So far this year, DEP took these actions as of June 28--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 78 conventional, 7 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,549 conventional and 521 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 266 conventional and 68 unconventional
-- Inspections Last Week: 238 conventional and 180 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 8,290 conventional and 12,261 unconventional
-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 4 conventional and 0 unconventional
-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 75 conventional and 163 unconventional
12 + 6 Abandoned Conventional Wells
On June 25-26, 2024, DEP did follow-up inspections on three conventional wells owned by Timberline Energy Inc. in Le Boeuf Township, Erie County and found them abandoned and not plugged with other violations
The wells were Cornish Lumber Co 1, Mary Zywiec 2, and Jacob & Anna Hansen 1.
DEP originally issued violations for abandonment, venting gas (Lumber Co. 1), corrosion issues, failing to submit production, waste generation and mechanical integrity reports for these wells on December 7, 2023.
A response from the owner to DEP on February 19, 2024 said all but the well abandonment violation would be cleared by June 30, 2024.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Timberline Energy holds 730 conventional well permits, 16 listed as abandoned and lots more “inactive.” These three wells are listed as active.
DEP’s inspection reports [Cornish Lumber Co 1 as example] said none of the violations were addressed by the owner and continued the violations.
No further follow-up actions were requested of the well owner.
On July 1, 2024, DEP did follow-up inspections on five more conventional wells owned by Timberline Energy, Inc. in Waterford Township, Erie County and found them abandoned and not plugged with other violations.
The wells were Joseph & Mildred Majerik 1, Peter George 1, Legion Swab 1, George Daley 1 and Paul T. Serwinski 1.
All of these wells are listed as active in DEP’s eFACTS database.
Violations for abandonment, failing to submit production, waste generation and mechanical integrity reports for these wells were originally issued on December 12, 2023.
DEP’s inspection reports [Majerik 1 as example] said the well owner said in a letter to DEP on February 19, 2024 the violations would be addressed by June 30, 2024 (except abandonment), but nothing was done.
No further follow-up actions were requested of the well owner.
On July 1, 2024, inspected the Cunningham 6 and 7 conventional wells in Pinegrove Township, Venango County owned by Baron Crest Energy Co. and found the wells continue to be abandoned and not plugged.
DEP’s inspection reports [Cunningham 7 as example] note the owner said plugging operations would start on July 1, but DEP’s inspection “shows no activity has started and no plugging equipment on location at time of inspection” or preparations for plugging.
The violations were continued, but no follow-up actions were requested of the well owner.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Baron Crest Energy holds 72 conventional well permits, none listed as abandoned. These wells are list as active and inactive, respectively.
On July 3, 2024, DEP reported it had inspected the Bowman 1 conventional well on June 24, 2024 in South Fayette Township, Allegheny County owned by Big Sand Drilling Co Inc. and found it abandoned and not plugged and venting gas.
Violations were also issued for exposed piping in a creek bed, failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Big Sand Drilling holds three conventional well permits. This well is listed as active.
DEP’s inspection report requested the owner to submit a plan by July 23, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On July 3, 2024, DEP inspected the Barber 1 conventional well in Luzerne Township, Fayette County owned by Fortress Energy Corp. and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.
The original violations were issued on April 24, 2024.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Fortress holds 23 conventional well permits, none abandoned, including this one.
DEP’s inspection report-- again-- requests the owner to submit a plan by August 3, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On July 2, 2024, DEP inspected three conventional wells in Cranberry Township, Venango County with Unknown operators as a result of complaints and found them to be abandoned and not plugged--
-- Monarch AWI 1: Evidence of staining on the ground, well open to atmosphere
-- Monarch AWI 2: Fluid flowing from the casings, staining on the ground
-- 1 Walton AWI 1: Documented well as abandoned
No violations included because there was no one to send them to.
On July 1, 2024, DEP inspected three conventional wells-- JF Markle 156 & Markle 162 and Martin 296 in Richland Township, Clarion County owned by UGI CTL Penn Gas Inc.
DEP inspection reports verified the well locations and noted the wells fall “within part of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Project, also referred to as the Bloomberg Project.”
No violations were issued, but from the photos the wells appear to be abandoned.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows UGI CTL Penn Gas, Inc. holds 343 conventional well permits, including four abandoned wells. These wells are listed as “inactive” along with nearly 75 others.
544 Conventional, 9 Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024
So far in 2024, DEP issued 544 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.
2024 Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 164 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Conventional Wells Venting Gas
On June 25, 2024, DEP inspected seven conventional wells owned by Vernard L. Shumaker in Westmoreland County and found a variety of continuing violations, including for venting gas and failure to submit Mechanical Integrity Reports. The wells included--
-- Lower Burrell City - Hill Crest CC 1: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 19, 2024)
-- Lower Burrell City - Alliance Church 1: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 19, 2024)
-- Upper Burrell Twp. - Watson 1: Venting gas, No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 13, 2024)
-- Upper Burrell Twp. - Dynys 1: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 13, 2024)
-- Upper Burrell Twp. - Dynys 2: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 13, 2024)
-- Washington Twp. - Martin 3: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 14, 2024)
-- Washington Twp. - McLaughlin Unit 2: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 14, 2024)
The annual Mechanical Integrity Reports are critical because it helps ensure the owner is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.
DEP’s reports show the owner did nothing to bring these wells in compliance with these violations, although the owner did submit well production reports.
DEP’s eFACTS database shows Vernard L. Shumaker holds 306 conventional well permits, one listed as abandoned.
