Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between March 22 to 28--
Click Here for violations issued.
Click Here for inspection entries.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of March 21--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 200 conventional, 6 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 1,029 conventional and 293 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 95 conventional and 39 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 487 conventional and 357 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 4,434 conventional and 6,478 unconventional
Another Conventional Well Explosion
Kriebel Natural Gas Co LLC - Violations: Failed To Manage Production Fluids, Wastewater
March 25, 2025 inspection of the Wissinger 001 conventional well in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County in response to a report of an explosion at the well site. An explosion of the production storage tank occurred at 10:25 a.m while the well tender was blowing out the well. DEP arrived on site at 11:30 a.m.
“It appears that a faulty tank ground on the poly brine tank allowed static electricity to build up and during the process of "blowing the well" to the tank, which is a common practice to remove brine/fluids from the well-bore to allow gas to be produced in higher quantities, it is believed that static charge then ignited the gas vapors in the tank causing a flash fire and extreme pressure that resulted in the tank explosion and also the fire to be immediately extinguished.
“At that time the well tender, who was blowing the well and at the wellhead, immediately shut the well in. No injuries were reported. DEP inspection report Part 3.
A large piece of the production tank landed about 30 feet from its original site and the remainder of the tank was found 140 feet away. DEP inspection report Part 2.
About 420 gallons of oil and wastewater was released and heavily contaminated an area of about 40 feet around the production equipment. The contamination also went into a ditch and traveled roughly 120 feet down slope from the site.
Steps were being taken to remediate the site during the inspection.
Violations issued. Response requested by April 9. DEP inspection report Part I.
On March 19, firefighters and DEP responded to another explosion and fire at a conventional well owned by Kriebel Natural Gas Co LLC in Manor Borough, Westmoreland County. Read more here.
17 Abandoned Conventional Wells
Amer Natural Resources LLC - Violations: 7 Wells, Failed to Comply With Plugging Order (63 Months)
March 20, 2025 inspections of 7 conventional wells in Allegheny County found them abandoned and not plugged and as a result the owner failed to comply with a DEP order issued on December 12, 2019 to plug the wells. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. No request made of well owner. Amer Natural Resources holds 49 permits. The wells included--
-- Aleppo Twp.: Merle Minick Unit 1; Merle Minick Unit 2;
-- Glenfield Boro: John Straka Unit 1; John Straka Unit 2
-- Ohio Twp.: Grove/Grambo Unit 1; Grove/Grambo Unit 2; John Lenzner Unit 1
Chris E. Burke - Violations: Conventional Abandoned Well
March 26, 2025 inspection of the BE Burke 122-3 conventional well in Jackson Township, Greene County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Well owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Well completed in 2011. Violations issued. Response requested by April 16. Burke holds 1 permit. DEP inspection report.
Keystone Crude LLC - Violations: Conventional Abandoned Well
March 25, 2025 inspection of the BN McCormick 1 conventional well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the well abandoned and not plugged and leaking gas. Well owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Response requested by April 10. Keystone holds 34 permits. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: 4 Abandoned Conventional Wells
March 17 - 21, 2025 inspections of three conventional wells in Indiana, Mercer and Westmoreland County found them abandoned and not plugged. Response requested by April 10 or 11.
-- Indiana County, Armstrong Twp.: ESSIE E Dible 4 4
-- Indiana County, Grant Twp.: JH Weaver & Company 8
-- Mercer County, Findley Twp.: Nelson 4
-- Westmoreland County, Washington Twp.: Rachel Fulton 681 (from complaint)
Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig: - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well, No Reports
March 17, 2025 inspection of the John Jameson 3 conventional well in Fairview Township, Butler County found it abandoned and not plugged. Also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Response requested by April 4. The Craigs hold 8 permits. DEP inspection report.
EQT Production Co. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
March 21, 2025 inspection found the David Spangler 454 conventional well in Monroeville Borough, Allegheny County abandoned and not plugged. First plug failed to stop the flow of gas. Response requested by April 10. DEP inspection report.
Red Lion Gas Coop Assn. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
March 14, 2025 inspection of the Mark Williams 1 conventional well in Jefferson Township, Fayette County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued February 7, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by April 14. Red Lion holds two permits. DEP inspection report.
