PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Discovers Evidence Of Continuous Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Release At McKean County Well Site During Routine Inspection

On November 14, the Department of Environmental Protection discovered evidence of a continuous wastewater release at the Parsons and Warrant 566 conventional oil well sites in Eldred Township, McKean County owned by Charles T. Wandover, Sr. and produced by Charles A. Wandover, Jr., according to DEP.

The Parsons well site consists of 11 conventional wells and the Warrant 566 site includes four conventional wells, according to DEP’s eFACTS database.

DEP’s inspection report said a gathering wastewater pipeline from one or more wells was connected to a large, poly [plastic] wastewater storage tank.

From DEP’s initial investigation, the wastewater release occurred when a valve connected to a flexible drain line at the plastic tank was left open “allowing any production fluid that entered the poly tank to freely drain out the bottom.”

The flexible drain line was “observed to travel up and out of the containment area in a northeastern direction for approximately 450 feet until terminating in a grassy area.”

Photos included in DEP’s inspection report show the drain line is not visible on the ground surface as it travels to the area where it drains.

“Evidence was also found to suggest that production fluid had been previously released within the containment and previously allowed to flow through the containment's fresh water drain onto the ground outside of containment.”

“From there, as observed by a path of dead vegetation, the production fluid traveled north approximately 300 feet before ponding in a grassy area.”

DEP documented very high conductivity readings along the path of the release.

DEP’s inspection report said both Charles Wandover, Sr., who has a business address listed in Inverness, Florida, and Charles Wandover, Jr. were notified of the release by phone.

DEP said Charles Wandover, Jr. agreed to meet on November 20 to discuss the violations and remediation options.

Steps Taken To Address Release

On November 20, DEP did meet onsite with Charles Wandover, Jr. to discuss the release of wastewater from the containment area and poly storage tank. DEP inspection report.

“Since the 11/14/2024 inspection, [Charles Wandover, Jr.] had voluntarily replaced and closed the drain valve on the poly brine tank and had begun removing sections of the black HDPE [plastic] line that previously connected the old drain line to the grassy area.”

“We discussed remediation options at this meeting, and Chuck agreed to immediately begin work to bring the leases into compliance. Additional inspections will be conducted to monitor remediation activities and evaluate that necessary actions are being taken to achieve compliance.”

DEP also took samples of fluid from the site.

On November 25, 2024, DEP sent Charles T. Wandover, Sr. a written notice of violation based on the November 14 inspection report.

Multiple violations were included in the notice, including failure to notify DEP of the wastewater release, failure to collect and properly manage wastewater from the well(s) and failure to prevent pollution of ground and surface waters.

DEP requested a written response “detailing the cause of this violation, actions taken and future steps to be taken to address the violation noted in the NOV.”

DEP’s inspection report set a deadline of December 2, 2024 for that response.

The last time DEP inspected the wells on the Warrant 566 tract was on February 11, 2009 when violations were found, but immediately corrected, according to DEP’s Oil & Gas Compliance Database [inspection reports not online].

Two of the Warrant 566 wells were drilled in 1981 and two in 1995.

Charles T. Wandover Sr. holds 50 conventional oil and gas well permits, according to DEP’s eFACTs database.

Charles A. Wandover, Jr. holds no well permits, although is in DEP’s eFACTS database as a client.

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.

[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 - Nov. 23 to 29 - 3 Wastewater Pipeline Releases; More Abandoned Shale Gas, Conventional Wells; Leaking Gas Storage Area Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 30 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 87 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 30 PA Bulletin [PaEN]