PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 26 to August 1- Coterra Contaminates 13 More Water Wells; Shale Driller Fails To Restore 16 Well Sites; Dewatering Abandoned Impoundment Halted; Another Pipeline Construction Spill

From July 26 to August 1, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 857 inspection entries and late-posted inspection reports from previous weeks.

Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between July 26 to August 1--

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 July 25--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 26 conventional, 12 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 3,317 conventional and 757 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2025: 274 conventional and 94 unconventional (orders, agreements)

-- Inspections Last Week: 182 conventional and 390 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 10,949 conventional and 14,575 unconventional

Coterra Energy Fined $299,000 For Contaminating 13 Private Water Supplies

On June 12, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection and Coterra Energy Inc. signed a Consent Order and Agreement requiring Coterra to pay a $299,000 penalty and submit a plan within 90 days to permanently restore or replace 13 private water supplies contaminated by shale gas drilling from the Housel R Well Pad in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County. Read more here.

Lenox Township is located just a few miles from Dimock Township where Coterra Energy pleaded no contest to criminal charges by the Office of Attorney General for contaminating 21 water supplies and paid a penalty of $444,000 in December 2022. Read more here. Coterra Energy holds 826 permits.

Pin Oak Energy Partners Failed To Restore 16 Well Sites Since 2023

On June 16, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection signed a Consent Order and Agreement with Pin Oak Energy Partners LLC to address the failure of the company and its predecessor to restore 16 shale gas well sites and an impoundment in Beaver County since 2023. Read more here.

The facilities include sites in Big Beaver Borough (1), Chippewa Township (2), Greene Township (1), Industry Borough (1), Ohioville Borough (3) and South Beaver Township (8). Pin Oak Energy holds 907 permits, including 2 abandoned wells..

2nd Spill From Horizontal Drilling At EQM Gathering Pipeline Project

On July 29, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the EQM Gathering OPCO LLC NINFS004 Pipeline construction project in Nottingham Township, Washington County in response to a July 28 complaint and a notification by the owner of a second “inadvertent return” spill from horizontal drilling.

EQM Gathering is a subsidiary of Equitrans Midstream Corp. that was recently acquired by EQT Corporation. Read more here.

Dewatering Abandoned Shale Gas Impoundment Halted

On July 22, 2025 the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the abandoned Laurel Mountain Production Stacey Road Freshwater Impoundment dewatering operation in Perry Township, Clarion County. Dewatering consists of pumping water out of the impoundment and spraying it on surrounding vegetation. Dewatering started on July 8, but was halted by DEP on July 18 after the dewatering plan was not accepted by DEP and initial sampling of the impoundment water and during dewatering was not completed. [DEP inspection report July 15] The July 22 inspection confirmed the pump had been removed and no dewatering was going on. The impoundment was last used on May 12, 2018 and should have been restored 9 months after that date. [Read more here.] No response requested of owner. DEP inspection report.

12 Conventional Abandoned Wells

Riyan Farm & Gas LLC [40 Months]

July 30, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Yahner 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Cambria County found the well continued to be abandoned and not plugged and the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations go back to at least March 10, 2022. Violations were renewed again on November 1, 2024. Violations continued. Response requested by August 14. DEP inspection report. Riyan Farm holds 1 permit.

Blackrock Enterprises LLC [7 Months]

July 30, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Leland W. Walker 1 4205 conventional well in Jenner Township, Somerset County found the well continues to be abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity. Original violations issued January 23, 2025 and the owner failed to take any steps to correct the violations. Response due August 14. DEP inspection report. Blackrock holds 32 permits.

Nucomer Energy LLC [1 Month]

July 30, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Paul E. Petruska 2 conventional well in Washington Township, Erie County found the well inaccessible due to the growth of vegetation [which was evidence the owner failed to address the well abandonment violation].. Original violations for well abandonment, failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports were issued June 4, 2025 and continued. Response requested by August 13. DEP inspection report. Nucomer holds 40 permits, including 1 abandoned well, but not this one..

The Paul E. Petruska 1 conventional well nearby was also inspected and other violations continued on that site. DEP inspection report.

Harold H. Davis

July 28, 2025 inspection of the Robinson 4 and Robinson 5 conventional wells in Allegheny Township, Butler County found them both abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity. Neither well was inspected before. Violations issued, including a formal written NOV (something new). Response requested by August 14. Davis holds 5 permits. Davis holds 5 permits.

Raymond J. Kaufman

July 28, 2025 inspections of 9 never before inspected conventional wells in Allegheny Township, Butler County found 5 of the wells abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity. The wells included Kaufman 6, Kaufman 7, Kaufman 11, Kaufman 13, and Indian Springs 1. Violations issued, including a formal written NOV (something new). Response requested by August 14. DEP inspection report. Kaufman holds 9 permits.

Consolidated Coal Co.

July 28, 2025 inspection of the Consolidated Coal Company 21 conventional well in Wayne Township, Greene County found the well bent over, abandoned, not plugged and venting gas. Violations issued. Response requested by August 20. DEP inspection report.

All American Energy Inc.

July 25, 2025 inspection of the J. Stewart 3 conventional well in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County found the well abandoned, not plugged and leaking gas. Response requested by August 4. DEP inspection report. All American Energy holds 101 permits.

343 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations 2025

Abandoned Conventional Wells: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 343 violations to 81 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [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; Chris E. Burke; Consolidated Coal Co.; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Dannic Energy Corp.; Harold H. Davis; Paul H. Deeter; Delong Oil Inc.; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; East Resources Inc.; Eastern Natural Resources LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Ex-Treme Oil And Gas LLC; Michael Harju; Harry L. King; Howard Drilling Inc.; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; 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; 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; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Penta Oil Corp.; Robert F. Phipps; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Riyan Farm & Gas LLC; 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.; Mervin Troyer; Valley Green Golf & Country Club, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.].

2 Abandoned Shale Gas Well/Well Interference

LPR Energy LLC

July 16, 2025 inspection of the Humberston Unit 1H shale gas well in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County found the well continues to be abandoned and not plugged and venting gas from an open annulus. The owner has failed to comply with an August 31, 2021 consent order and agreement to plug the well before the end of 2024. Original violation for failure to comply with an order was issued on January 1, 2025. Response requested by August 15. DEP inspection report. LPR Energy holds 42 permits.

LPR Energy is also responsible for one other abandoned shale gas well- PMG Baird 1H in Lower Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County.

MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.

July 25, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Export Fuel 1 shale gas well in Salem Township, Westmoreland County continued to find the well abandoned and not plugged due to lack of production. A well integrity report submitted in 2024 does not note any issues with integrity. Another well integrity report was submitted on February 12, 2025. The original abandonment violation was issued on April 16, 2025. The owner said the intent now is to attempt to return the well to production. Response requested by August 20. DEP inspection report.

In March 2023, the Export Fuel 1 shale gas well was involved in a “communication” incident with two Olympus Energy LLC [now EQT] shale gas wells from the Athena well pad in Washington Township, Westmoreland County. DEP inspection reports: March 10, 2023, March 13, 2023. MTN V Oil holds 1,011 permits.

Fracking of two wells on the Athena well pad interfered with the Export Fuel 1 well, according to DEP, and the well was monitored for a period of time after that. Read more here.

Abandoned Shale Gas Wells: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 60 violations to 22 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Blackhill Energy 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.; 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].

Conventional Spills/Releases

Raymond D. Langer [31 months]

July 29, 2025 inspection and compliance evaluation for the Lorish 1 and Choeller 1 conventional wells in Robbinston Township, Allegheny County found the owner still has not complied with a March 24, 2025 Compliance Order to cleanup multiple spills on the site and remove all unused production equipment. There continued to be evidence of spills. Some effort was made to remove some equipment, but the owner said it may take a year to finish and possibly plug the well. The original violations were issued on January 11, 2023. Violations continued, including not complying with a DEP order. Response requested in 7 days-- August 5. DEP inspection report + Compliance Report. Langer holds 22 permits.

Penn View Exploration Inc.

