DEP Working With Heirs Of Deceased Owner Of 43 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells On State Game Land In Venango County To Clarify Current Status

On March 9, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection posted March 4 inspection reports on 14 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells owned by Carol A. Morrison Baker on State Game Lands in Cranberry Township, Venango County saying the agency is working with the heirs of the deceased owner to clarify the status of the wells.

Morrison Baker held a total of 217 permits of which there are 43 abandoned conventional wells.

DEP issued violations for these abandoned wells in 2025 and 2026 and then confirmed the owner was deceased.  [Read more here.]

The March 4, 2026  DEP inspection reports for 14 of the wells reported the agency was able to make contact with the operator’s family about the wells.

The family reported the wells were sold before the owner’s passing, but the formal transfers were not completed.

DEP said it was working with the family to “remedy this situation.”

There was no indication in the reports about who now owns the abandoned wells.

DEP issued fresh notices of violations for well abandonment and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for the 14 wells.

Click Here for links to the inspection reports for the 14 abandoned conventional 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.

(Photo: Morrison State Game Lands 45 abandoned conventional well.)

[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 Article This Week:

-- Environmental Hearing Board Grants Request By Center For Coalfield Justice To Intervene In EQT Production Co. Appeal Of DEP Records Request In Ongoing Investigation Of 940,000 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill In Washington County, Six Other Well Pads  [PaEN]  

[Posted: March 10, 2026]  PA Environment Digest