Reel Resources, Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well, Leaking Gas (30 Months)
March 14, 2025 inspection of the W. Clyde Swank 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County found it abandoned, not plugged and still leaking gas. Original violations September 7, 2022. Violations continued. Response requested by April 14. Reel hotels 40 permits. DEP inspection report.
1 Abandoned Shale Gas Well
Apex Energy (PA) LLC - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well
March 19, 2025 inspection of the Marian Laskowski 7 shale gas well in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County found it abandoned and not plugged. Failed to have emergency response plan. Well drilled in 2008. Response requested by April 9. DEP inspection report.
[Note: DEP inspected the Marian Laskowski 6 shale gas well March 6 in Hempfield Township and also found it abandoned and not plugged. DEP inspection report.]
Methane Reduction Plugging Grants
Curtis Oil Inc.
March 26, 2025 inspections of 11 conventional wells in Lafayette, and Otto Townships, McKean County related to Methane Reduction Plugging Grants.
113 Abandoned Conventional, 39 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations 2025
Abandoned Conventional: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 113 violations to 39 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apollo Resources LLC; Baird Oil Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Chris E. Burke; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Keystone Crude LLC; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC, PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Thomas Thurma Jean; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring].
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.
Abandoned Shale Gas: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 40 violations to 10 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; Rice Drilling B LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
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.
Water Supply/Stray Gas Investigation
Indiana County, Armstrong Township
On March 26, 2025 DEP did a water supply complaint stray gas investigation inspection s of Diversified Prod LLC conventional wells-- Ralph E. Greene 4133, Ralph E. Greene 3, RE Greene 5 and Vera Trimarchi 4, Vera Trimarchi 4863; Greylock Conventional LLC’s Lions Health Camp 3 well; Greylock OPC LLC Fisher & Peelor 1 and Dorothy A. Musser 1 wells; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc. Clyde McQuown 2 well and was unable to detect any gas leaks from these wells
Spills & Releases
Bear Lake Prop LLC - Incident: Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Spill
March 25, 2025 inspection of a shale gas wastewater pipeline 600 feet east of and serving the Bittinger 4 oil and gas wastewater injection well in Columbus Township, Warren County found Bear Lake starting to investigate the extent of contamination from a pipeline spill. The release was discovered on November 8, 2024 by DEP during a routine inspection. DEP expects Bear Lake to begin excavating to identify the source and full extent of the pipeline leak. DEP inspection report.
A major wastewater spill was discovered at the Bittinger 4 injection well by DEP on October 25, 2024 that went unreported by the owner for 109 days. Read more here.
Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. - Violations: Wastewater, Fluids Spill
March 24, 2025 inspection of the Mary Kunkle 5 conventional well in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County found no effort was made to clean up multiple wastewater and fluid spills on the site. Original violations issued February 27. Well owner did not respond to that violation notice. Violations continued. Response requested by April 9. DEP inspection report.
Coterra Energy Inc. - Violations: Ethylene Glycol Spill
March 18, 2025 inspection at the Zick shale gas well pad in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County in response to a notification of an ethylene glycol spill found a leak occurred from a glycol drum inside a secondary containment barrel that was rusted and then onto the well pad. An estimated 47 gallons of glycol was involved, but DEP referred the pad owner to the Act 2 Land Recycling Program for cleanup procedures and standards. Violations issued. Requested response by April 8. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 37 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Defective Shale Well Casing/Cement
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations: 4 Shale Gas Wells Defective Casing/Cement (41 Months)
March 24, 2025 inspection of the Koromlan 1H, 4H, 6H, 107HC shale gas wells in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County during pressure testing resulted in DEP continuing the defective well casing and cement violations originally issued on October 14, 2021. Further testing will be required and evaluated at the end of 2025. DEP inspection report.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Wells Defective Casing/Cement (14 Years)
March 21, 2025 inspection of the Kipar 5H shale gas well in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County to monitor well pressure resulted in DEP continuing the defective well casing and cement violations originally issued on April 11, 2011 for this well. Continuing monitoring. No request for further actions. DEP inspection report.
Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Defective Casing/Cement
March 12, 2025 inspection of the Camp Comfort shale gas well pad and O7 well in Middletown Township, Susquehanna County to monitor well pressures resulted in DEP continuing the defective well casing and cement violations originally issued on September 29, 2017. Continuing monitoring. No request for further action. DEP inspection report.
