Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between December 13 to 19--
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 December 12--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 29 conventional, 1 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,620 conventional and 1,225 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 403 conventional and 162 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 271 conventional and 354 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 19,730 conventional and 24,705 unconventional
MarkWest Loses Another 69,000 Gallons Of Drilling Fluid Into Mine Voids
On December 13, 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 resulted in a 69,000 gallon loss of drilling fluids into coal mine voids under Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County.
This was the eighth reported incident bringing the total amount of fluids lost into the voids to at least 476,000 gallons on this drilling project. Read more here.
9 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations
Medina Res Dev Co LLC [2,045 Days]
December 17, 2025 inspection of the Ray Romba 1 conventional oil and gas well in Waterford Township, Erie County as a result of a complaint found the well still abandoned and not plugged. Well was last produced in 2012. Original abandonment violation issued on May 12, 2020, the last time the well was inspected. Violation continued. Response requested by January 15. DEP inspection report. Medina Res holds 481 permits, mostly conventional, including 64 abandoned wells and this one.
Baron Crest Energy Co [702 Days]
December 19, 2025 inspection of the Cunningham 1 conventional oil and gas well in Pinegrove Township, Venango County found the well still abandoned and not plugged. Original violations for abandonment and failure to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports issued January 17, 2024. DEP order issued on May 21, 2024 to plug the well by June 30, 2025. Failure to comply with the order issued July 1, 2025. Failure to comply with the order continued. No response requested from owner. DEP inspection report. Baron Crest holds 72 permits
Elder Oil & Gas Co.
December 18, 2025 inspection of Midberry 1, Midberry 2, Midberry 3, Midberry 4 and Midberry 5 conventional oil and gas wells in Marion Township, Butler County and found them all abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. These wells were inspected for the first time. Violations issued. Response requested by January 7. Elder Oil holds 106 permits, including 7 abandoned wells (not these).
Lazy Oil Company
December 18, 2025 inspections of the Porter Lower E 66 and Porter Lower E 67 conventional oil and gas wells in Marion Township, Butler County found the abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by January 7. Lazy Oil holds 200 permits, including 1 abandoned well (not these). [Note: DEP issued violations to Lazy Oil on November 20, 2025 for abandoning and not plugging 12 conventional oil and gas wells they own. Read more here.]
675 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 675 violations to 130 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.; Allegany Resource Dev LLC; 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; Timothy Cignetti; Cobra Resources LLC; Cohen IND Inc.; Consolidated Coal Co.; Dorothy Craft; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Edward E. Craig; Norbert J. Cross; 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; Five Star Investment Group Inc.; Lee Ghere; Glade Resource Developers; Greenway Energy LLC; Harvey E. Gutmo; H & S Gas & Oil; Michael Harju; Donald S. Kelly; Harry L. King; Hyde Park Foundry & Mach Co; Thomas A. Hodge; Horizontal Exploration LLC; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Donald Jeannerett; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; K Petroleum Inc.; Mary Jane Katchmark; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Kriebel Natural Gas Co LLC; Claudia A. & John P. Lampman; Raymond D. Langer; Lazy Oil Company; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Calvin & Julia McCutcheon; Marco Drilling Inc.; Medina Res Dev. Co LLC; David H. Melat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Ronald D. Meyer; 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; Rock Oil Resources, LLC; Rocksauce OPR LLC; Rocky Valley Gas & Oil Corp; 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; West Silas; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.; and Zurn IND LLC.
2 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations
STL Resources LLC
December 18, 2025 routine inspection of Tract 856 822 1005H shale gas well in Gaines Township, Tioga County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Well permit expired on March 24, 2023. A 26-inch diameter conductor hole with casing was completed on March 23, 2023. Violations issued. Response required by January 16. DEP inspection report. STL Resources holds 36 permits.
Frontier Natural Resources [1,287 Days]
December 8, 2025 routine inspection of the Winner 1 shale gas well in West Keating Township, Clinton County and found the well abandoned and not plugged. Original violations for abandonment and casing/cement failure issued on May 31, 2022. The well was drilled in 2008. Violations continued. No requests made of owner. DEP inspection report. Frontier holds 9 permits.
70 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 70 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]; West Texas Operating Co LLC
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
Conventional Spills/Releases
Raymond D. Langer [1,070 Days]
December 16, 2025 compliance evaluation of the Lorish 1, Choeller 1 and J. Riddle 2 conventional wells in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the owner still has not complied with a March 24, 2025 Compliance Order to clean up spills on the site. Some effort had been made to cleanup spills, but has not been completed. Original violations issued on January 11, 2023. DEP “recommends” the owner comply with the order. Raymond D. Langer holds 22 permits. Langer, Raymond D. holds one permit (Lorish 1).
BB Mulvaney [595 Days]
December 9, 2025 compliance evaluation for the Wilford M. Chambers 1 conventional well in Richhill Township, Greene County found there was no progress in cleaning up multiple spills at the site, stopping gas leaking from the well that presents a hazard to the public and continued failure to submit production and waste generation/disposal, well integrity reports since a DEP cleanup order was issued on April 23, 2024. Original violations for the spills were issued on April 23, 2024. In a May 10, 2024 response to the violations, the owner said he cleaned up most of the spills and will clean up the remaining ones and said the gas leak was the homeowner’s problem. Violations for failure to report were issued on May 9, 2024. Violation for failing to comply with Order issued on October 22, 2025. This well is classified as “abandoned” by DEP. Owner asked for a response by December 25. DEP inspection report. BB Mulvaney holds 2 permits.
Thomas & Jean Thurma [331 Days]
December 11, 2025 inspection of the Hall 1 conventional well in Cecil Township, Washington County found spills from storage tanks and other areas have not been cleaned up since first discovered on January 14, 2025. There has been no response from the well owners to notices of violation. Violations continued. Response requested by December 30. DEP inspection report. The Thurma’s hold 7 permits.
Thomas & Jean Thurma [331 Days]
December 11, 2025 inspection of the Hall 2 conventional well in Cecil Township, Washington County found the owner failed to clean up multiple spill and release areas since first discovered on January 14, 2025. There has been no response from the well owners to notices of violation. Violations continued. Response requested by December 30. DEP inspection report. The Thurma’s hold 7 permits.
Shale Gas Spills/Releases
XTO Energy, Inc. [Exxon]
December 19, 2025 inspection of the Fabian shale gas well pad in Center Township, Indiana County in response to a notification of a wastewater spill on December 28 found a pipe released an estimated 147 gallons of production wastewater that went on for 9 minutes while the pipe was being repaired near a drilling rig. There appeared to be a salt blockage in the pipe. Plans are to start cleanup after the drilling rig is done the week of Jan. 4. Violations issued. Response requested by January 5. DEP inspection report. XTO Energy holds 564 permits, including 1 abandoned well.
Shale Gas Drill Cuttings Violations
JKLM Energy LLC
December 16, 2025 inspection of the Belz #2001 shale gas well pad in Tioga Township, Tioga County found violations in separating drill cuttings solids from drilling fluids at the site. Drill cuttings are combined with wood pellets to help solidify the cuttings, sent through two centrifuges to remove the solid cuttings and the fluids are reused. Solidified cuttings are piled on the pad, loaded on a truck and taken to the Waste Management Phoenix Resources Landfill. Multiple spills and puddled wastewater with elevated conductivity level found in drill cuttings processing area. Samples taken. Violations issued. Response requested by December 31. DEP inspection report. JKLM Energy holds 88 permits.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 172 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Shale Gas Casing/Cement Failures
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [2,588 Days]
December 18, 2025 administrative review of the Susan 4H and 5H shale gas wells in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County as part of monitoring casing/cement failures found another years of monitoring and possible remediation of the wells are needed. Original 4H well violations reported on October 29, 2020 and remedial work done in May 2021. Original 5H well violations reported on November 17, 2018. Violations and monitoring continued.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [1,597 Days]
December 4, 2025 inspection of the Manahan shale well 2H, well 103H, well 104HC in Albany Township, Bradford County as part of monitoring casing/cement failures. 2H original violations observed July 21, 2021, 103H original violations observed August 12, 2021 and 104H original violations observed July 21, 2021. The wells were drilled in May 2021. Violations continued, monitoring continues.
Formentera OPR LLC [263 Days]
December 16, 2025 plugging inspection of the Allegheny Ridge West Hillegas 1H and 2 shale gas wells in Upper Fairfield Township, Lycoming County found phase 1 plugging and abandonment operations were completed, however, monitoring of the wells shows gas venting has diminished but is continuing and more plugging work is needed. Original casing/cement failure violations issued March 28, 2025 to both wells. Wells were drilled in October and November 2013. Violations continued. DEP 1H well inspection. DEP Hillegas 2 well inspection.
BKV OPR LLC
December 12, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Baker 5H shale gas well in Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County found “continuous bubbling” from the well casing indicating a casing/cement failure. DEP said bubbling had been noticed during other inspections but this time it was continuous. New violation issued. The well was drilled in December 2010. Response requested by December 12. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Submit Shale Gas Pollution Prevention Contingency Plan
Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC
December 19, 2025 administrative review found the shale gas well driller failed to submit Pollution Prevention Contingency Plans for one or more drilling sites as required by their well permits. No location identified. Violation not online. Repsol holds 739 permits, mostly on DCNR State Forest Land.
Failure To Submit Monthly Shale Gas Production/Waste Reports
Anegada Energy LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Anegada Energy holds 13 permits.
Apollo Resources LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Apollo Resources holds 1,895 permits.
Baker Gas Inc.
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Baker Gas holds 217 permits.
Big Dog Energy LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Big Dog holds 23 permits.
