Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between July 5 to 11--
Click Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of July 4--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 17 conventional, 9 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 3,151 conventional and 701 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 264 conventional and 83 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 184 conventional and 240 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 10,092 conventional and 12,948 unconventional
2 Abandoned Conventional Well
Woodward Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
July 10, 2025 inspection of the Woodward Inc 1 conventional well in Adams Township, Butler County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The well had never been inspected. The owner also failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations were issued. Response requested by July 29. DEP inspection report.
Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
June 26, 2025 inspection of the RHB&D Inc 3 conventional well in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations on failure to submit reports issued on July 5, 2023. New violations issued for well abandonment. Response requested by July 11. DEP inspection report.
295 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations 2025
Abandoned Conventional Wells: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 295 violations to 69 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; ARG Resources Inc.; Baird Oil Co.; Baron Crest Energy Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Chris E. Burke; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Dannic Energy Corp.; Paul H. Deeter; Delong Oil Inc.; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; East Resources Inc.; Eastern Natural Resources LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Ex-Treme Oil And Gas LLC; Harry L. King; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Keystone Crude LLC; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Niche Energy LLC; Ohio Kentucky Oil Corp. ; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Old MTN Gas Co. Inc.; OneXXX Prod & Exploration Corp.; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Penta Oil Corp.; Robert F. Phipps; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Thomas Thurma Jean; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Valley Green Golf & Country Club, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.].
Abandoned Shale Gas Wells: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 58 violations to 22 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; Diversified Prod LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; EQT Production Co.; Frontier Natural Resources; Hilcorp Energy Co.; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]; Rice Drillling B LLC [EQT]; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; STL Resources LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
Spills & Releases
Olympus Energy, LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater, Chemicals Release
June 30, 2025 inspection of the Porter shale gas well pad in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County in response to a notification of a spill on June 27 found a mixture of production wastewater, fresh water and fracking chemicals were released when a hose connected to a blender ruptured spraying the mixture on and off containment. Puddles were observed on the site. The owner said from 42 to 126 gallons of fluid spilled. Some remediation had been done on the well pad filling nearly 3 dumpsters with contaminated material. Conductivity screening on the well pad and other areas found elevated levels “underneath/at the base of the clean water impoundment” on the site. When advised of the levels in the incident area and underneath the fresh water impoundment, the owner’s employee said fracking operations were to start July 10 or 11 and after that the impoundment will be removed and remediation could be undertaken. DEP recommended the owner “promptly remediate the release” in accordance with DEP regulations. Violations issued. Response requested by July 23. DEP inspection report.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater Release
July 7 & 9, 2025 inspections of the Boy Scouts/Cumberland shale gas well pad in Elkland Township, Sullivan County in response to a notification of a wastewater release. On July 7, DEP found staining on the pad running half the length of two sets of containment areas about 70 by 55 feet wide. Several holes were found in the containment surrounding the tanks where wastewater was moving onto the pad, according to soil conductivity readings. There were also puddles of contaminated fluid on the pad. The pad was preparing for flow-back operations that started on July 9. In a follow-up inspection on July 9 DEP found some tanks had been removed and some contaminated pad material removed, but remediation was not completed. Violations issued. Response requested by July 29.
EQT Prod Co. - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater Release
July 9, 2025 inspection of the Spleen Splitter shale gas well pad in Springhill Township, Greene County in response to a notification of a wastewater release. DEP found wastewater outside of containment and the owner reported “production fluid was spewing from the top of the tanks.” Remediation was underway during the inspection. Violations issued. Response requested by July 25. DEP inspection report.
Niche Energy LLC - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Spill (2 Months)
June 25, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Dennis Bliley 1 conventional well in Waterford Township, Erie County found some repair work was done to the wastewater storage tank, however, areas of contaminated soil have not been remediated. Original violations April 25, 2025. Violations continued. No actions requested by owner. DEP inspection report. Niche Energy holds 191 permits, including 9 abandoned wells.
Devonian Resources Inc. - Violations: Conventional Oil Spill
July 7, 2025 inspected the Cornplanter C conventional well in Harmony Township, Forest County in response to a notification from DCNR of an oil spill. DEP found a tanker truck was hauling a load of oil from a storage tank battery and there was a release of oil from the truck. The release traveled 90 feet in a ditch before flowing through a culvert and continuing another 180 feet into the forest. Cleanup was underway during the inspection with impacted soil being excavated from the ditch and absorbent booms in place to catch any residual crude oil. Future inspections will evaluate remediation efforts. Violation issued, but immediately closed. No response requested from the owner. DEP inspection report. Devonian holds 326 permits, including 2 abandoned wells.