Leaking Gas
HR McClure - Violations: Leaking Gas, Failure To Submit Reports
March 11, 2025 inspection of the Gordon Williams 02 conventional well in Franklin Township, Greene County found the well continues to leak gas and the owner failed to submit annual production (for 5 years), waste generation (or 5 years) and well integrity reports. Original violations issued August 27, 2024. Violations continued. Response requested by March 25. DEP inspection report.
` Erosion & Sedimentation
Apollo Resources LLC - Violations: Erosion & Sedimentation, Failure To Submit Reports
March 24, 2025 inspection of the Maria Cicero 2 conventional well in Grant Township, Indiana County as a result of a complaint found significant erosion and sedimentation problems at the site and on the access road. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by April 7. 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 -- Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. conventional storage tank continues to leak; Reel Resources, Inc. leaking for 30 months; Bittinger pipeline release; EQT Production Co. failed conventional well plug; Bear Lake Prop LLC shale gas waste pipeline leak serving Bittinger 4 wastewater injection well; Row 2-- Kriebel Natural Gas Co LLC 2nd conventional gas well explosion (3); Apex Energy (PA) LLC abandoned shale gas; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig abandoned conventional 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 Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 22 to 28 - Failed To Comply With Well Plugging Order For 63 Months; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Hit 113; Another Conventional Well Explosion, Same Owner [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - March 29 [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold May 7 Hearing On Proposed Title V Air Quality Permit For Tennessee Gas Pipeline Compressor Station 219 In Jefferson Twp., Mercer County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On 401 Water Quality Certification For Rover Pipeline Rover-Bulger Compressor Station, Harmon Creek Meter Station Expansion In Smith Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For A MarkWest Liberty 4.5 Mile, 20-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline In Allegheny, Washington Counties Impacting Montour Trail Property [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Permit For Kratos Cryptocurrency Mining Facility Powered By Natural Gas In Clinton County [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 50 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In February [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 103 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In March 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Criminal Convictions; Record Penalties, Restitution Of Over $158.3 Million Highlight Big Shale Gas, Related Petrochemical Industry Compliance History In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
-- DEP Reports 575 Water Supply/Stray Gas Complaints About Oil & Gas Operations In Last 2 Years; Investigation Can Take A Year, Sometimes 2-3 To Find Those Responsible [PaEN]
-- Daily Grind Living Next To Oil & Gas Industry: Spills, Polluted Water Supplies, Smells Like Gas, Noise, Air Pollution, Explosions, Truck Traffic, Erosion, Radioactive Waste, Gas Flares, Dust, Lights, Road Dumping Waste, Abandoned Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP Soliciting Bids On 3rd Conventional Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Plugging Contract For 19 Wells In Clarion, Jefferson Counties At Taxpayer Expense [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission: Low Stream Flows Triggering Restrictions On 19 Shale Gas Water Withdrawals, 17 More Approaching Restrictions [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Releases Natural Gas Industry Water Use Report 2019-2023
-- PUC Launches Review Of Electric Grid Impacts From Data Center Growth, Sets April 24 Hearing [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Reliability Initiative Attracts 94 Applications For 26.6 GW Of New Electric Generation Capacity; Reviews To Be Completed By 2026; List Of Projects Not Available Now [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Courier Times: Bucks County Residents Suing Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline For Pipeline Leak That Poisoned Drinking Water
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Pennsylvania Caps 300 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In 2 Years
-- The Energy Age Blog: Fracking Under Ohio’s Largest State Park Gets Underway; How The Industry Has Changed Guernsey County
-- High Country News: President Halts Historic Orphaned Oil & Gas Well Plugging Program
-- PA Capital-Star: PA Public Utility Commission Sets Hearing On A.I. Data Centers’ Impacts On Electricity Grid
-- Utility Dive: PJM Fast-Track Interconnection Process Draws 26.6 GW In New Electric Generation Capacity
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Expect Higher Electric Bills This Summer By As Much As 20% [Thousands Of Energy Projects Stuck In PJM Review] - By Rob Altenburg, PennFuture
-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Blog: More Bad Ideas To Promote Natural Gas, More Clean Energy Solutions For Load Growth - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Fmr DEP Secretary
[Posted: March 29, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment