Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 1 to 7--
Click Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
[Note: There were many more violations issued by DEP than PA Environment Digest can highlight here.]
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of October 31--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 37 conventional, 7 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,604 conventional and 1,018 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 343 conventional and 128 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 389 conventional and 299 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 15,065 conventional and 19,931 unconventional
Spills, Releases Continue At Seneca Resources Well Pad For 373 Days
On October 31, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Seneca Resources Co. LLC Taft 851 shale gas well pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County and found evidence of continued spills and releases.
DEP found contaminated water on the pad outside containment that was running down a 40 foot channel at the pad outfall and then draining into a sediment basin, running over a sediment filter sock and leaving the site. Read more here.
This inspection was the same day state Attorney General Sundy filed criminal charges against Seneca for illegal shale gas waste disposal in eight counties. Read more here.
MarkWest Pipeline Construction Results In 20,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Voids
On October 28, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection was notified by MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC that horizontal drilling operations on the construction of the shale gas-related Chiarelli to Imperial pipeline on October 27 resulted in the loss of approximately 20,000 gallons of a water and bentonite mixture into coal mine voids under Robinson Township, Washington County.
MarkWest said there was no evidence of any “inadvertent returns” on the surface as a result of the incident.
MarkWest informed DEP “During our previous two HDDs [horizontal drilling construction] in this area, we encountered very similar situations where returns were lost to suspected mine voids and the bores were completed with no inadvertent returns to the surface.” Read more here.
EQM Gathering Has 6th Release During Pipeline Construction In Washington County
On November 4, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the EQM Gathering OPCO LLC [EQT] NINFS004 Pipeline construction project in Nottingham Township, Washington County in response to a November 1 notification of “bubbling and sediment return within a stream channel.”
The “inadvertent return” happened as drilling was occurring for a shale gas water pipeline under a road, railroad track, two streams and FromanRun.
This is at least the 6th spill incident reported on this project.
Other drilling spills, contamination along this same pipeline were reported in October, in August and in July.
A hole a foot in diameter was found to be the source of the bubbling and sediment discharge into a small stream.
No additives were being used in drilling, but bentonite will be used to seal the bore once complete.
A pump-around was installed in the stream to avoid the hole.
No violations issued by DEP for this incident. DEP inspection report. Read more here.
LPR Energy Fails To Plug Abandoned Shale Gas Well For 1,521 Days
On October 30, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection did a compliance evaluation of the LPR Energy LLC Humberston Unit 1H shale gas well in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County and found the well, drilled in 2011, is still abandoned and not plugged under DEP’s regulations.
Methane readings around the well during the inspection by DEP and Moody Associates found elevated levels coming from the well casing and in the soil around the well.
DEP’s evaluation said the owner continues to fail to comply with an August 31, 2021 consent order and agreement to plug the well before the end of 2024.
The original violation for failure to comply with an order was issued on February 28, 2025. Read more here.
99% Of Conventional Well Owners Fail To Comply With VOC/Methane Reg.
On November 5, the Department of Environmental Protection reported 99.3% of conventional oil and gas facility owners failed to comply with a 2022 DEP regulation to reduce methane and volatile organic compound emissions from their oil and gas facilities, in response to questions from PA Environment Digest.
Conventional well owners were required to submit an annual report starting June 1, 2025 outlining their equipment subject to the regulation, the methods of emission controls used and any deviations from the requirements during calendar year 2024.
DEP said 32 [0.65%] of the approximately 4,960 conventional oil and gas well facility owners did submit reports covering approximately 36,400 [36%] out of the 101,000 wells required to report. Read more here.
23 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations
Glade Resource Developers
November 5, 2025 inspection of 12 conventional oil and gas wells in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County found them all abandoned and not plugged on the Carroll Farm. The well owner failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. The wells were never inspected before. The inspector was accompanied by the landowner and a representative of Tome Enterprises who has plans to adopt the wells into their own inventory. A DEP investigation found the original well owner had passed away in April, 2008 and there is no current responsible party for the wells. DEP was actually looking for other abandoned wells in this area, but found these. The wells included: T. Carroll 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Click Here for links to DEP inspection reports. No other follow-up actions.
Horizontal Exploration LLC [708 Days]
November 7, 2025 follow-up inspection of six conventional wells in Lafayette Township, McKean County found the wells were still abandoned and not plugged. Original abandonment violations issued November 30, 2023-- 708 days and counting. Owner failed to comply with a May 14, 2024 Commonwealth Court Order to plug these six wells by November 22, 2024-- 350 days and counting. Owner continues to fail to plug the wells. Violations continued. No response requested. Click Here for links to inspection reports. Horizontal Exploration holds 23 permits.
