DEP - Day 1,450: Blackhill Energy Fails To Fix Or Plug 3 Shale Gas Wells With Casing/Cement Failures In Bradford County First Discovered In August 2022

On July 23, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Blackhill Energy LLC Jackson shale gas well pad 2H well, 3H well and 9H well in Springfield Township, Bradford County and found continuing evidence of well casing/cement failure in all three wells.

The wells were all drilled on May 6, 2022 and violations for  casing/cementing that failed to prevent the flow of gas into well annuluses and shallow gas producing zones were first issued on August 3, 2022, according to the inspection reports.

DEP’s July 23 inspection reports all note that although Blackhill Energy self-reported the defective casing/cementing and therefore was not formally cited for a violation of 25 Pa Code 78a.86-- “Blackhill Energy is still required to correct the defects or plug the wells as required by 25 Pa Code 78a.86.”

The DEP inspection reports found Blackhill Energy has done neither since 2022-- 1,450 days from when the violations were originally reported.

DEP and the consultant for Blackhill Energy took gas samples from each of the wells for isotopic analysis.

[Typically, DEP uses isotopic analysis to fingerprint shale gas escaping from a compromised well into areas where it should not be-- like a homeowner’s water well--  during an methane migration investigation.]

No specific follow-up requested of well owner.  A copy of the inspection reports are sent to the owner.

The remarks in the DEP inspection reports for all the wells are the same.

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: Blackhill Energy LLC Jackson shale gas wells 2H, 3H and 9H.)

[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.]

Related Articles This Week:

-- PennLive: Attorney General Sunday Files More Criminal Charges Against Eureka Resources, This Time For Releasing Oily Oil & Gas Wastewater From Its Williamsport Plant Last August  [PaEN]

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nearly 1 Year Since Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill, Company Sold Its Operations, Wastewater Still At All 3 Facilities  [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 26: Loan Asset Issuer, LLC Fails To Comply With Order To Prevent Migration Of Contaminated Shale Gas Water Spill Of Up To Now 88,410 Gallons From A Shale Gas Pipeline Failure In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 1,450:  Blackhill Energy Fails To Fix Or Plug 3 Shale Gas Wells With Casing/Cement Failures In Bradford County First Discovered In August 2022  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Jobs, Wages Falling Behind In PA's Fracking Counties; New Data Center, Natural Gas Development Will Fail To Deliver Long-Term Economic Growth, Report Suggests

[Posted: August 6, 2026]  PA Environment Digest