Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between December 21 to 31--
Click Here for violations issued between December 21 to 31.
Click Here for inspection entries between December 21 to 31.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week Of December
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of December 27--
-- Permits Issued In Last Week of Dec.: 0 conventional, 7 unconventional
-- Year To Date Permits: 185 conventional, 520 unconventional
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week Of Dec.: 18 conventional, 5 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 7,294 conventional and 1,129 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 495 conventional and 131 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week of Dec.: 114 conventional and 231 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 17,347 conventional and 24,216 unconventional
Abandoned Conventional Wells
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Wells
December 17, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Keslar 3 (DEP inspection report) and Kelsar 9 (DEP inspection report) conventional wells in Redstone Township, Fayette County found them abandoned and not plugged. Original violations issued September 26, 2024. No action taken to address the violations. Response requested by January 14, 2025.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
December 18, 2024 follow-up inspection of the AR Grieg L4836 conventional gas well serving the Donegal Gas Storage Area in Donegal Township, Washington County found the well still abandoned and unplugged. Original violations issued August 27, 2024. No action taken to address the violations. Violations continued. Response requested by January 30, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well Leaking Gas
December 19, 2024 follow-up inspection of the DR Sample L4109 conventional gas well serving the Donegal Gas Storage Area in Donegal Township, Washington County found the well still abandoned and leaking gas. Original violations issued September 26, 2024. No action taken to address the violations. Violations continued. Response requested by January 30, 2025. DEP inspection report.
OWS Acquisition Co. LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well (3 Years)
December 23, 2024 routine inspection of the MCIDA 2 conventional gas well in East Lackawannock Township, Mercer County found the well abandoned and not plugged. DEP said the well was not operating for 7 years (since 2016). Original violation for abandonment December 7, 2021. 4,200 gallon wastewater tank on site. 2021 violations continued. No response requested of well owner. DEP inspection report.
Waverly Oil Works Co. - Abandoned Conventional Well Leaking Gas
December 23, 2024 routine inspection of the James Mevey 8 conventional gas well in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County found the well abandoned and leaking gas. DEP notes well owner “believed to be nonexistent per 2016 inspection comments.” No violations issues pending investigation of well owner status. DEP inspection report.
STK Investments LLC- Violations: Abandoned Well, Failed Plugging
December 23, 2024 follow-up inspection of the J. Lawrence Beth Ann Adams 2 conventional well in Washington Township, Lawrence County found the well owner in the process of replugging the well. Fluid in the well only a few feet down with a split casing. Original violation issued on October 10, 2024 for failure to submit a plan for replugging the well. DEP inspection report.
Pine Ridge Energy - Client Violations: Abandoned Conventional Wells
December 11, 2024 file review recorded violations against this conventional well owner for an unknown number of instances of abandoning and not plugging wells (eFACTS record). This well owner holds 136 conventional well permits-- 8 listed as abandoned in Farmington Township, Warren County.
Abandoned Shale Gas Wells
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well
December 4, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Shuglie 4 shale gas well in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County found the well still abandoned and unplugged. Original violation issued September 26, 2024. No action taken to respond to violation. Response requested by January 2, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well, Leaking Gas
December 16, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Swiantek 1 shale gas well in Franklin Township, Fayette County found the well still abandoned, not plugged and gas was bubbling up around the well collar which may indicate a casing integrity issue. Original violation November 13, 2024. Response requested by January 13, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well (20 Months)
December 18, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Pritts Unit 1 shale gas well in Lower Tyrone Township, Fayette County found the well was still abandoned and unplugged. Original violations for abandonment were issued April 5, 2023. No action to address the violations. Response requested by January 15, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Hilcorp Energy Company - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well Plug Failed
On December 10, 2024 Hilcorp Energy responded to a violation for abandoning the Pulaski Kinkela 3H shale gas well in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County confirming the well was abandoned in 2015 and plugged, however, the plug failed to stop the flow of gas. Hilcorp said it was mobilizing a workover rig to add cement to the well. Hilcorp Energy response.
860 Abandoned Conventional Well, 47 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2024
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. In 2023, DEP issued 512 violations to conventional well owners for abandonment.
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. In 2023, DEP issued or continued 20 violations to 10 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. Read more here.
2024 shale gas well abandonment violations-- Diversified Prod LLC; Hilcorp Energy Company; Diversified Prod LLC; Diversified Prod LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Hilcorp Energy Co; Hilcorp Energy Co (3); Hilcorp Energy Co (3); 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).
