Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 9 and 15--
Click Here for violations issued between November 9 to 15.
Click Here for inspection entries between November 9 to 15
Enforcement Actions So Far In 2024
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of November 8--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 9 conventional, 5 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 6,811 conventional and 952 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 456 conventional and 121 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 267 conventional and 477 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 15,481 conventional and 20,965 unconventional
7 Abandoned Conventional - 2 Abandoned Shale Well Violations
Shelex Drilling Inc. - Violations - Abandoned Well, Leaking Fluid
November 5, 2024 inspection of two conventional wells in Concord Township, Erie County as a result of a complaint found Stoltzfus 1 well abandoned and not plugged [DEP inspection report] and Stoltzfus 3 well leaking fluid from defective casing [DEP inspection report]. A representative of Shelex was onsite as requested. Shelex holds 26 conventional well permits-- 13 abandoned. Violations were issued and well owner response requested by December 5.
EQT Production Co. - Violation - Abandoned Well
November 7, 2024 follow-up inspection of the W.E. Minor M303 conventional well in Greene Township, Greene County resulted in violation for abandoning, not plugging well. Well owner intends to put the well on its plugging list. Response requested by November 26. DEP inspection report.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations - Abandoned Gas Storage Wells
October 31, 2024 follow-up inspection found these conventional wells serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County were still abandoned and not plugged-- AR Greig L4836; Frank C. Craig 4625, Original violations issued September 18, 2024. Owner requested to respond by November 30.
The Production Co LLC - Violations - Failed To Plug Well (2023)
November 12, 2024 plugging inspection of the Alicia Land 1 conventional well in Luzerne Township, Fayette County found the owner failed to plug this abandoned well, well was leaking gas, emergency information not posted and other violations. Original abandonment and leaking gas violations issued on August 8, 2023, but failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports go back to January 14, 2021. No response requested from well owner. DEP inspection report.
Riyan Farm & Gas LLC - Violations - Abandoned Well (2022)
November 1, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Yahner 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Cambria County found the owner failed to plug this abandoned well or submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports for at least 5 years. Original violations issued October 27, 2022. Response requested by November 20. Owner holds one conventional well permit. DEP inspection report.
WHC OPER LLC - Violations - Abandoned Well
November 1, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Clarissa Myers (Louis Auer Surface) 1 conventional well in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County found the well still unplugged and abandoned. Original violation issued April 11, 2024. Owner holds 79 conventional well permits. Response requested by November 20. DEP inspection report.
EQT Production Co. - Violation - Abandoned Well Shale Gas Well (2020)
November 7, 2024 administrative review of the Phoenix 590774 shale gas well in Morris Township, Tioga County corrects a July 31, 2020 inspection report citing this as a conventional well, but violation remains outstanding. DEP inspection report not posted.
T & F Exploration LP - Violations - Failed To Plug Abandoned Shale Gas Well (2023)
November 12, 2024 plugging inspection of the Nemacolin 7008 shale gas well in Wharton Township, Fayette County found the owner failed to plug the well. Original abandoned well and failure to submit well integrity report violations issued May 2, 2023. No new violations issued. Owner requested to provide update on well plugging schedule. DEP inspection report.
Columbian Carbon Co. - 2 Abandoned Wells
November 11, 2024 routine inspection of the Henry Blair 2957 and John L. Becker 2 conventional well in Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County to score for abandoned well plugging. Wells were not located. No violations were issued. This company holds 20 conventional well permits- 12 of them abandoned. DEP inspection report.
Unknown Owners - Abandoned Conventional Wells
DEP inspected at least 10 conventional wells with Unknown owners to evaluate for well plugging--
-- Allegheny County, Leet Twp.: Taylor
-- Allegheny County, Forward Twp.: Stephen Wahl
-- Armstrong County, Redbank Twp.: King Salem Rd 1; Doverspike 2;
-- Fayette County, Franklin Twp.: Fedorko 1
-- Fayette County, German Twp.: Joseph Mack
-- Fayette County, Washington Twp.: Pittsburgh Coal
-- Clarion County, Redbank Twp.: Harmon 1
-- Westmoreland County, Penn Twp.: FS McWilliams; Morrow/McDermott
830 Abandoned Conventional Well, 28 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2024
So far in 2024, DEP issued 830 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In all of 2023, PA Environment Digest’s weekly Oil & Gas Compliance Dashboard reported DEP issued at least 512 violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning wells without plugging them. Read more here.
So far in 2024, 28 violations were issued or continued to 11 shale gas well owners [T & F Exploration LP; EQT Production Co. follow-up; Diversified Prod LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC follow-up; 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.