DEP’s inspection reports-- again-- request the owner to submit plans for bringing the wells into compliance by July 25 to 28, 2024, depending on the well.
On July 1 & 2, 2024, DEP inspected six more conventional wells owned by Vernard L. Shumaker in Westmoreland County found a variety of continuing violations, including for venting gas and failure to submit Mechanical Integrity Reports. The wells included--
-- Allegheny Twp. - Brown 2.31 AC 1: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations on March 20, 2024)
-- Allegheny Twp. - George A. Burgly Jr. 11: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations on March 21, 2024)
-- Allegheny Twp. - Cates 1: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations on March 21, 2024)
-- Bell Twp. - WM Bortz 1: Venting gas, No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations on March 20, 2024)
-- Bell Twp. - Sargent 2: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations on March 20, 2024)
-- Lower Burrell City - Sylvan Plan #3: No Mechanical Integrity Report (original violations March 19, 2024).
DEP’s inspection reports-- again-- request the owner to submit plans for bringing the wells into compliance by August 1 or 2, 2024, depending on the well.
On June 27, 2024, DEP inspected the Eastern Associated Coal Co 2 conventional gas well in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County owned by Questa Petro Co and found the well continued to be venting gas.
The original violations were issued on March 15, 2024 and the owner has done nothing to stop the gas leak.
DEP’s inspection report requested the owner to-- again-- submit a plan by July 27, 2024 to submit a plan to bring the well into compliance.
On July 2, 2024, DEP inspected the Kopp Glass 1 conventional well in Swissvale Borough, Allegheny County owned by Kopp Glass Inc. and found it was venting gas.
DEP’s inspection report requested the owner to submit a plan by July 22, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.
On July 2, 2024, DEP reported a small gas leak in the George L. Reade 4 conventional well serving the Equitrans LP Rager Mountain Gas Storage Facility in Jackson Township, Cambria County was repaired, according to the company response on June 26, 2024.
DEP had inspected the well on June 6, 2024 and found the leak. [DEP inspection report]
In November, 2022, the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Facility experienced uncontrolled venting of over 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas due to the failure of the George L. Reade 1 conventional well.
In April of this year, DEP issued a $1.1 million penalty for violations related to the venting. Read more here.
DEP is still trying to resolve the groundwater and soil contamination issues caused as a result of trying to stop the gas leak at the Reade 1 well.
On July 2, 2024, DEP inspected two conventional gas wells-- WT 2850 Lot 9 26 & Lot 9 27 in Howe Township, Forest County owned by Pennhills Resources LLC and found they were recently completed and now venting to the atmosphere (a normal procedure).
Drill cuttings were found in a lined pit at the well sites.
DEP’s inspection reports [Lot 9 27 as an example] includes no violations.
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- Timberline Energy Inc. abandoned conventional well venting gas; Baron Crest Energy Co. failed to start plugging conventional well on date promised; Big Sand Drilling Co Inc. abandoned conventional well leaking, exposed pipe in creek bed; Kopp Glass Inc. conventional well leaking gas; Row 2- Questa Petro Co conventional well still venting gas after 3 months; Pennhills Resources LLC new venting conventional gas well + drill cuttings pit; Conventional well with Unknown owner leaking fluids.)
[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 - July 6 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 53 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 6 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Federal Judge Halts Biden’s Pause On New LNG Gas Export Facility Permits; EQT, PA Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Plan To Ship PA Gas To China To Support Its Economy [PaEN]
-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Discuss Carbon Sequestration-Hydrogen Hub Pipelines; Critical/Rare Earth Mineral Recycling At July 9 Meeting [PaEN]
-- PublicSource.org: July 9 Learn The Story Behind The Story - EQT's Gas Play In Pennsylvania, West Virginia [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Quality Permit For Frontier LNG Gas Facility In Clinton County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Application Complete, Now Posted On DEP's Website; Comment Period Opening Soon [PaEN]
-- DEP Approves Final Land Recycling Cleanup Report For Shell Petrochemical Plant Site In Beaver County [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- PennLive: Environmental Concerns Focus Of DEP Hearing On PA General Energy Double Gas, Wastewater Pipeline Route
-- StateImpactPA/WITF: Per Well Impact Fees Paid By Shale Gas Drillers In PA Drop By More Than $100 Million In 2023 [IFO Predicts Another $114 Million Drop In 2024 ]
-- StateImpactPA/WITF: In US, Overall Emissions Down As Oil & Gas Production Rose Between 2015-2022; But In PA Region Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Up 4%, Methane Emissions Down 25%
-- ProPublica: How America’s ‘Most Powerful Lobby’ Is Stifling Efforts To Reform Oil, Gas Well Cleanup In State After State [PA Included]
-- CNX Foundation Launches Internship Program To Develop Student Interest In The Regional Energy Industry
-- Environmental Defense Fund Blog: Unpacking EPA/DOE $850 Million Program To Tackle Oil & Gas Industry Methane Emissions
-- Utility Dive: US Supreme Court Decisions Could Delay Energy Investments, Spur Litigation, Analysts
-- The Hill: LNG Gas Export Projects Likely To Remain In Limbo Despite US Supreme Court Ruling
-- Reuters: Louisiana Federal Judge Halts Biden’s Pause On New LNG Gas Export Facility Permits
-- Reuters: China Sets Up New State Body To Drill Deep For Unconventional Oil And Gas Reserves
[Posted: July 6, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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