Initial notification was on January 5, 2026 with a followup notification on January 6.
A DEP inspection on January 6 of the January 5 and 6 incidents found no surface returns of drilling fluid.
MarkWest reported at least 2 incidents with a total of 591,600 gallons of drilling fluids lost to mine voids since the first losses were reported on October 27.
MarkWest will continue drilling as a "practical solution" to the loss of drilling fluids. Read more here.
DEP said “violations may be forthcoming pending further investigation.”
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.
[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 Reports Loss Of 54,000 Gallons Of Pipeline Drilling Fluid To Mine Voids In 2 Incidents In Washington County; Total Losses Reach 591,600 Gallons [PaEN]
-- DEP Issued Lazy Oil Company Violations For Abandoning 12 More Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Butler, Venango Counties [PaEN]
-- Vistra Corp. Acquires Cogentrix Energy Natural Gas Power Plants, Including 2 In PA, As Part Of Strategy To Feed A.I. Data Centers [Locking Up More Energy For A.I. Data Centers] [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection: 2025 Year In Review Part II: PJM Revised Market Rules With Goal Of Supporting Efficiency, Increasing Generation Resources [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Vistra Corp Acquires Cogentrix Energy Natural Gas Power Plants, Including 2 In PA - Patriot, Hamilton-Liberty - As Part Of Strategy To Feed A.I. Data Centers [Locking Up More Energy For Machines]
-- Utility Dive: Vistra To Buy Cogentrix Energy’s 5.5 GW Of Natural Gas Power Plants As Part Of Strategy To Feed A.I. Data Centers [2 In PA]
-- Bloomberg: Vistra Corp. Buying 10 More Gas Power Plants In New England, Texas To Deepen A.I. Energy Bet
-- Spotlight PA: As PA Energy Prices Rise, Advocates Skeptical That Lawmakers Will Put Aside Partisan Differences
-- PA Capital-Star: In 2026, More A.I. Data Center Regulations Could Be Coming In Maryland; PJM Regulator Asks For Rules To Prevent Centers From Connecting To Grid Without Their Own Power
-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Dismisses Appeals To Revive RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program [Part Of State Budget Deal]
-- PennLive: 3rd Person Dies After Natural Gas Explosion At Bucks County Nursing Home
-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Lawsuit Claims Bucks County Nursing Home Natural Gas Explosion Could Have Been Prevented; Nursing Home, PECO Failed To Protect People
-- PUC PA OneCall Damage Prevention Committee Imposes $232,250 In Penalties On 162 Companies For Violations
-- Warren Times: PIOGA/PIPP Form Alliance To Strengthen Voice Of PA Conventional Oil & Gas Industry On Energy Issues
-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Podcast: Why A New Natural Gas Power Boom Is Putting Methane Emissions Back In The Spotlight - By Mark Brownstein, EDF, Andy Stone, Kleinman Center
-- NY Times: US To Control Venezuela Oil Sales ‘Indefinitely,’ DOE Secretary Says
-- TribLive/AP: President’s Plan To Seize, Revitalize Venezuela’s Oil Industry Faces Major Hurdles
[Posted: January 8, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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