PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP: Tank Valve Failure Leads To 4,610 Gallon Spill Of Contaminated Water At XTO Energy Inc. Shale Gas Well Pad In Butler County

On August 12, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the XTO Energy, Inc. Bachelder shale gas well pad in response to an August 11, 2026 notification of a spill of contaminated water in Penn Township, Butler County

XTO said a valve on a storage tank for contaminated water failed resulting in a release into secondary containment that collapsed beneath the weight of the water.

The combination of contaminated water and some rainwater flowed onto the well pad and along the eastern grassy slope of the pad that led to a sediment basin.

Field measurements found elevated conductivity “at several spots on and off of the pad, including beneath the containment liner and along the eastern grassy slope that led to the basin.”

At the time of the inspection, XTO’s environmental consultant was on site to assess the extent of the release and assist with remediation.

Excavation crews were present to begin removal of the contaminated materials.

Multiple violations were issued and DEP requested a response by September 4. As of September 8, no response was posted in DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Reporting Database.

Click Here for the DEP inspection report + photos.

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-- Tank valve failure; Contaminated water still in tank containment Row 2-- Sediment basin with areas of elevated conductivity; Excavating contaminated soil.)

[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 Weekly Compliance Snapshot - September 5 to 11

-- DEP: Tank Valve Failure Leads To 4,610 Gallon Spill Of Contaminated Water At XTO Energy Inc. Shale Gas Well Pad In Butler County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Contaminated Water Misting Out Of Storage Tank, Fluid Spill At Expand Operating, LLC Shale Gas Well Pad In Bradford County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Thick Orange Fluid Leaking From Storage Tank At Conventional Gas & Gas Well Site In Monroeville, Allegheny County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Complaint Investigation Finds Conventional Well Venting Gas In A Manner Posing A Safety Risk To Nearby Residence In Mercer County [PaEN]

-- DEP Finds Conventional Well Venting Gas During Investigation Of Leaking Conventional Gas Gathering Line In Unity Twp., Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Drill Cuttings From Conventional Oil & Gas Well Improperly Spread Over Drill Site For Disposal In McKean County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 106: Ows Energy Inc. Failed To Cleanup Soil Contaminated By Water From Conventional Gas Well In Crawford County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Pressure Testing Confirms Casing/Cementing Failures In 3 Expand Operating LLC Shale Gas Wells In Bradford County, Including One New Violation [PaEN]

-- DEP Issued 2nd Round Of Major Erosion & Sedimentation Violations At Equitrans Water SVC (PA) [EQT] Jaybird Shale Gas Water Impoundment Restoration Site In Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Site Preparations For Plugging Diversified Production LLC Conventional Gas Well Results In Multiple Erosion & Sedimentation Violations In Fayette County [PaEN]

-- PUC Issues $875,000 Penalty In Settlement With Columbia Gas For 2019/2020 Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Violations In Allegheny, Washington Counties [PaEN]