Big Sandy Oil Co. - Violations: Multiple Crude Oil Releases
June 18, 2025 inspection of the Gordon 76 conventional well in Sandycreek Township, Venango County found multiple areas within 500 feet of the well impacted by crude oil releases. DEP said the well “appeared abandoned.” This well was never inspected. The owner said the well is due to be plugged in April 2028. Violations issued, including for failure to notify DEP of the releases. Response requested by July 7. DEP inspection report. Big Sandy holds 67 permits.
William L. Northime Jr. - Violations: Wastewater Releases
June 20, 2025 complaint inspection of the McMillion 1 conventional well in Summit Township, Butler County found production equipment was not within containment and patch of stunted vegetative growth indicating fluid discharges. Last full inspection was on July 14, 2022 with violations for failing to submit annual reports which have since been resolved. New violations issued for fluid releases. Response requested by July 21. DEP inspection report. Northime holds 4 permits, including 1 abandoned well.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 102 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Water/Wastewater Pipeline Ruptures
Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC - No Violations
June 27, 2025 inspection of the Eick Water Impoundment to Broadleaf aboveground water pipeline in Columbia Township, Bradford County in response to a notification of a freshwater pipeline rupture on June 26. The owner said “a rock” caused a rupture in the pressurized surface water pipeline creating a small hole and then spraying water vertically onto a corn field. No estimate of the amount of water involved No sedimentation was observed. The pipeline was repaired and returned to service. No violations issued. DEP inspection report.
Water Supply Contamination Investigations
Clarion County, Millcreek Township
July 2, 2025 inspection of the Kim Miller Fischer 1 conventional well as part of a private water supply contamination complaint investigation found the well was plugged and no gas was detected. DEP inspection report.
Indiana County, Armstrong Township
June 25, 2025 inspection of the US Energy Exploration Corp Fred A. Musser GW1840 conventional gas well as part of a private water supply contamination complaint found the well venting gas to the air and through the ground at slam bar holes. Owner also failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued March 26, 2025. Earlier inspection of this same well on June 3 and June 11, 2025 found the same thing. No response requested of owner. DEP inspection report. US Energy Exploration holds 1,147 permits.
Defective Casing/Cement
Thomas E. Winkle - Violations: Defective Conventional Casing/Cement
July 9, 2025 inspection of the Miller Farm 2 conventional well in Adams Township, Butler County found the well was being used for home gas and had never been inspected before. DEP issued violations for defective casing/cement, failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports and other violations. DEP discussed the violations with the well owner and what the owner needed to do to come into compliance. Response requested by July 25. DEP inspection report. Winkle holds 1 permit.
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 and Inspection Reports Viewer webpages to search their compliance records by date and owner.
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.
Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.
(Photos: Row 1-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC release from shale gas wastewater tanks; Devonian Resources Inc. crude oil spill path; Olympus Energy, LLC shale gas wastewater, fracking chemicals spill; Row 2-- Niche Energy Inc. leaking conventional wastewater tank; Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC repaired shale gas fresh water pipeline; Big Sandy Oil Co. conventional well site with multiple crude oil releases,)
[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 Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 5 to 11 - Shale Gas Wastewater, Fracking Chemicals Release; Water Pipeline Rupture; Crude Oil Spills; More Abandoned Wells [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 12 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On An Air Quality Permit For A Proposed 218 MW Natural Gas Power Plant For A Data Center In Bradford County; Site Originally Proposed For An LNG Gas Facility [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 70 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 12 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Comments On DEP Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reduction Plan:
-- Shale Gas Industry VP Attacks Credibility Of A Mom And Allegheny County Resident For Comments She Submitted In Support Of DEP Plan To Reduce Methane Emissions From The Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Why Pennsylvanians Must Speak Up For Reducing Oil & Gas Methane Emissions - Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Patrice Tomcik, Mother, Butler County Resident And Moms Clean Air Force Member [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network - Rager Mountain Leak Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Sarah Hertweck, Indiana Township Supervisor - ‘I See Up Close How Hobbled We Are By The State To Make The Best Choices For Our Community’ [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Rachel Meyer, Mother, Beaver County Resident - My Home Is Near A Natural Gas Compressor Station, 8 Shale Gas Well Pads, And The Shell Petrochemical Plant Is In My County [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Barbara Jarmoska, 77 Year Resident Lycoming County - The Degradation Is ‘Shocking And Tragic’ [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Vanessa Lynch, Mother, Allegheny County Resident - Its Been 5 Years Since A Grand Jury Report Said Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Families From Fracking, Let's Right Past Failures [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas/Energy:
-- Delaware RiverKeeper, Better Path Coalition Urge Public To Oppose Federal Agency Proposal To Lift Ban On Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail; Comments Due Aug. 4 [PaEN]
-- Upper Makefield Twp. To Host July 15 In-Person Town Hall With DEP On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Pipeline Contamination In Bucks County [PaEN]
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Pennsylvania Needs A New Plan For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Increasing Bond Amounts Only Part Of Solution [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Details $5.5 Million Upgrade Costs For Rhodes Estates Water Systems In Venango County Area; Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill [PaEN]
-- July 28 Webinar: SLAPP Suits: Legal & Communication Strategies To Protect Your Voice In A Legally Risky Environment [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Opens Next Electric Capacity Auction Bidding Window Of July 9 to 15 For 2026-27 Electric Delivery; Hold Your Breath! [PaEN]
-- US Dept. Of Energy Releases Report On Electric Grid Reliability, Security Saying Generation Growth Must Match Needs Of A.I. Data Centers; But What About ‘Ordinary People’? [PaEN]
NewsClips - Natural Gas/Energy:
-- TribLive: Effort To Find Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Coming To Allegheny County
-- The Allegheny Front - Julie Grant: Longtime FracTracker Alliance Activist Ted Auch Moves On, His Concerns About The Industry Persist
-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: PA Leaders, President To Meet At Carnegie Mellon On Natural Gas, Data Centers As A.I. Threatens To Worsen Climate Change [July 15]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh Summit To Showcase Intersection Of Energy, A.I. And Policy [July 15]
-- Post-Gazette - Chloe Jad/Anya Litvak: A Critical Energy And A.I. Summit Is Coming To Pittsburgh July 15; Is The City Ready For Its Close-Up?
-- Post-Gazette: Gov. Shapiro To Attend McCormick’s Energy, A.I. Summit In Pittsburgh
-- Post-Gazette: PA US Sen. McCormick In The Spotlight As He Brings Focus On PA Energy, A.K. To Pittsburgh
-- TribLive: President’s Participation In Energy Summit At Carnegie Mellon Met With Backlash
-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor Urges FERC To Set Conditions On NRG Energy’s Plan To Buy 13GW In Gas-Fired Generation From LS Power To Avoid Market Abuses
-- Reuters: PJM, America’s Largest Power Grid, Is Struggling To Meet Demand From A.I.; Electricity Bills Are Projected To Surge 20% This Summer [PDF of Article]
-- Bloomberg: Electric Bills In US Set To Rise As Utility Requests For Rate Hikes To Accommodate A.I. Data Center Demands Double
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: As More A.I. Data Centers Connect To PA’s Electric Grid, Some Worry Prices Will Spike
-- Financial Times: US Utilities Plot Big Rise In Electricity Rates As Data Centre Demand Booms
-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County Planning Commission Approves New Mammoth Natural Gas Compressor Station In Wayne Township
-- Observer-Reporter: New Study Links Chemicals In Plastics To Heart Disease Deaths
-- Clean Air Council, NRDC Sue EPA Over Toxic Refinery Chemical That Threatens Fenceline Communities [PaEN]
-- Inquirer: Strong Odor Like Sulfur Or Gasoline Caused By Equipment Failure At Delaware County Refinery After A Power Outage
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT And KeyState Remain Committed To ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Projects
-- Observer-Reporter: Study Finds Hundreds Of Miles Of Southwest PA Roads In ‘Poor’ Condition
-- Observer-Reporter: EQT Shale Gas Driller Sues Morgan Twp., Greene County In Federal Court Over Limits On Heavy Equipment Hauling On Local Roads To Prevent Damage [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive Letters: Natural Gas Benefits Pennsylvania - By Patrick Henderson, VP Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition
-- Guest Essay: The Real Story Behind The Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee - It's Not Funding, It's Cleanup Money - By Mary Jo Simmen-Gray, Hempfield, Westmoreland County Resident [PaEN]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT And KeyState Remain Committed To ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Projects
-- TribLive: EQT Buys Olympus For $1.8 Billion, Consolidates Grip On Southwest PA Natural Gas
-- Newsweek: Oil & Natural Gas Drilling Plummets Under President Despite ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Promise Due To Market Forces
-- Reuters: APA Corp Said It Curtailed US Natural Gas, Liquids Production In 2nd Quarter On Weak Prices
-- Reuters: LNG Canada’s Start-Up Yet To Lift Natural Gas Prices Amid Supply Glut
[Posted: July 12, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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