Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between May 10 to 16--
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 May 9--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 144 conventional, 9 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 1,912 conventional and 448 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 188 conventional and 60 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 319 conventional and 349 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 7,429 conventional and 9,621 unconventional
18 More Abandoned Conventional Wells
Stockman LLC - Violations: 3 Abandoned Conventional Wells (3 Months)
May 14, 2015 follow-up inspection of the Pipher 1, Pipher 2 and Pipher 3 conventional wells in Parker Township, Butler County found no action was taken to plug the abandoned wells. Original violations were issued March 5, 2025 for abandonment and for failing to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports . DEP was in contact with the owner and there was confusion over which well was which, but there was no confusion over whether the wells were abandoned and not plugged. No specific deadline set for a response. Stockman holds 8 permits.
Prosperity Oil Co Inc. - Violations: 9 Abandoned Conventional Wells
May 8, 2025 inspection of 9 conventional wells in Hanover Township, Washington County found them all abandoned and not plugged. Other violations include failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Three wells have violations for these infractions dating from August 3, 2023. The wells include: A. Bailey 5; AG Burns 8; AM Armor 4; AM Armor 6; Bubbitt 8; Bubbitt 9; Bubbitt 12; JH Wilson 2; J&R R. Purdy 7. No response requested. Prosperity Oil holds 62 permits.
[Note: DEP has issued at least one well plugging order against Prosperity Oil and has taken other enforcement actions to try to bring the company into compliance. Read more here. Read more here.]
Prosperity Oil Co Inc. - Violations: 6 Abandoned Conventional Wells
April 22, 2025 inspection of 6 conventional wells in Hanover Township, Washington County found them all abandoned and not plugged. Other violations include failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. The wells include: J. Coventry 5; J Coventry 9, JJ Andrews 3, JJ Andrews 4; J. Neely 2; T&J Burns 4. Three of the wells have violations for these infractions dating from September 21, 2023. Old violations continued, new violations issued. Response requested by June 12.
Failure To Comply With Plugging Order
Reel Resources Inc. - Violations: Failure To Comply With Well Plugging Order
May 6, 2025 follow-up inspection of the W. Clyde Swank 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned, no preparations underway to plug the well and venting gas. DEP issued an order to plug the well on April 23, 2025 and plugging was to commence within 10 days. The original violations for well abandonment, venting gas and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports date from March 6, 2020. New violation issued for failing to comply with a DEP order. Response requested by May 21. DEP inspection report. Reel Resources holds 40 permits.
197 Abandoned Conventional, 39 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations 2025
Abandoned Conventional: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 197 violations to 55 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; Baird Oil Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Chris E. Burke; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Paul H. Deeter; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Keystone Crude LLC; Harry L. King; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Niche Energy LLC; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; 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].
Abandoned Shale Gas: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 41 violations to 11 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.; LPR Energy LLC; Rice Drilling B LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
Response Continues To Consol Water Supply Contamination
Consol PA Coal Co. LLC - Violations: Water Supply Contamination From Well Plugging
May 12, 2025 inspection of the Brown 1447 conventional well in Morris Township, Greene County found continued evidence of water supply and spring contamination from a well plugging operation that started on April 22 [Read more here.] Consol continues to collect contaminated water for treatment from a contaminated livestock trough and springs. DEP said Consol is in compliance with its schedule for remediating the contamination. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.
Water Supply Contamination/Stray Gas Investigations
Clarion County, Monroe Township (5 Months)
May 15, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Titus Energy LLC Johnson 1 conventional well is a result of a complaint of gas detected at the foundation of a home within about 650 feet of this well. Gas was found to be bubbling up in the annular space between casings of the Johnson 1 well indicating well integrity issues. Similar conditions were found during a January 24, 2025 inspection and the owner was requested to follow-up on the gas leak and submit mechanical integrity reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The owner failed to respond. This time DEP issued violations as a result of the May 15 inspection. Response requested by May 31. DEP inspection report.
Indiana County, Armstrong Township (2 Months)
May 14, 2025 follow-up inspection of the US Energy Exploration Corp. Fred A. Musser GW1840 conventional well is a result of an ongoing stray gas migration case involving a private water supply about 1,700 feet from this well. Gas was found venting out of 4 slam bar holes around the wellhead and from the surface casing of the well itself. Original violations for well integrity failure and venting gas were issued March 26, 2025. No action was taken by the owner to correct the problems or conduct an investigation of well integrity. The well was also inspected on April 11, 2025 and May 1, 2025. DEP inspection report.
Jefferson County, Rose Township
May 8, 2025 inspection of KSM Energy Inc. Russell F. Allshouse 3705 conventional well as part of an ongoing stray gas water supply contamination investigation found no gas leaking from the well, however there was observable, severe corrosion and signs of mechanical failure in the wellhead and casing. The well is about 2,200 feet from the contaminated water supply. The owner was asked to determine if the well should be plugged or returned to production within 30 days. No violations issued. DEP inspection report.