Diversified Production LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Diversified Prod holds 21,634 permits, mostly conventional wells, including 37 abandoned wells.
Frontier Natural Resources
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit the October production and waste generation and disposal report. Violation not posted online. Frontier holds 9 permits.
Iron City Wells, LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit monthly production and waste generation and disposal reports. Violation not posted online. Iron City holds 4 permits.
Scott J. Isaacs, Jr.
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit monthly production and waste generation and disposal reports. Violation not posted online. Isaacs holds 1 permit.
LPR Energy, LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit monthly production and waste generation and disposal reports. Violation not posted online. LPR holds 42 permits.
John E. McCool
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit monthly production and waste generation and disposal reports. Violation not posted online. McCool holds 467 permits, including 5 abandoned wells.
Medina Res Dev Co LLC
December 17, 2025 review found shale gas well owner failed to submit monthly production and waste generation and disposal reports. Violation not posted online. Medina Res holds 481 permits, mostly conventional, including 64 abandoned wells. Medina holds 481 permits, including 64 abandoned wells.
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-- MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC loses another 69,000 gallons of pipeline drilling fluid to mine voids in Washington County; Medina Res Dev Co LLC hasn’t plugged this conventional well for 2,045 Days; Baron Crest Energy Co hasn’t plugged this conventional well for[702 Days; Frontier Natural Resources has not plugged this shale gas well for 1,287 Days; Row 2-- JKLM Energy LLC shale gas drill cutting violations (2 photos); Plugging 2 Formentera OPR LLC shale gas wells did not stop gas venting for 263 Days (2 photos); Raymond D. Langer did not clean up conventional well spills for 1,070 Days.)
[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 - Dec. 13 to 19 -- Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations Hit 70; Conventional Well Not Plugged For 2,045 Days; MarkWest Loses Another 69,000 Of Pipeline Drilling Fluid To Mine Voids [PaEN]
-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Reports 69,000 Gallon Pipeline Construction Fluid Loss Into Mine Voids Under Washington County; 476,600 Gallons Lost So Far [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 20 [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 3 Shale Gas Water Withdrawal Requests; 22 Total For 2025 [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 31 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In November; 429 In 2025 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 51 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 20 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of The NPDES Wastewater Permit For The BET Associates IV, LLC Anthracite Mining Discharge In Schuylkill, Carbon Counties Affecting 7,479 Acres [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned [PaEN]
-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Orders PJM To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Connect Directly To Power Plants, Expedite Connections For Shovel-Ready Projects, Enhance Load Forecasting [PaEN]
-- Environmental Groups, Our Children’s Trust Appeal Air Quality Permit For Homer City A.I. Data Center 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- PUC Approves $50,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Natural Gas Following 2022 Johnstown Pipeline Damage, Fire Incident
-- PUC Approves Settlement With Kaib & Kaib LLC Over Alleged Overbilling Of Natural Gas Customers In Jefferson County; $4,066.16 In Refunds Due, $500 Penalty
-- PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank Recognizes Staff And 2025 Accomplishments
NewsClips:
-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense/Peter Aldhous: Tracking Oil And Gas Industry Waste In Pennsylvania Is Still A ‘Logistical Mess’ [Part I]
-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense/Peter Aldhous: 20 Years Into Shale Gas Fracking, Pennsylvania Has Yet To Reckon With Its Radioactive Waste [Part II]
-- Spotlight PA/Inside Climate News: Outdated, Disconnected Systems Leave PA Unable To Comprehensively Track Toxic Oil And Gas Industry Waste
-- Farm and Dairy: Shale Gas Well Pad Setback Petition Finally Moves On To PA DEP For Study
-- PennLive: PA DEP Staffing Lagging As State Faces Natural Gas Fracking, Air, Water Pollution Issues: Report
-- Warren Times: US Forest Service Closes American Refining Group Facility In Highland Twp., Elk County, Declares Them Unsafe Due To Hazardous Materials, Structurally Unsound Buildings [PDF of Article]
-- WHYY: Delaware City Refinery Failed To Immediately Report Accurate Butane Emissions
-- Utility Dive: FERC Orders PJM To Craft New A.I. Data Center Colocation Connection Rules
-- Reuters: FERC Directs PJM To Set New A.I. Data Center Rules On Direct Connection To Power Plants
-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Energy Will Make America Affordable Again - By US Secretary Of Commerce Howard Lutnick
-- Public Citizen: President’s LNG Gas Energy Export Policy Costs Households $12 Billion In First 9 Months Of 2025
-- Bloomberg: American LNG Export Boom Means Goodbye To Cheap US Natural Gas
-- Inside Climate News: LNG Gas Exports Driving Up Americans’ Energy Bills, Report Says
-- Reuters: US Demands EU Exempt Its LNG Gas From Methane Emissions Reduction Law, Document Shows
[Posted: December 20, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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