Spills & Releases
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations - Wastewater Release
November 12, 2024 inspection of the Yonkin shale gas well pad in Cherry Township, Sullivan County in response to a notification of a spill on November 11 found an “up-welling of” production wastewater around the wellheads later determined to be caused by a failure in secondary containment structures. Violations issued, response requested by November 27. DEP inspection report.
Oil & Gas Management Inc. - Violations - Failed To Comply With 2023 Order
November 12, 2024 follow-up inspection of the conventional Kiskiminetas Springs School gas well 6 in Loyalhanna Township, Westmoreland County found the well owner continues to be out of compliance with February 10, 2023 cleanup compliance order, the well was leaking gas, erosion and sedimentation problems evident, disconnected wastewater tank still on site and other violations. Violations continued by DEP. No response requested from well owner. This company holds 163 conventional well permits. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Production LLC - Violations - Failed To Finish Spill Cleanup
November 14, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Pickup Unit 1 conventional well in Green Township, Indiana County found significant progress had been made in cleaning up 525 gallon wastewater spill found August 5, but some related pipe was not removed. Violations continued. No response requested from well owner. DEP inspection report.
Coterra Energy, Inc. - Spills On 4 Shale Gas Well Pads
On November 13 & 14, 2024 spills were reported by the well owner on two shale gas well pads-- Rayias E Pad 2 in Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County [DEP inspection report] and the Bushnell R Pad 1 in Springville Township, Susquehanna County [DEP inspection report]. In both cases DEP noted spills of an “unknown quantity of production wastewater” occurred at the pads and DEP indicated an on-site inspection would be done, but no further inspection reports were posted as of this writing.
DEP’s Bushnell inspection report also noted spills occurred at two other shale gas well pads-- Diaz Family Pad 2 [Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County] and the Palko Pad [Lathrop Township, Susquehanna County] apparently at about the same time, but no additional inspection reports were posted online.
2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 247 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Leaking Conventional/Shale Gas Wells
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations - Gas Storage Wells Still Leaking Gas
October 31, 2024 follow-up inspection found these wells serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County were still leaking gas-- Shirley Lou Weaver 5; FC Craig 3952; WM Patterson L4112. Original violations issued September 18, 2024. Owner requested to respond by November 30. Owner holds 725 conventional well permits.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations - Gas Storage Well Still Leaking Gas
November 13, 2024 follow-up inspection of the JG & AR Hunter 0 conventional well serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County found the well still leaking gas. Original violations issued September 26, 2024. DEP continued the violations for failure to fix the leak and requested a response by December 30. DEP inspection report.
EQT Production Co - Violations - Conventional Well Still Leaking Gas
November 12, 2024 follow-up inspection of the E. Johnson 1206 conventional well in Springhill Township, Greene County found the well was still leaking gas. Original violation issued October 16, 2024. DEP continued the violation for failure to fix the leak and requested a response by December 2. DEP inspection report.
Hilcorp Energy Co. - Failed Shale Gas Well Pluggings
November 12 & 13, 2024 inspections related to notices of intent to replug the 1H, 2H, 4H shale gas wells at the Pulaski Kinkela well pad in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County that were leaking gas. No violations issues or follow-up requested. Owner holds 179 well permits. DEP inspection report.
Seneca Resources Co LLC - Violation - Shale Gas Well Leaking Gas
November 13, 2024 administrative review of the Taft 75HU shale gas well pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County corrects July 17, 2024 inspection record saying this is a conventional well leaking gas, but violation remains outstanding. DEP inspection report.
Capital Oil & Gas, Inc. - Failed Well Pluggings
November 13, 2024 plugging inspection of three conventional gas wells that were found to be plugged, but still leaking gas. Six other wells were plugged correctly and not leaking. The leaking wells included--
-- Clinton County, Grugan Twp: DCNR Tract 344 27
-- Centre County, Burnside Twp: DCNR TR 254 8; DCNR TR 224 1
No violations issued at this time, but DEP said well owner must correct the leaking gas within 30 days of this inspection. This company holds 574 conventional well permits. DEP inspection report.
PennHills Resources LLC - New Conventional Well Venting Gas
November 14, 2024 routine inspection of WT 2676 6 conventional gas well in Sergeant Township, McKean County found the newly completed well venting gas to the atmosphere [a normal procedure]. No violations issued. Owner holds 1,771 oil and gas well permits. DEP inspection report.
Erosion & Sedimentation/Failure To Restore Shale Gas Site
Greylock Production LLC - Violations - Accelerated Erosion
November 15, 2024 complaint inspection at the Sharpnack shale gas well pad in Cumberland Township, Greene County found accelerated erosion and deep erosion rills on the access road running onto the township road. Violations were issued. Response requested by December 6. DEP inspection report.
