PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - August 24 to 30 - Water Pipeline Blowout; 9-Year-Old Hits Conventional Gas Well; 5 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

From August 24 to 30, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 728 inspection entries, and caught up with posting inspection reports from previous weeks.

So far this year, DEP took these actions as of August 23--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 85 conventional,10 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,675 conventional and 695 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 341 conventional and 88 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 321 conventional and 359 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 11,050 conventional and 15,858 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 5 conventional and 2 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 108 conventional and 208 unconventional

12 + 14 Abandoned Conventional Wells

On August 15 & 16, 2024, DEP inspected the Earl E. Rahl & Betty M. Burwell 524 and GE Klayer 2 conventional wells that serve the Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. North Summit Gas Storage Area in Wharton Township, Fayette County and found them to be abandoned and not plugged and leaking gas.

DEP’s inspection report [Burwell 524 as an example] included multiple violations and requested the well owner to submit a plan by September 16, 2024 to bring the wells into compliance.

On August 16, 2024, DEP inspected the Thomas Robinson 1 & 2 conventional wells in Cranberry Township, Butler County owned by the Charlemagne Investment Corp and found them abandoned and not plugged.

DEP’s inspection report included violations for abandonment and failure to submit production, waste generation and mechanical integrity reports.

DEP requested the well owner to submit a plan by September 3, 2024 on how the wells will be brought into compliance.

On August 22, 2024, DEP continued its inspections of conventional wells serving the Columbia Gas Transmission LLC Donegal Gas Storage in Donegal Township, Washington County and found these continued to have violations for well abandonment, failure to plug, leaking gas and/or failure to meet reconditioning requirements.

The wells included-- Frank Craig (John Carpenter) L4075; FC Craig 3952; Frank Craig 4625; and Richard & Mary Ann Rastetter 5.

The original violations go back to June 20, 2024.

DEP’s inspection reports [Frank Craig (John Carpenter) L4075 as an example] again request the owner to submit a plan by September 22, 2024 to bring the wells into compliance.

On August 23, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Johnstown Ron & Gun Club 1 conventional well serving as an injection well at the Equitrans LP Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County and found the well to be abandoned.

DEP’s inspection report issued violations for abandonment (new) and continued previous violations for venting gas and failure to maintain a well related to a gas storage area (from December 13, 2022).

The owner was requested to submit a plan by September 26, 2024 for bringing the well into compliance.

On August 26, 2024, DEP inspected the Paul E. Toplovich 2 conventional well owned by PPP Future Dev. Inc. in Columbus Township, Warren County and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP originally issued the violation for abandonment on March 28, 2024 but the owner failed to take any action to deal with the issue.

DEP’s eFACTS database shows PPP Future holds 428 conventional oil and gas well permits, including 15 abandoned wells.

DEP’s inspection report continues the abandonment violation, but does not include any requests for the well owner.

On August 30, 2024, DEP’s inspection report for the John L. Patterson 1 abandoned conventional well in West Salem Township, Mercer County owned by Energy Exploration & Dev. Ltd noted the received registered return receipts for violations sent to the company on or about May 7, 2024.

DEP’s eFACTS database shows Energy Exploration holds 12 conventional oil and gas well permits, three are listed as abandoned, including this one.

DEP’s inspection report notes violations for abandonment and failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports are continued.

DEP made no requests of the well owner.

Plugged Abandoned Conventional Well Leaking Gas

On August 29, 2024, DEP did an inspection of the L. Antill 590 conventional gas well owned by EQT Prod Co. in Aleppo Township, Greene County and found the abandoned well had been plugged, but it failed to stop the flow of gas from the well.

DEP’s inspection report included a new violation for well abandonment and failure to stop the flow of gas and requested the owner to submit a plan by September 16, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

This week DEP inspected these seven other conventional wells to confirm their abandoned status and location as part of the Environmental Defense Fund Project--

-- Clarion County, Perry Twp.: Frank W. Miller, Jr. - Frank W. Miller 1

-- Clarion County, Perry Twp.: Rottman Gas & Oil Co. - JF Markle 2, 7, 11

-- Clarion County, Richland Twp.: John C. Miller - Miller 1

-- Venango County, President Twp.: B & O Oil - Bodamer 6

-- Venango County, President Twp.: Quaker State Co. - McCalmont 18

DEP also evaluated these seven abandoned conventional wells with Unknown owners--

-- Erie County, Millcreek Twp.: 2236 South Shore Driver 1

-- Potter County, Hebron Twp.: Leauber L3, Butler 01, Leauber L6

-- Tioga County, Westfield Twp.: Wilbur Houghtailing 1

-- Westmoreland County, Bell Twp.: Louise Jamison 1 - J&J Enterprises, Inc.

5 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

On August 20, 2024, DEP issued an administrative order to Big Dog Energy LLC to bring five shale gas wells in Clearfield County into compliance after previous notices of violation for well abandonment, defective cementing and a mix of other violations.

Big Dog Energy shale gas wells previously given abandonment violations include--

-- Beccaria Twp.: Hegarty-A 1H, violations issued June 26, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Covington Twp.: Gerhart (CK-19) 1H, violations issued May 23, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Gulich Twp.: Cowfer B 1H, violations issued May 19, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Karthaus Twp.: RHP-A 5H, violations issued May 23, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Woodward Twp.: Erickson-A- 1H, violations issued June 26, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

DEP’s eFACTS database shows Big Dog Energy holds 32 oil and gas well permits, all of them are listed as “active.”

722 Conventional, 19 Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP issued 722 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging wells.

