Project, also referred to as the Bloomberg Project.
No compliance actions are being taken at this time.
On June 27, 2024, DEP reported the JF Markle 8 conventional well owned by Rottman Gas & Oil, Inc., also in Perry Township, Clarion County that appeared to be abandoned, met the criteria for the Environmental Defense Fund Project. [DEP inspection report]
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Rottman holds 24 conventional well permits, none of them abandoned.
No compliance actions are being taken at this time.
On June 24 to 26, 2024, DEP worked to develop more information on abandoned conventional wells with Unknown owners in--
-- Erie County, Erie City - Lakeside Drive 1: Workbook submitted
--Warren County, Eldred Twp. - Miller 1: Well operator submitted notice to plug
532 Conventional, 9 Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024
So far in 2024, DEP issued 532 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging wells; and 9 violations were issued to five shale gas well owners [Atlas Resources, LLC; Repsol Oil & Gas, EQT Chap LLC; M4 Energy; EQT (Rice Drilling B LLC); and Roulette Oil & Gas LLC)] for abandoning wells and not plugging wells.
Conventional Well Owners Failed To Correct Violations
On June 20, 2024, DEP inspected the Wilford Chambers 2 conventional well in Richhill Township, Greene County owned by BB Mulvaney to deter compliance with a cleanup order DEP issued on May 17, 2024.
DEP found the owner failed to comply with the order related to fluid and wastewater leaks from the well and storage tank and “site conditions remain generally unchanged” from previous inspections.
These violations were initially found April 23, 2024 and were not corrected.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Mulvaney holds two conventional well permits, both active.
DEP’s inspection report continued the violation, but had no new requests of the well owner.
On June 26, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection on the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp 1 conventional well in California Boro, Washington County owned by Dorso LP and found it was still leaking gas.
The original violations at the well were issued on June 12, 2024 and nothing was done to correct them.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Dorso holds 206 conventional well permits.
DEP’s inspection report continues the previous violations, but had no new requests of the well owner.
Shale Gas Well Owner Failed To Cleanup Spill
On June 26, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Cowden Shale Gas Well Pad in Hopewell Township, Washington County and found Diversified Prod LLC had failed to cleanup spills that resulted in violations on April 5, 2024.
DEP found staining from leaks around the 15 and 12H wells had not been cleaned up.
“This spill is regarded as a recurrence of previously noted violations… remediation of the spill and maintenance to prevent further leaks at all site wells is encouraged.”
DEP’s inspection report continues previous violations and requests the owner to submit a plan by July 12, 2024 on how the well pad will be brought into compliance.
2024 Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 156 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
EQT Water Supply Complaint Investigations
On June 24, 2024, DEP started a water supply compliant investigation at the Brova Shale Gas Well Pad in North Bethlehem Township, Washington County owned by EQT Prod Co.
DEP’s inspection report said water samples were taken for analysis.
On June 25, 2024, DEP started a water supply complaint investigation at the Lumber Shale Gas Well Pad in Springhill Township, Greene County owned by EQT Prod Co.
DEP’s inspection report said water samples were taken for analysis.
Stray Gas Investigation In McKean County
On June 25, 2024, DEP did a stray gas complaint investigation on several wells owned by Richard B. Herzog in Keating Township, McKean County and found--
-- Tidewater Bingham A5: Plugged well, methane detected in slam bar holes
-- Tidewater Bingham 555: Plugged well, methane detected in slam bar holes
-- Tidewater Bingham 533: Plugged well, methane detected in slam bar holes
-- Tidewater Bingham 534: Plugged well, methane detected in slam bar holes
-- Tidewater Bingham 539: Plugged well, methane detected in slam bar holes
DEP’s inspection reports [Bingham 539 as example] said no violations were issued pending the results of isotopic testing.
Report Violations
To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.
Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.
Check These Resources
Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner 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- Frank D. Washabaugh abandoned conventional well, tank full of wastewater; Row 2- another Frank D. Washabaugh abandoned conventional well wastewater tank leaking; Richard B. Herzog conventional stray gas complaint investigation; BB Mulvaney conventional well spills and leaks, failure to comply with DEP order.)
[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 - June 29 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 81 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles - Gas:
-- Sen. Camera Bartolotta: PA Should Be Producing 4 Times The Gas We Are Now, Exporting It Around The World: ‘We Just Need To Get Government The Hell Out Of The Way’ [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office Projects Another Drop In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In 2024 By As Much As $114 Million From 2022 [PaEN]
-- House Committee Told Governor’s Energy Plan Diversifies Energy Generation, Avoids One-Fuel Dependence, Improves Grid Reliability, Lowers Consumer Costs, Generates Jobs; Or Upends Competitive Markets And Is A ‘Death Wish’ For Our Economy [PaEN]
-- Legislative Budget & Finance Committee Report Finds DEP Issued Shale Gas Well Drilling Permits In Less Than 40 Days Required By Law Over Last 5 Years; By 2022 It Was Down To 21 Days [Page 63]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Revised Oil & Gas Erosion & Sediment Control General Permit (ESCGP-4) [PaEN]
-- DEP Reviewing Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Operating Permit Application For Administrative Completeness [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permits For Installation Of A 5.8 Million Gallon Gasoline/Naphtha Storage Tank At The United Refining Company Refinery In Warren, PA [PaEN]
-- Comments Invited By DEP On Renewal Of Air Quality Permit For American Refining Group Facility In Bradford, McKean County [PaEN]
-- DEP Soliciting Bids For Plugging 20 Conventional, Abandoned Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Wells Owned By Pennzoil In The Allegheny National Forest [PaEN]
-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts July 17 Meeting In Washington County On How To Protect Your Families' Health Living Near Shale Gas Facilities [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Water Withdrawals, Including 7 More For Shale Gas Development In June; Total Of 15 In 2024 [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved, Renewed 33 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In May; 133 General Permits In 2024 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Energy Age Blog: More Bad Acting By Sen. Bartolotta - Frac The Hell Out Of Pennsylvania!
-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Senator Says ‘Get Government The Hell Out Of The Way’ re Natural Gas - Sen. Bartolotta Nailed It!
-- The Allegheny Front/WV Public Broadcasting: Report: Mountain Valley Natural Gas Pipeline Testing Released Water Again
-- Reuters: Rising US Labor Costs Threaten To Derail New LNG Gas Export Facility Projects
-- Bloomberg: Contractor For Massive Texas LNG Gas Export Plant Has Filed For Bankruptcy Says It Flagged Cost Concerns
-- Reuters: China’s LNG Gas Imports Set To Slow, Gas Storage Fills As They Take Advantage Of Lower Prices
-- Bloomberg: Is Natural Gas A Fossil Fuel Trap Or A Bridge To Clean Energy? How Gas Industry Boom Became An Unexpected Threat To Renewables
[Posted: June 29, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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