Equitrans confirmed that over 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas was vented into the atmosphere from the underground storage facility during the leak.
However, they also reported another 127 million cubic feet of natural gas "was diverted to and contained within the geologic formations located at approximately 1,800 and/or 3,000 feet below ground."
Equitrans said the direct cause of the venting from Rager well #2244 was due to water- and oxygen-induced corrosion on the outside diameter of the top joint of the well and the infiltration of organic/inorganic matter into the annulus, which resulted in a failure of the well casing.
The wells serving the Rager Mountain facility were originally drilled in the 1960s.
The analysis was conducted by an independent, third-party company with expertise in reservoir management and well and corrosion engineering.
Equitrans said their investigation results were shared with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Mitigation Measures
Equitrans said they have taken a number of steps to mitigate the impacts of the leak, including--
-- Replacing the damaged casing on the conventional well where the leak occurred which remains temporarily plugged.
-- Several other conventional wells have underground casing and other piping replacement to address corrosion issues.
-- Evaluated more than 180 conventional wells at other Equitrans storage facilities for the same sort of corrosion issues.
-- To address potential concerns related to the roughly 127 million cubic feet of migrated natural gas, Equitrans completed extensive field and laboratory soil and water well testing, which confirmed that no gas migrated to nearby residential areas.
Click Here for the complete announcement on the root cause investigation.
Ongoing Enforcement
DEP has conducted regular inspections of the conventional gas wells serving the Rager Mountain facility and the efforts of Equitrans to update the casing and other requirements at those wells.
DEP’s ongoing inspections have found violations related to failure to comply with erosion and sedimentation requirements, discharges and leaks from the wells and other equipment at the well sites. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.
Compliance reports can be found through DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database webpage.
(Photo: The Equitrans leak as seen from space, courtesy of the Environmental Defense Fund.)
NewsClips:
-- WJAC: Cause Of 2022 Natural Gas Leak At Equitrans Gas Storage Facility In Cambria County Determined
-- Reuters: Equitrans Midstream Says November Natural Gas Leak Caused By Failure Due To Corrosion At PA Gas Storage Area
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-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma
-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells
-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply] [PDF of article]
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-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PDF of Article]
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-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says
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-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells [PaEN]
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-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development [PaEN]
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-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming [PaEN]
-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials [PaEN]
-- On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia Faith In Action: Environmental Justice For All - Ensuring Equity And Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities [PaEN]
[Posted: August 24, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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