Venango County, Pinegrove Township
May 13, 2025 inspection of the Steven E. Rensma Rensma 19 conventional well about 425 feet from the water supply being investigated for stray gas contamination found the well was not leaking gas. The well was plugged. No requests made. DEP inspection report.
The Donald C. Taylor Kathleen B Fox 1 conventional well about 290 feet from the water supply was also inspected and no leaking gas was detected. DEP inspection report. Fox 1, Fox P1, Fox3, Fox 4 and Fox 5 were also inspected and no gas was detected. DEP noted the last known owner of the Taylor wells is deceased and no viable owners have been found.
Spills & Releases
CC Wharton Estate - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Releases (19 Months)
May 13, 2025 inspection of the McCown 1 conventional well in Cecil Township, Washington County found wastewater releases and other violations first discovered by DEP on November 17, 2023 as a result of a complaint have not been cleaned up or addressed. There has been no response from the well owner from violations issued in 2023 and March 8, 2024. Response requested by May 23. DEP inspection report. CC Wharton holds 12 permits.
2,000 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill Into Stream
Marcellus Drilling News reported that on May 12, 2025 a tank truck carrying shale gas wastewater rolled over and down an embankment into a stream listing about 2,000 gallons into a stream in Sullivan Township, Tioga County. The driver was not hurt. Read more here.
Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Releases (3 Months)
May 13, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Mary Kunkle 5 conventional well in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County found no progress had been made on cleaning up wastewater and other fluid releases at the site found on March 24, 2025. The well was also venting gas and the road leading to the well was overgrown. There has been no response to the original violations issued on February 27, 2025. Violations continued. No request made of owner. DEP inspection report. Oil & Gas MGMT holds 163 permits.
Diversified Production LLC - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Release
May 6, 2025 inspection of the AJ Stahura 8 conventional well in Susquehanna Township, Cambria County in response to a notification by the owner of a spill found evidence of a release from the wastewater tank that traveled down slope but did not enter a stream. The owner suspected the release of an estimated 1,260 gallons of wastewater was caused by trespassing vandals opening the wastewater tank valve. Remediation was underway at the time of the inspection. Violations issued. Response requested by May 27. DEP inspection report.
Timberline Energy Inc. - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Release (7 Months)
May 2, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Garmer 3 conventional well site in Porter Township, Clairon County found much work had been done to remediate the wastewater release discovered on October 30, 2024, but it was not yet complete. Repairs to a timber bridge on the access road leading to the well were also not complete. DEP inspection report. Timberline holds 730 permits.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 65 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Wells Venting Gas
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Conventional Well Venting Gas
May 12, 2025 inspection of the Rush 3 conventional gas well in Jefferson Township, Fayette County found the well venting gas. Violations issued. Response requested by June 12. DEP inspection report.
Pipeline Slope Failures/ E&S Violations
EQT Production Co. - Violations: Recurring Slope Failures
May 13, 2025 inspection of the Energy Cynic to Soles Water Pipeline right-of-way in Springhill Township, Greene County found recurring violations related to slope failures first inspected by DEP on April 9, 2025. DEP noted repair work had been done, but the slopes may have slipped again. Violations were continued. Response requested by May 30. DEP inspection report.
[Note: DEP and pipeline owners are concerned about slope failures because some can put stress on pipelines. A 2018 explosion of the brand new Revolution Gas Pipeline in Beaver County was found to be due to slope failure and poor construction practices.]
Equitrans Water SVC (PA) LLC - Violations: Continuing E&S Violations
May 13, 2025 follow-up inspection of the NIMCH006 shale gas water pipeline in Union Township, Washington County found continuing violations and failure to construct erosion and sedimentation controls as required by their permit. While work has been done since the violations were first discovered on April 22, much work is left to do. Almost all the violations originally issued were continued. No response requested. DEP inspection report.
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC - Violations: Slope Failure, E&S Issues
May 6, 2025 inspection of the project to expose 4 natural gas pipelines ahead of longwall underground coal mining in Donegal Township, Washington County [Read more here] in response to a land slip found multiple erosion and sedimentation violations and a land slope failure affecting a local road. The pipelines themselves did not “appear to be in jeopardy.” Violations were issued for erosion and sedimentation issues. No response requested. 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-- CC Wharton Estate failed to do anything to correct conventional well spills for 19 months and counting-- contaminated pond; Equitrans Water SVC (PA) LLC continuing shale gas water pipeline construction violations; Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. continuing release from under conventional wastewater tank; Stockman LLC owns 1 of 3 abandoned, unplugged conventional wells; Row 2-- US Energy Exploration Corp. gas venting from conventional well, part of stray gas investigation; Titus Energy LLC bubbling as from conventional well, part of stray gas investigation; Diversified Production LLCDiversified Production LLC 1,260 gallon conventional wastewater tank leak caused brown vegetation; Prosperity Oil Co Inc. owns one of 9 abandoned conventional wells, full wastewater tank; Row 3-- MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC project exposing 4 gas pipelines to prevent damage from underground mining with multiple erosion and sedimentation violations, land slip; Reel Resources Inc. failed to comply with order to plug conventional well; KSM Energy Inc. severely corroded conventional well inspected as part of a water supply contamination investigation; Consol PA Coal Co. LLC collects contaminated water from springs and a livestock water supply polluted by a conventional well plugging operation April 22.)
[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 - May 10 to 16 -- 18 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Failure To Comply With Plugging Order; 2,000 Gallon Wastewater Spill; Consol Still Cleaning Up Water Supply Contamination [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 17 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 91 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 17 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Defense Fund Blog: Another Study Identifies Health Risks During Unconventional Oil & Gas Production Even For Those Living Within 1,000 Feet Or More Of Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Quality Plan Approval For Expansion Of Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues RFP For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Services On Time & Materials Basis As Needed [PaEN]
-- US House Republicans Eliminate Funding For The Federal Methane Emissions Reduction Program, Including PA's MERP Grant Program To Plug Conventional Oil & Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- Avonlea Environmental Technologies Reports Success Of Oil & Gas Wastewater Lithium Extraction Pilot Plant In Susquehanna County [PaEN]
-- Rise Of The Machines: Senate, House Members Express Concern That Demand For Power To Run Computers Is Impacting The Price And Availability Of Electricity For ‘Ordinary People’ [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: Lightning Plan Tax Credit Bill, Community Energy Pass PA House [PaEN]
-- Penn State University To Host Online Solar Law Symposium Aug. 21 [PaEN]
-- PUC Sets June Hearings On Proposed 11.4% Natural Gas Rate Increase By Columbia Gas [PaEN]
-- PennLive: PPL Customers Will See Another Rate Increase June 1 - 16% [Due To Regional Electric Market Issues]
-- US EIA: US Natural Gas Prices Double Last Year Due To LNG Exports, Demand Driving Electricity Prices Higher This Summer [PaEN]
-- North American Electric Reliability Corp.: Record Load Growth From Data Centers, High Temperatures Expected To Strain Electric Grid This Summer [PaEN]
-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Summer Electricity Assessment Sees Adequate Generating Resources To Meet Normal Operating Conditions; Higher Natural Gas Prices Driving Electricity Prices Higher [PaEN]
-- Better Path Coalition Hosts May 21 Webinar On Regional Water Use Policy And Siting Data Center Facilities [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Allegheny Front - Julie Grant: PA Senate Bill Would Cut Drilling Impact Fees For Communities That Restrict Fracking
-- Farm And Dairy: PA Bill Could Pull Funding From Communities That Restrict Oil And Gas Activity
-- Olean Times Herald: EPA Hears Concerns About 2nd Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Fracking Halted At Encino Shale Gas Well Pad In Ohio Linked To Earthquakes [PDF of Article]
-- WFMJ: Fracking Halted At Ohio Shale Gas Well Pad Following Earthquakes In The Area
-- Scranton Times: NE PA Could Become Major Supplier Of Lithium For Batteries
-- PA Capital-Star: Is Congress Trampling On State Laws Protecting Property Rights Against Pipelines
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Truck Hauling Shale Gas Wastewater Overturns Loses 2,000 Gallons In Stream, Driver Not Injured [PDF of Article]
-- PublicSource.org - Jake Vasilias: Peering Into A Shale Gas Driller’s Pledge Of ‘Radical Transparency’ [CNX Resources]
-- FracTracker Alliance: CNX Not-So-Radical Transparency Provides Incomplete Information, Heavily Downplays Dangers Of Shale Gas Development
-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA House Approves Shapiro’s Energy Plan Tax Credit Bill
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: NRG Buys 5 PA Gas Power Plants To Meet ‘Supercycle’ Of Demand By Data Centers; Refitted To Run As Baseload Plants
-- Vistra To Acquire 2 Natural Gas Power Plants In PA, Other States
-- Bloomberg: Vistra Buys Power Plants From Lotus Infrastructure Partners In PA, Other States To Power A.I. Data Centers
-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA Regional Power Grid Operator Sees Manageable Summer Peak Load, But A Slight Risk Of ‘Running Short’
-- PennLive: PPL Customers Will See Another Rate Increase June 1 - 16% [Due To Regional Electric Market Issues]
-- Financial Times: Constellation Energy, Other Companies Abandon Almost Half the Projects In $5 Billion Texas Program To Fund Natural Gas Power Plants Due To Costs, Supply Chain Delays [Sen. Yaw Wants A Program Like This In PA]
-- WHYY: President Wants To End LIHEAP, 300,000 PA Households Could Struggle To Pay Heating Bills
-- TribLive: New Kensington’s Re:Build To Boost US Production Capacity For Renewable Hydrogen In Westmoreland County
-- TribLive Guest Essay: Hydrogen Future Begins In Western PA - If We Seize It - By ConservAmerica
-- Reuters: US, Europe Drive Global Power Plant Emissions Higher So Far In 2025
[Posted: May 17, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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