DEP issued a Field Order on June 16, 2025 to submit an evaluation of all 53 wells within 60 days that provides an outline and schedule to either produce or plug each of the wells.
Violations were issued for abandoning and not plugging the wells, failure to comply with the order and failing to operate the wells in compliance with the law and regulations (many were venting gas.)
Click Here for a list of the wells and links to DEP’s inspection reports.
DEP requested a response by September 3. Click Here for one inspection report.
Griffin Summit Oil Company holds 54 permits, including one other abandoned well.
437 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 437 violations to 97 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
The violations were issued to these conventional owners in 2025: 3D Resources LLC ; All American Energy Inc.; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; ARG Resources Inc.; Baird Oil Co.; Baron Crest Energy Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Blackrock Enterprises LLC; Darrel B. Blauser; JJ Bucher Producing Corp; Chris E. Burke; Consolidated Coal Co.; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Edward E. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Dannic Energy Corp.; Harold H. Davis; Lewis E. Davis; Paul H. Deeter; Delong Oil Inc.; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; East Resources Inc.; Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc.; Eastern Natural Resources LLC; Elder Oil & Gas Co; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Ex-Treme Oil And Gas LLC; Greenway Energy LLC; Michael Harju; Harry L. King; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; David H. Melat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; James J. & Wendelin H. Neff; Charles F. & Rita M. Niederriter; Niche Energy LLC; Nucomer Energy LLC; Ohio Kentucky Oil Corp. ; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Old MTN Gas Co. Inc.; OneXXX Prod & Exploration Corp.; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pecora Enterprises; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Penta Oil Corp.; Robert F. Phipps; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; The Production Co. LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Riyan Farm & Gas LLC; Raymond Sawyer; Rocksauce OPR LLC; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Lyle D. Smith; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; Steele Molar Holdings LLC; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Griffin Summit Oil Company; Thomas Thurma Jean; TI Brook Inc.; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Mervin Troyer; Valley Green Golf & Country Club, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc..
63 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 65 violations to 23 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
The shale gas well owners given violations in 2025 include: Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; CNX Gas Co. LLC; Diversified Prod LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; EQT Production Co.; Frontier Natural Resources; Hilcorp Energy Co; Hilcorp Energy Co.; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; STL Resources LLC; Taft Operating LLC .
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.
(Photo: Abandoned Griffin Pekelnicky 37 conventional well venting gas to the atmosphere.)
[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 - August 23 to 29 - Township Declares Disaster Emergency Over Polluted Water Wells; 70 More Abandoned Conventional Well Violations [PaEN]
-- DEP: Griffin Summit Oil Co. Violated Order To Plug Or Bring 53 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Into Compliance In Venango County; 437 Abandoned Conventional Well NOVs In 2025 [PaEN]
-- DEP Closes Violations For Failing To Restore Shale Gas Water Impoundment For 7 Years In Clarion County After Owner Reports Using It To Frack A Well; On July 31 [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Sept. 9 Virtual Update On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Rupture In Upper Wakefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]
-- DEP Plugs 2 Conventional Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners And Venting Gas In Erie County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 30 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments Stormwater Permit For The Hyperion Midstream 2 Mile Long Titan To Athena Loop Natural Gas Pipeline Project In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 66 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 30 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Oct. 1 Hearing On Title V Air Quality Permit For Vitro Meadville Flat Glass In Crawford County [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years-- We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water [PaEN]
-- Inside Climate News: Pennsylvania Towns Push Back To Stop Proposed LNG Gas Export Terminals, As President Pushes LNG Exports
-- Environmental Quality Board Meets Sept. 9 To Consider 2 Petitions From Oil & Gas Industry; Air Quality; Laboratory; Drinking Water; Water Quality; Radiation Protection Regulations [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office: Residential Electricity Bills ‘Begin Surge:’ Natural Gas Prices Up 71%, PJM Prices Up Due To A.I. Data Center Demand [PaEN]
-- US DOE Orders Eddystone Generating Station To Remain In Operation For 90 More Days In Delaware County [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It -- A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week - August 31 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Williamsport Sun: DEP Assesses Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill In Williamsport, Orders Company To Take Corrective Measures [PDF of Article]
-- The Center Square: Republican Rep. Ortitay Wants To Expand Natural Gas Drilling On State Land, Raise Other Revenue To Replace School Property Taxes
-- YourErie.com: DEP Plugs Conventional Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners And Venting Gas In Erie Residential Area
-- Utility Dive: EIA Projects Record Residential, Commercial Natural Gas Consumption To Offset Decreases In Power Generation [Underappreciated Risks To Gas Use By A.I. Data Center Customers]
[Posted: August 27, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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