What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind
-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP: Diversified Production LLC Failed To Plug 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells For 42 Months + At Least 9 Other Shale Gas Wells Abandoned [PaEN]
-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP: Nucomer Energy LLC Fails To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad, Water Impoundment In Forest County For More Than 12 Years After Drilling Was Completed [PaEN]
-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP Issues 10 Violations To Big Dog Energy, LLC, Diversified Production LLC For Abandoning Shale Gas Wells; Violations For Shale Gas Abandonments More Than Doubled In 2024 [PaEN]
-- Powering The Planet: The Cleanup Bill For The Fracking Boom Is Already Here; Shale Gas Drillers Are Already Abandoning Their Wells - By Justin Mikulka, Powering The Planet [PA Examples] [PaEN]
Spills & Releases
Coterra Energy Inc. - Notification Of Shale Gas Wastewater Release
December 23, 2024 DEP was notified of a shale gas wastewater release from a pipeline valve at the P. Kelley Pad in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County. Wastewater was released onto the pad in the form of a spray. The release is under investigation and cleanup was expected to begin on December 24. No violations were issued at this time. DEP inspection report.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater Release
December 26, 2024 DEP inspected the Bahl Unit shale gas well pad located in Forks Township, Sullivan County in response to a notification on December 25 of a frozen pipe bursting and spraying production wastewater on the pad impacting an area 80 x 12 feet. Cleanup was underway at time of inspection. Violations issued for release. Response requested by January 17, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Frank L. Washabaugh Oil Producers - Violations: Multiple Conventional Oil Well Releases
December 26, 2024 follow-up inspection of the William M. Johnson 1 conventional oil well in Cross Creek Township, Washington County found oil and fluids were still leaking from multiple tanks and locations at the site and no effort was made by the well owner to address the violations. Original violations issued on November 13, 2024. Well owner failed to even respond to the violation notice. New response requested by January 15, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Michael D. Graham - Violations: Conventional Well Spills
December 26, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Farrah 1 conventional well in Smith Township Washington County found evidence of continuing spills and failure to remediate contaminated areas found 4 months ago.. Original violations issued on August 30, 2024 were continued. Well owner failed to even respond to the violation notice. Response requested by January 15, 2025. DEP inspection report.
PennHills Resources LLC - Violations: Crude Oil Pipeline Spill
December 31, 2024 inspection of the Warrant 5573 W43 conventional oil well in Hamilton Township, McKean County after “being made aware” of a crude oil release and found a gathering pipeline had been “compromised” on December 9 causing a crude oil release. Some remediation work was done since then, but it was not completed. Multiple violations were issued related to the spill. Response requested by January 21, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Timberline Energy Inc. - Violations: Spills, Inadequate Bridge Access To Well
December 30, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Garmer 3 conventional well in Porter Township, Clarion County found the well owner only partially addressed an inadequate bridge providing access to the well site noted in a violation issued on October 17, 2017. New bridge decking partially collapsed after equipment to clean up a spill at the site crossed over. The spill was in the process of being cleaned up during the inspection. Original violations issued for the spill on October 3, 2024. No response was received from the well owner from those violations. All violations were continued. Response was requested by the original deadline of November 15, 2024. DEP inspection report.
2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 274 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups, as of December 28. Read more here.
Gas Leaks, Gas Pressure Violations At Storage Area Wells
Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. - Violations: Exceeding Maximum Pressure (19 months)
December 13, 2024 inspection of the Anna Steel, Larue Gray & Homer Gray Jr. 2 conventional gas well serving the Oakford Gas Storage Reservoir in Salem Township, Westmoreland County found the storage reservoir exceeding the maximum storage pressure approved by DEP. The well was also leaking gas. Original pressure violation issued May 3, 2023. No violations issued for gas leaks. Pressure violation continued. Response requested by January 13, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations: Leaking Gas Or Uncemented Casing
December 18, 2024 inspection of the WM Patterson L4112 (DEP inspection report), Craig 3952 (DEP inspection report), and Shirley Lou Weaver 5 (DEP inspection report) conventional gas wells serving the Donegal Gas Storage Area in Donegal Township, Washington County found the wells still leaking gas or with uncemented casings. Original violations for leaking gas issued September 18, 2024. Original violations for uncemented casing issued on May 30, 2023. Owner took no action to correct any violations. Response requested by January 30, 2025.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations: Gas Still Leaking From Wells
December 19, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Gunther 4461 (DEP inspection report), JH Hunter 4475 (DEP inspection report), Hunter 0 (DEP inspection report) Ethel Moore L4621 (DEP inspection report), Walter A. Newman (DEP inspection report), and Sample L3357 (DEP inspection report) conventional gas wells serving the Donegal Gas Storage Area in Donegal Township, Washington County found the wells still leaking gas. Original violations issued September 2024. No action to correct the violations. Response requested by January 30, 2025.
Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations: Gas Still Leaking From Well
December 27, 2024 inspection of the Corp 3 conventional gas well serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County found the well still leaking gas. Original violations issued September 27, 2024. Owner took no action to correct violations. Response requested by January 27, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Failed To Submit Shale Gas Production, Waste, Integrity Reports
Stone Ridge Energy LLC - Violations: Failed To Submit Reports (10 Years)
December 6, 2024 follow-up inspection of the J. Yoho shale gas wells in Luzerne Township, Fayette County found the well owner failed to submit mechanical integrity reports for short of 10 years, failed to submit monthly production and waste reports for just short of 7 years, failed to have correct emergency response contact information. Original violations issued October 28, 2020. [Well drilled in 1999.] Response requested by December 31, 2024. DEP inspection report.
Nucomer Energy LLC - Violations: Failed To Submit Production, Waste Reports
On December 24, 2024, DEP sent a notice of violation to Nucomer Energy for failing to submit monthly production and waste generation reports for September and October for shale gas wells located in Hickory Township, Forest County. Response requested in 10 days. DEP notice of violation. [Nucomer was issued violations for failing to restore shale gas wells and related impoundment for 12 years on December 11 in Hickory Township, Forest County. Read more here.]
Land Slumps, Erosion & Sedimentation Violations
ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC - Violations: Continuing Land Slumps Along Pipeline
December 23, 2024 inspection of the Revolution Pipeline right-of-way in Center Township, Beaver County in response to a notification by the owner found continuing land slumps and soil cracking along the route. New violations were issued. Response requested by January 17, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Multiple Erosion & Sedimentation
December 23, 2024 inspection of the NV39HS shale gas well site in South Franklin Township, Washington County found the well owner failed to comply with multiple erosion and sedimentation control and restoration requirements, lacked permits for some actions taken and a discharge occurred into a wetland. Multiple violations were issued. Response requested by January 20, 2025. 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-- OWS Acquisition Co. LLC abandoned conventional well 4,200 gallon wastewater tank; STK Investments LLC /Howard Drilling replugging conventional well; Diversified Prod LLC shale gas well pad erosion & sedimentation violations, water pipeline to site; Row 2-- Waverly Oil Works Co. abandoned conventional well leaking gas; Frank L. Washabaugh Oil Producers failed to address conventional oil well leaking fluids; Michael D. Graham conventional well spill area; Diversified Prod LLC abandoned shale gas well leaking gas; Row 3- Wastewater sprayed from Coterra Energy Inc. shale gas well pad valve; PennHills Resources LLC conventional crude oil pipeline release; Diversified Prod LLC abandoned shale gas well.)
[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 Dashboard
-- PUC Approves $700,000 Penalty For Columbia Gas Plastic Pipeline Explosion In Clarion County [PaEN]
-- PUC Approves Settlement In 2019 Philadelphia Gas Works Explosion That Killed 2, Displaced 60 Residents [PaEN]Related Articles:
-- Powering The Planet: The Cleanup Bill For The Fracking Boom Is Already Here; Shale Gas Drillers Are Already Abandoning Their Wells - By Justin Mikulka, Powering The Planet [PA Examples] [PaEN]
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Fate Of Butterflies And More Depends On Us - ‘We Are The Stewards And Caretakers Of This World, The Only World That We Have, It’s Time We Started Acting Like It’ [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Energy Age Blog: DEP Invites Comments On Draft Guidance For Land Application Of Excess Water From Shale Gas Well Development Impoundments
-- ABCNews: Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells Bring Fears Of Leak Dangers, ABC News Investigation Finds
-- Utility Dive: New York Utilities Urge FERC To Adopt Natural Gas Pipeline Reliability Requirements
-- Philadelphia Tribune Guest Essay: Natural Gas Is Dirty, LNG Gas Proponents Don’t Just Ignore The Facts, They Ignore The Human Toll - By Ben Jealous, Executive Director Sierra Club, University of Pennsylvania Professor
-- E&ENews/Politico: New Republican Administration’s LNG Gas Export Plans Rely On 1970s Safety Rules
-- Inside Climate News: Why The Argument LNG Gas Exports Are Essential To Energy Transition Is ‘Nonsense’
-- Reuters: New Administration Promised Swift Action On LNG Gas Exports, But Advisers Preaching Patience
-- TribLive Letter: Natural Gas Drives Benefits Across PA - By Moody & Associates, Largest Shale Gas Drilling Consultant
[Posted: January 8, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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