So far in 2024, 19 violations were issued or continued to eight shale gas well owners [Big Dog Energy LLC; EQT Production Co.; Diversified Prod LLC; Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, Atlas Resources, LLC; Atlas Resources, LLC (follow-up inspection)’ Repsol Oil & Gas, EQT Chap LLC; M4 Energy; M4 Energy (follow-up inspection); EQT (Rice Drilling B LLC); and Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC (follow-up inspection)] for abandoning wells and not plugging wells.

Shale Gas Water Pipeline Suffers Blowout In Washington County

On August 15, 2024, the aboveground Yonker Well & Tank Pad to Carns Well & Tank Pad waterline pipeline owned by Range Resources Appalachia, LLC in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County suffered a blowout that launched a “pig” sent through the pipeline into the air.

The blowout was reported to DEP by a landowner at 11:15 a.m. on August 15 who said a pipeline that runs through his property ruptured and caused property damage.

DEP notified Range Resources, who sent a representative to the scene.

DEP’s inspection report for August 16, 2024, included a violation for not notifying the agency of the pipeline rupture, but it was cleared because of DEP’s discussion with Range Resources. No other violations were included.

DEP requested Range Resources to evaluate the release of water, provide a quantity of what was released, what specific fluids were released, and an explanation of when and how the release occurred. DEP requested the evaluation be submitted by August 30. Read more here.

[Note: Water and wastewater pipelines and natural gas gathering pipelines running between well pads and other facilities are not regulated by any state agency for safety.

[There are no construction and operational standards and no criteria for selecting their routes.]

Multiple Holes In Shale Gas Wastewater Containment

On August 26, 2024, DEP inspected the Cadwalder shale gas well pad in Cogan House Township, Lycoming County owned by EXCO Resources PA, LLC and found multiple holes in the liner for the secondary containment around the production wastewater storage tanks.

An inspection photo shows water in the secondary containment area.

DEP’s inspection report does not include any violations, but DEP “recommends” repairing the liner.

Conventional Storage Tank Releasing Wastewater

On August 23, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the C&K Coal Co 7 conventional well in Piney Township, Clarion County owned by Murphy Prod Inc. and found the wastewater storage tank was leaking fluid that breached secondary containment.

DEP’s inspection report included violations related to the leak and asked the owner to submit a plan by September 16, 2024 on how the well area will be brought into compliance.

2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 199 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.

9-Year-Old Drives Tractor Into Conventional Well Causing Gas Leak

On August 24, 2024, DEP’s Oil and Gas and Emergency Response staff were dispatched to the Banco 21-1A conventional producing gas well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County owned by Patriot Exploration Corp in response to an emergency call.

A 9-year-old child operating a tractor made an “uncontrolled descent” down a hill and collided with the gas wellhead causing significant damage and dislodging the shut-off value for the well, which began releasing natural gas.

A well tender for Patriot Exploration arrived on scene and made several attempts to shut off the gas. In addition to the damage caused by the tractor, there was a rabbit lodged in the producing tubing within a valve initially preventing it from closing.

After several attempts, the well was shut in and plans were made to repair the damage, however the tractor was not moved because a larger piece of equipment was needed to hoist the tractor out of the way. [DEP inspection report]

Conventional Well Leaking Gas

On August 27, 2024, DEP inspected the MA Richey 2 conventional gas well owned by Diversified Prod LLC in Centerville Borough, Washington County in response to a complaint and found the well leaking gas.

DEP’s inspection report included violations related to the gas leak and asked the owner to submit a plan by September 12, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

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-- Range Resources Appalachia, LLC shale gas water pipeline blowout; 9-Year-old runs into Patriot Exploration Corp conventional gas well with tractor; Big Dog Energy LLC abandoned shale gas well; Row 2-- Columbia Gas Transmission LLC Donegal Gas Storage abandoned conventional injection well; Murphy Prod Inc. leaking conventional wastewater tank; Charlemagne Investment Corp abandoned conventional well; Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. gas storage are abandoned, leaking conventional well; Row 3-- Diversified Prod LLC conventional well leaking gas; EQT Prod Co. plugged abandoned conventional well still leaking gas; PPP Future Dev. Inc. abandoned conventional well; EXCO Resources PA, LLC shale gas wastewater storage secondary containment liner with holes.)

[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 - August 24 to 30 - Water Pipeline Blowout; 9-Year-Old Hits Conventional Gas Well; 5 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- Range Resources Shale Gas Water Pipeline Suffers Blowout In Washington County [PaEN]

-- 9-Year-Old Drives Tractor Into Conventional Well Causing Gas Leak [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 31 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 66 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 31 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- Sept. 19 Webinar: A Year Later: Have Leaders Addressed Health Concerns From Natural Gas Development Raised In University Of Pittsburgh Public Health Studies? [PaEN]

-- DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board Meets Sept. 5 On Strategies To Prevent Well Abandonments; Injection Well Primacy; Tracking Water Contamination; Other Topics [PaEN]

-- State, United Mine Workers Announce First-In-PA Registered Apprenticeship Program To Plug Oil And Gas Wells Abandoned By Conventional Well Owners; DEP Issued 711 Violations For Well Abandonment So Far In 2024 [PaEN]

-- Appalachian Regional Commission Selects Job Training, Revitalization Groups For Communities Impacted By Coal, Power Plant Closures; Underserved, Marginalized Communities; 5 In PA Serving Coal, Oil & Gas Counties [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Works Together Releases New Report: The PJM Grid In Peril: What Will Keep The Lights On? [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bills To Establish PA Baseload Energy Development Fund Based On Texas Model; And Have One Permit For Power Plants [PaEN]