MarkWest said there was no evidence of any “inadvertent returns” on the surface as a result of the incident.
DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mines was not notified. The Bureau was only to be notified if returns were observed again on the surface.
Following DEP’s inspection of the site on November 24, no violations were issued. DEP Nov. 21 inspection report. DEP Nov. 24 inspection report.
On October 28, 2025, MarkWest reported the loss of about 20,000 gallons of drilling fluid on the same pipeline construction project in Robinson Township, Washington County. Read more here.
Two other loss of fluid events occurred in this same area, according to MarkWest, resulting in returns lost to suspected mine voids. Read more here.
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: MarkWest horizontal drilling operation at entry point.)
[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 - Nov. 22 to 28: $3.3 Million Penalty; 10,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Voids, For 4th Time; 21 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Wet Fracking Sand ‘Escapes’ Containment [PaEN]
-- DEP Settlement With Energy Transfer/Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield Imposes $3.3 Million Penalty, Including $1 Million Community Improvement Projects For Polluting Allegheny River [PaEN]
-- DEP To Host Dec. 8 Virtual Update On Response To Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]
-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Pipeline Construction Results In 10,000 Gallon Spill Into Coal Mine Void Under Washington County, For The 4th Time [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Lazy Oil Company Violations For Abandoning 12 Conventional Wells In Venango County; None Of The Wells Could Be Found At Their GPS Coordinates; If You Know More, Call DEP [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 29 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Site Construction Of Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 84 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Quality Board Meets Dec. 9 On Petitions To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells, Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing, Water System Operator, Radiation Protection Fees [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 1 [PaEN]
-- PJM Market Monitor Files Complaint With FERC Saying PJM Is Proposing To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Connect To Grid That It Cannot Reliably Serve, Will Require Blackouts To Maintain Service [PaEN]
-- PUC Invites Comments On Model Tariff For Connecting A.I. Data Center To The Grid
-- PUC Commissioners Agree On Need To ‘Get It Right’ On Reforming Grid Connection Process For Solar, Renewable, All Energy Sources To Protect Consumers, Grid Reliability [PaEN]
-- PUC Chairman Highlights 'Extraordinary Challenges' Pennsylvania Families Are Facing This Winter With Energy Bills And His Appreciation For Groups Providing Assistance [PaEN]
-- PUC: Most PA Electric Utility Consumers To See 3.7% To 10.6% Increase In Electricity Prices During The Next 3 Months Starting Dec. 1 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor: No More PJM Data Centers Unless They Can Be Reliably Served
-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Residential Electricity Prices Continue Rise, Up 7.4% In September; Natural Gas Up 47.4%; No One Sees A Near-Term Solution
-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Grid Operator Weighs Proposals To Manage A.I. Data Center Impact On Electricity Affordability And Reliability
-- Utility Dive: US DOE A.I. Data Center Load Connection Proposal Sparks Federal-State Jurisdiction Concerns, Data Centers Offer Qualified Support
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Natural Gas Power Plant For Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Receives DEP Air Permit [PDF of Article]
-- Tribune-Democrat: Clean Air Council Opposing Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Permit [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Electricity Costs Set To Rise In Most Of PA Next Month Due To A.I. Data Center Demands, Backlog Of New Generation Sources [Duquesne Light: Customers Facing ‘Astronomically Higher Bills’]
-- TribLive: Duquesne Light Electric Rates Climb 10.6% Starting Dec. 1, As Statewide Electric Price Hikes Being
-- WHYY: Philadelphia Gas Works Residential Customers To See Monthly Bills Jump By About $6
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Energy Transfer/Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield To Pay $3.3 Million Penalty For Decades Of Oil Pollution In Allegheny River
-- Williamsport Sun: Williamsport Sees Dip In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In Recent Years [Because It Isn’t Based On Gas Production, But Number Of Wells
-- ABC27: UGI Unveils New Liquefied Natural Gas Facility In Cumberland County
-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $3.01 Ohio- $2.68 PA- $3.22
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same As Last Week
-- PublicPower.org: US DOE Extends Closure Date Again For Eddystone Natural Gas Power Plant In Delaware County Under ‘Emergency’ Order [Click Here for Order]
-- Environmental Defense Fund: President’s EPA Delays Methane Pollution Protections From Oil & Gas Industry Despite Health Risks, Energy Waste, Widespread Opposition
-- EPA Extends Deadlines For Oil & Gas Industry Methane Emissions Reporting And Certain Compliance Dates
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Federal Red Tape Is Strangling Pennsylvania Natural Gas Energy Boom - By Joseph Pitts, Former PA Member Of Congress
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Tenaris Bets Big On Koppel Steel Plant’s Future In Oil, Gas Pipe Production
[Posted: November 29, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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