The wells were all drilled on May 6, 2022 and violations for casing/cementing that failed to prevent the flow of gas into well annuluses and shallow gas producing zones were first issued on August 3, 2022, according to the inspection reports.
DEP’s July 23 inspection reports all note that although Blackhill Energy self-reported the defective casing/cementing and therefore was not formally cited for a violation of 25 Pa Code 78a.86-- “Blackhill Energy is still required to correct the defects or plug the wells as required by 25 Pa Code 78a.86.”
The DEP inspection reports found Blackhill Energy has done neither since 2022-- 1,450 days from when the violations were originally reported.
DEP and the consultant for Blackhill Energy took gas samples from each of the wells for isotopic analysis.
[Typically, DEP uses isotopic analysis to fingerprint shale gas escaping from a compromised well into areas where it should not be-- like a homeowner’s water well-- during an methane migration investigation.]
No specific follow-up requested of well owner. A copy of the inspection reports are sent to the owner.
The remarks in the DEP inspection reports for all the wells are the same.
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: Blackhill Energy LLC Jackson shale gas wells 2H, 3H and 9H.)
[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:
-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Snapshot Aug. 1 to 7:
-- PennLive: Attorney General Sunday Files More Criminal Charges Against Eureka Resources, This Time For Releasing Oily Oil & Gas Wastewater From Its Williamsport Plant Last August [PaEN]
-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nearly 1 Year Since Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill, Company Sold Its Operations, Wastewater Still At All 3 Facilities [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 26: Loan Asset Issuer, LLC Fails To Comply With Order To Prevent Migration Of Contaminated Shale Gas Water Spill Of Up To Now 88,410 Gallons From A Shale Gas Pipeline Failure In Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 47: Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Remediation Of Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment Release Appears To Be At A Stand Still In Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 1,450: Blackhill Energy Fails To Fix Or Plug 3 Shale Gas Wells With Casing/Cement Failures In Bradford County First Discovered In August 2022 [PaEN]
-- Greene County - Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] - Accelerate Erosion From Shale Site
July 13, 2026 inspection of the Irish Pug shale gas well site in Wayne Township in response to a July 10 “emergency notification” by the Fish & Boat Commission found evidence of accelerated erosion and heavy sediment deposits down hillside from road going to well pad. Multiple violations issued. Response requested by Aug. 14. DEP inspection report.
-- McKean County - Howard Drilling Inc. - Conventional Fracking Fluid Release
July 16, 2026 routine inspection of the Lot 221 52 conventional well in Wetmore Township found a release of contaminated water pooled in a roadside ditch and stressed trees dropping their leaves near a reclaimed contaminated water pit. Multiple violations issued, but not failure to notify DEP of a release. Owner responded saying the release of an unknown amount of contaminated water and fracking fluid occurred and initial cleanup completed under DEP supervision on July 27 (although no inspection report filed). Response requested by Aug. 11 DEP inspection report.
-- Westmoreland County - Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. - Fail To Cleanup Spill 517 Days
July 29, 2026 follow-up inspection of Mary Kunkle 5 conventional oil well in Mount Pleasant Township found owner failed to remediate spill, other violations first discovered Feb. 27, 2025. No response from well owner. Violations continued. Response requested by Aug. 14. DEP inspection report.
-- Federally-Funded Conventional Well Plugging Program: 81 inspections of projects underway, wells to include in program. No violations issued for abandoned wells.
-- DEP Oil & Gas Inspection Reports - August 1 to 7
-- DEP Oil & Gas Violations Issued - August 1 to 7
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 8 [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permit For A 3rd Expand Operating LLC 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipeline In Wysox Twp., Bradford County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 58 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 8 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For New US Steel Hot Strip Mill With Special Conditions In Braddock Boro, Allegheny County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For PPL Hauto Frackville Transmission Line Project To Serve A.I. Data Center In Schuylkill County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission Bushkill Falls To Birchwood Lakes Electric Substations In Pike County [PaEN]
-- DEP published notice in the August 8 PA Bulletin it has received a Notice of Intent under the Act 2 Land Recycling Program from 1000 Main St. Prop/Archbald Data and Energy Center, LLC to remediate soil impacted by volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, lead and arsenic at a site located in Archbald Boro, Lackawanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 5291)
Related Article This Week:
-- PPL Electric Reports 31.8 GW In A.I. Data Center Demand Pipeline, Including 11 GW Under Signed Agreements; Its Joint Venture With Blackstone Has Secured Sites To Build Up To 14 GW Of Generation In PA [PaEN]
-- PJM Accepts 715 Projects With 201.4 GW Of New Electric Generation For 1 to 2-Year Review; 39.8 GW Of Projects In PA; PJM Also Accepting State Identified Projects For Expedited Process [PaEN]
-- PJM Issues Hot Weather Alert Aug. 9 - 11 For Mid-Atlantic - Including PA - Southern Regions Of Service Area [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - August 10
NewsClips:
-- Williamsport Sun: More Criminal Charges Filed Against Eureka Resources For 2025 Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Why Your Electric Bill Keeps Rising, And How Pennsylvania Can Fix It By Pairing Solar Energy With Energy Storage - By Tim Pawlenty, Solar Energy Industries Assn.
-- PennFuture Blog: Bring Your Own Generation Isn’t The Solution - Homer City 3,200 Acre A.I. Data Center Case Study - Bring Your Own CLEAN Energy Is
-- Inside Climate News: Natural Gas Dominates PJM’s First Reformed Grid Connection Queue, Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand
-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Jobs, Wages Falling Behind In PA's Fracking Counties; New Data Center, Natural Gas Development Will Fail To Deliver Long-Term Economic Growth, Report Suggests
-- Pittsburgh Business Times/National Observer: The A.I. Data Center Tsunami Is Coming, But One Critical Factor Is Missing - Permanent Jobs Supported By The Millions In Public Tax Subsidies
-- Wall Street Journal Editorial: Everyone Knows The President Plays The Role Of Political Populist, But All You Can Do Is Laugh When He Lashes Out At Oil Companies For ‘Making Too Much Money’ As A Result Of His War With Iran
-- Reuters: President Blasts Exxon, Chevron For Making ‘Too Much Money,’ Demands Lower Gasoline Prices
-- The Guardian: Greenland Issues ‘Strong Warning’ As Oil Company Linked To US President Prepares To Drill Without Approval
[Posted: August 6, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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