XTO Energy Inc. - Violations - Failure To Restore Drilling Site
October 28, 2024 inspection of the Hall 8450 shale gas well pad in Springfield Township, Fayette County found the owner failed to restore well site leaving a lot of production and other equipment behind. Response requested by November 15. DEP inspection report.
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-- Shelex Drilling Inc. conventional well leaking fluid; Chesapeake Appalachia LLC production wastewater release around shale gas wellheads; Oil & Gas Management Inc. failed to comply with 2023 cleanup order at conventional well; Greylock Production LLC shale gas well pad access road erosion violation; Row 2-- T & F Exploration LP failed to start plugging abandoned shale gas well; Failed plugging of Hilcorp Energy Co. shale gas wells; The Production Co LLC failed to plug abandoned conventional well leaking gas; Abandoned Columbia Gas Trans LLC gas storage reservoir injection well; Row 3-- Riyan Farm & Gas LLC abandoned conventional well; WHC OPER LLC Abandoned conventional well wastewater tank; XTO Energy Inc. [ExxonMobil] failed to restore well site by leaving lots of equipment behind.)
[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 Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 16 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 16 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Moms Clean Air Force: Pennsylvanians Call On State Leaders For Protection From Fossil Fuel And Plastic Industry Expansion [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Our Children’s Health Isn’t Partisan, Pennsylvania Needs Strong Pollution Protections From Fracking Now - By Rachel Sica Meyer, Beaver County Resident, Moms Clean Air Force [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Volunteer Laurie Barr Leads Hunt For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Pennsylvania - By Ad Crable [PaEN]
-- FracTracker Alliance Announces 2024 Community Sentinel Award Recipients To Be Honored Dec. 4 [PaEN]
-- Environmental Hearing Board Issues Temporary Supersedeas To Stop The Opening Of Catalyst Energy, Inc. Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County Until Hearing On Full Supersedeas [PaEN]
-- Low Streamflow Conditions Prompt Susquehanna River Basin Commission To Advise Shale Gas Drillers, Water Systems, Companies With Water Withdrawal Approvals To Plan For Alternative Operations [PaEN]
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Natural Gas Electric Generation Is Threatened This Winter By Ongoing Concerns About Gas Production, Delivery In Extreme Weather Conditions [PaEN]
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Up 1 From Last Week To 15; Aug. 23 Was 21
-- DEP Extends General Permits: Oil & Gas Erosion & Sedimentation [ESCGP-3]; Beneficial Use Of Biosolids By Land Application [PAG-07 + PAG-08]; Beneficial Use Of Residential Septage [PAG-09] [PaEN]
-- DEP Will No Longer Accept New Chapter 102 Erosion & Sedimentation ePermit Applications During ‘Pause’; Oil & Gas E&S Applications Not Affected [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- ABCNews: Pennsylvania Residents In Cecil Township, Washington County Fight Fracking In Their Backyard (Video)
-- FracTracker, Clean Air Council, Earthworks: New StoryMap On Expanding Shale Gas Safety Zones
-- TribLive: Environmental Groups Appeal CNX Slickville Pipelines Permits
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvanians Will Not Be Happy About Double-Digit Hikes In Their Electricity Bills Next Year - By Scott Bomboy, Bucks County Township Supervisor
-- National Academies Of Science: Practices, Standards For Plugging Orphaned And Abandoned Hydrocarbon Wells White Paper, Workshop
-- NPR: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum To Lead US Dept. Of The Interior
-- JD Supra: Federal District Court Sends PA Oil & Gas Royalty Dispute To Trial
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Democrats’ Disregard For Americans’ Fears Of Inflation Caused By Unaffordable Energy Policies Frustrating [International Oil, Natural Gas Prices Propelled Inflation In US]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Plan For Massive 3,5 GW Gas-Fired Power Plant, Data Center In Virginia Slashed 91% In Face Of Local Opposition [PDF of Article]
-- EPA Finalizes Rule Setting Fee On Wasteful Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Industry
-- KDKA: EPA To Hit Oil & Gas Companies With Waste Methane Fee, But Will It Last?
-- Financial Times: How Oil & Gas Companies Disguise Their Methane Emissions
-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Jump As Russia Halts Supplies To Austria
-- Bloomberg: Biden To Stand Fast On Not Issuing Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities; New Leadership Will Reverse That In January
-- Financial Times: US LNG Gas Exports Could Prove Crucial Bargaining Chip In US-EU Trade Talks
-- Reuters: Biden Officials Ask EU To Align Methane Rules With US To Ease LNG Gas Exports
[Posted: November 16, 2024] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment