DEP: Rice Drilling (EQT) Failed To Plug Abandoned Shale Gas Well For Over 5 Years In Washington County

On January 8, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the Rice Drilling B LLC (EQT) Lohr 12H shale gas in Somerset Township, Washington County and found the well was still abandoned and unplugged.

DEP originally issued the violation for abandonment on October 27, 2020-- 1,899 days ago and counting.  

The well was drilled in April 2016 to a depth of 5,750 feet, but never finished beyond that point. The permit expired in January 2017, according to the October 2020 inspection report.

In 2020, EQT responded to the violation by saying “they intended to add this well to its plugging program.”

In 2024, EQT responded to a DEP inspection on May 1, 2024 saying “they added the well to their plugging schedule for 2025.”

DEP requested a response to the continued abandonment violation by January 26. 

DEP inspection report and photos.

70 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2025

So far in 2026, DEP issued or continued 1 violation to 1 shale gas drilling company for abandoning and not plugging their wells.

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.

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 Last Week:

-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Reports Losing 197,000 Gallons Of Pipeline Drilling Fluid Into Abandoned Mine Voids In 3 Incidents In Washington County; Total Losses Reach 734,600 Gallons  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Issued Lazy Oil Company Violations For Abandoning 12 More Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Butler, Venango Counties  [PaEN]  

-- DEP: Report Submitted By CNX Gas Company/Consol Coal Company On Cleanup Of A Major Shale Gas Wastewater Spill In Morris Twp., Greene County Failed To Show It Met  Act 2 Cleanup Standards  [PaEN]

Related Article This Week:

-- DEP: Truck Loses Load Of Shale Gas Wastewater On Access, Local Road To EQT Sarah Well Pad In Union Township, Washington County  [PaEN] 

[Posted: January 12, 2026]  PA Environment Digest