Keystone Crude LLC [225 Days]
November 5, 2025 inspection of the B.N. McCormick 1 conventional well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the well still abandoned, unplugged and now leaking gas/fluids. Original violation issued March 25, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by November 21. DEP inspection report.
Randy A. Dietterich [34 Days]
October 22, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Guy V IDA 1 conventional well in Robinson Township, Washington County found the well still abandoned and not plugged. Original violation issued September 18, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by November 10. DEP inspection report.
Pin Oak Energy Partners LLC [29 Days]
November 5, 2025 file notification on the Daniel M. Overmoyer 2 and C. Greenwalt 1 conventional wells in Conneaut Township, Crawford County that the owner said if the company determines the wells are not capable of production, the wells will be added to Pin Oak’s plugging list. No schedule on when that determination will be made or a schedule for plugging. Original violations for abandonment October 7, 2025. Violations continued. No response requested.
PPP Future Dev Inc.
November 6, 2025 inspection of the Walter Orloski 1 conventional well in Greenfield Township, Erie County found the well abandoned and not plugged. This well had never been inspected before. Violation issued. Response requested by December 4. DEP inspection report.
552 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 552 violations to 116 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.; Carol A. Morrison Baker; Baron Crest Energy Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Blackrock Enterprises LLC; Darrel B. Blauser; JJ Bucher Producing Corp; Chris E. Burke; Cohen IND Inc.; Consolidated Coal Co.; Dorothy Craft; 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; Glade Resource Developers; Greenway Energy LLC; H & S Gas & Oil; Michael Harju; Donald S. Kelly; Harry L. King; Thomas A. Hodge; Horizontal Exploration LLC; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Donald Jeannerett; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; Mary Jane Katchmark; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Claudia A. & John P. Lampman; Raymond D. Langer; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Calvin & Julia McCutcheon; Marco Drilling Inc.; 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; Northwestern Well SVC Inc.; 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; PPP Future Dev Inc.; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; Robert Lee Pennington; 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; Stone Ridge Energy 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.; Walker Oil Prod Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.; and Zurn IND LLC.
67 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 67 violations to 21 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; 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.; EQT Production Co.; Frontier Natural Resources; Hilcorp Energy Co.; Hilcorp Energy Co.; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; 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].
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
Conventional Well Spills/Releases
Timberline Energy Inc. [Spill 389 Days; Bridge Repair 2,932 Days]
October 27, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Garmer 3 conventional well in Porter Township, Clarion County found cleanup of spills and releases discovered on October 3, 2024 was not completed. Owner promised to remove a wastewater vac truck and restore the site with clean material. Owner has not made major repairs to a bridge on the access road to the well first discovered on October 17, 2017. Response requested by November 15. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 155 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Shale Gas Spills/Releases
Expand OPER LLC
November 5, 2025 inspection of the Penecale shale gas well pad in North Branch Township, Wyoming County found contaminated water overflowed secondary containment around a compressor and spilled onto the unprotected well pad. DEP also could not find the erosion and sedimentation inspection logs for the site. DEP returned to the site later in the day and the owner removed fluid from secondary containment, but remediation had not started. DEP recommended the owner look for a leak in the compressor before additional spills occur. Violations issued. Response requested by November 17. DEP inspection report.
Conventional Well Venting Gas
PPP Future Dev Inc.
November 3, 2025 inspection of the Robert Moorhead 1 conventional gas well in North East Township, Erie County found gas bubbles coming up through water between surface and production casings due to pin holes in corroded pipe. Violation issued for casing/cementing failure. Response requested by December 1. 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-- Map of a dozen abandoned Glade Resource Developers conventional wells; One of six abandoned Horizontal Exploration LLC conventional wells; LPR Energy LLC abandoned shale gas well not plugged for 1,521 days; One of 2 Pin Oak Energy Partners LLC abandoned conventional wells; Seneca Resources Co. LLC shale gas well pad spills for 373 days; Row 2-- 20,000 gallon spill into mine void from MarkWest Liberty Midstream shale gas pipeline construction; Conventional well leaking natural gas, 99% of owners failed to submit reports; Expand OPER LLC shale gas well pad compressor spill; Timberline Energy Inc. failed to cleanup conventional well spill.)