July 29, 2025 routine inspection of the Over 4 conventional well in Monroe Township, Clarion County found a spill of oily wastewater from a storage tank that soaked into soil around the tank, formed pools in areas and followed a path of dead vegetation into a ditch along a road. Violations issued. Response requested by August 19. DEP inspection report. Penn View holds 549 permits.

Apollo Resources LLC [2 Months]

July 24, 2025 follow-up inspection of the James E. Powers 1 conventional well in Washington Township, Westmoreland County found the owner failed to complete the cleanup of spills and address other violations at the site issued on May 29, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by July 31. DEP inspection report. Apollo holds 1,896 permits, including 2 abandoned wells.

Shale Gas Spills/Releases

EQT Prod Co. [Olympus] [1 Month]

July 29, 2025 inspection of the Porter shale gas well pad in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County in response to a notification of a spill found an area of contamination approximately 115 x 60 feet. EQT said the contamination was discovered after the removal of secondary containment around chemical storage boxes. This was the same well pad where a spill was reported on June 27 when a mixture of production wastewater, fresh water and fracking chemicals were released when a hose connected to a blender ruptured spraying the mixture on and off containment [Read more here]. The owner was asked to identify the chemicals in the area of the new release. New violations issued. Response requested by August 13. DEP inspection report.

EQT ARO LLC [1 Month]

July 30, 2025 inspection of the Mallory shale gas well pad in Plunketts Creek Township, Lycoming County found the owner did not complete the cleanup of the pad since violations were issued on June 30, 2025 for multiple spills. Seven rolloffs with contaminated soils remain on the site and were not disposed of. Containment around evaporator units contains contaminated water from the previous spills. Fluid transfer lines laying across the containment berm have reduce potential storage for rain. DEP recommended removing remaining contaminated fluid and relocating the transfer lines and dispose of the material in the rolloffs. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.

2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 115 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.

Defective Casing/Cementing

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [28 Months]

July 29, 2025 inspection of the Amcor 3HC and 21HC shale gas wells in Meshoppen Township, Wyoming County as part of ongoing well monitoring for defective casing/cementing. Original violations issued March 23, 2023. Violations continued and monitoring will continue. DEP inspection report.

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [10 Years, 1 Month]

July 23, 2025 inspection of the Jack WYO 4H, 5H shale gas wells in Windham Township, Wyoming County as part of ongoing well monitoring for defective casing/cementing. Original violations issued June 15, 2015. No further evaluation, investigation or remedication of the Jack WYO pad gas wells is warranted. However, violations were continued. DEP inspection report.

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [9 Years, 8 Months]

July 23, 2025 inspection of the Warren 2H shale gas well in Windham Township, Wyoming County as part of ongoing well monitoring for defective casing/cementing. Original violations issued November 17. 2016. Monitoring continued. Violations continued. 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-- One of 2 Harold H. Davis abandoned conventional wells; Second spill on the same EQT Prod Co. [Olympus] shale gas pad since June 27; Oily wastewater spill at Penn View Exploration Inc. conventional well; One of two LPR Energy LLC abandoned shale gas wells; Row 2-- Consolidated Coal Co. abandoned well venting gas; Second horizontal drilling spill by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC on the same project polluted a spring; EQT ARO LLC failed to finish cleaning up spills from June 30; Raymond D. Langer failed to cleanup spills for 31 months; Row 3-- Map/Photo - Coterra Energy contaminated 13 more private water supplies in Susquehanna County; Laurel Mountain Production dewatering abandoned impoundment halted.)

[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 - July 26 to August 1- Coterra Contaminates 13 More Water Wells; Shale Driller Fails To Restore 16 Well Sites; Dewatering Abandoned Impoundment Halted; Another Pipeline Construction Spill [PaEN]

-- Coterra Energy Fined $299,000 For Contaminating 13 Private Water Supplies In Lenox Twp., Susquehanna County - Just A Few Miles From Dimock [PaEN]

-- Pin Oak Energy Partners Signs Consent Order With DEP To Address Its Failure To Restore 16 Shale Gas Well Sites And An Impoundment In Beaver County Since 2023 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Second Spill From Horizontal Drilling At EQM Gathering Pipeline Construction Project In Washington County Contaminates Spring [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 2 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 69 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 2 PA Bulletin [PaEN]