MarkWest reported at least 10 incidents with a total of 521,600 gallons of drilling fluids lost to abandoned mines since this project began since the first losses on October 27.
The December 19 incident resulted in a 16,000 gallon loss. The December 22 incident resulted in a 29,000 gallon loss.
MarkWest reported the December 22 loss occurred in two stages-- 20,000 gallons at 11:30 and as drilling continued another 9,000 gallons was lost. Read more here.
A December 22 inspection of the site did not find any surface returns of drilling fluids along the pipeline path or at the acid mine drainage discharge point.
As part of its investigation of the last fluid loss incident on December 4, DEP staff from the Oil and Gas Program and the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation took water samples at a variety of points along the drilling route and of the drilling fluid itself. 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.
(Photos: MarkWest pipeline drill path Dec. 19, no evidence of mine subsidence; One of several horizontal drilling beginning points on the drill path inspected Dec. 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.]
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Shale Gas Pipeline Drilling Fluid Losses To Mine Voids Climbs To Over 521,600 Gallons In Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Host Jan. 6 Public Information Meeting On Water Quality Permits For The A.I. Data Center Proposal In Archbald Boro, Lackawanna County [Some Of The 84 Data Center Buildings Proposed In NE PA] [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Lessons from A.I. Data Centers And Shale Gas Fracking Tours - By Scott Cannon, Luzerne County [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Warren Times/AP: President’s Return Brought Stiff Headwinds For Clean Energy, So Why Are Advocates Optimistic In 2026? [PDF of Article]
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: Energy Future Shouldn’t Be Held Hostage To Fossil Fuel Myths; Renewables Aren’t The Reason For Soaring Energy Prices, Grid Fragility - By Douglas Webster, Monroeville [PDF of Article]
-- Appalachian Voices: FERC Approves Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion For VA, PA To North Carolina Over Objections, No Environmental Impact Statement
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: FERC Approves Major Changes To Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Route And Capacity
[Posted: December 25, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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