[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. 1 to 7 - Failed To Plug Shale Gas Well For 1,521 Days; 20,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Void; 99% Of Conventional Well Owners Fail To Comply With Methane Rule [PaEN]
-- DEP: Spills, Releases Continue At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 373 Days And Counting [PaEN]
-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Pipeline Construction Results In 20,000 Gallon Spill Into Coal Mine Voids Under Washington County, For The 3rd Time [PaEN]
-- DEP: EQM Gathering Has 6th ‘Inadvertent’ Release During Pipeline Construction In Nottingham Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP: LPR Energy LLC Fails To Plug Abandoned Shale Gas Well For 1,521 Days And Counting In Fayette County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 8 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For MarkWest Liberty Midstream 20-Inch Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Mount Pleasant & Cecil Townships, Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 15 Natural Gas Generators To Power 15 Iron City A.I. Computing Centers In Karthaus Twp., Clearfield County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For United Refinery In City Of Warren, Warren County [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 4 On 2026 Fee Schedule, Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 3 Related To Shale Gas Development [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 71 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 8 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- House Environmental Committee Puts Spotlight On Proposed Penn America LNG Gas Export Facility In Chester, Delaware County [PaEN]
-- Nov. 12 Joint Meeting Of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board To Hear EJ Concerns With A.I. Data Centers, Update On DEP’s EJ Initiatives, Cumulative Impacts Of Facilities [PaEN]
-- PUC Approves Proposed Model Tariff For Public Review To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 10 [PaEN]
-- PJM Winter Power Outlook: Adequate Power Supplies Available To Serve Growing Demand Under Expected Conditions; 1 GigaWatt Of Mostly Solar Power Capacity Added Since Last Winter [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Don’t Trade Away Pennsylvania's Climate Regulations As Part Of State Budget Deal [Fossil Fuel Power Plants Power Wave Of Data Center Proposals] - By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair, House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee [PaEN]
-- Moms Clean Air Force PA Urge Gov. Shapiro To Protect The RGGI Program Regulating Carbon Pollution From Power Plants To Cut Climate Pollution [PaEN]
-- PEC Podcast: Advanced Electric Transmission Technology - More Capacity, More Power Out Of Our Existing Grid At A Fraction Of The Cost [PaEN]
-- Water At Risk: A.I. Data Centers Bait And Switch? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PaEN]
-- PUC: Utilities Will Not Terminate LIHEAP-Eligible Heating Customers During Federal Shutdown; Customers Need To Call Utilities Now To Stay Connected This Winter [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: CNX Resources Sues Nonprofit News Outlet For Defamation Over Shale Gas Fracking Article
-- Delaware Currents: Speakers Decry LNG Gas Export Plant Proposal On Delaware River In Chester, Delaware County: ‘Our Community Says No’
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Chester Mayor, Environmentalists Object To LNG Gas Export Terminal Proposal In Delaware County: ‘We’ve Moved On’
-- Rep. Vitali: PA House Environmental Committee Examines Impacts Of Proposed LNG Gas Export Terminal In Southeast PA
-- Tribune-Democrat: Attorney General: Shale Gas Driller Seneca Resources Charged With Environmental Crimes For Polluted Water Spills In 8 Counties [PDF of Article]
-- PennLive - John Beauge: Seneca Resources Natural Gas Driller Charged With Environmental Crimes In 8 PA Counties
-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Attorney General Goes Wild, Charges Seneca Resources Natural Gas Driller With 100 Criminal Violations [PDF of Article]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Coterra Energy NE PA Shale Gas Well Gets Frisky, Sprays Mist During Fracking [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: What The Last Natural Gas Boom (And Bust) Says About Today’s Rush To Build; New Gas Generation Remains A Risky Investment, Analysts Say
-- Reuters: US LNG Gas Producers Ink Near Record Contract Volumes, Even As Fees Climb, Rising Costs
-- Spotlight PA: Millions At Risk Of Power Shut Off Because Of Federal LIHEAP Funding Delays During Federal Shutdown [PA Included]
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Environmental Groups Rally In Fear Harrisburg Budget Deal Will Sink RGGI Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative [RGGI Was Never Implemented]
-- PA Capital-Star: Environmentalists Urge Shapiro, Lawmakers Not To End RGGI Climate Initiative In Budget Agreement [RGGI Was Never Implemented]
-- TribLive: Surge In A.I. Data Centers Sparks Concern Over Water Demands
-- Wall Street Journal: What Happened When Small-Town America Became A.I. Data Center, USA [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Pittsburgh Energy Storage Maker EOS Defies Skeptics, Sees Large Market For A.I. Data Center Projects
[Posted: November 8, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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