DEP - Day 51: Multiple Contaminated Water Seeps Continuing From INR OPR LLC Cooper Shale Gas Well Pad In Indiana County After 336,000 Gallon Fracking Fluid Spill

On October 7, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection at the INR OPR LLC Cooper shale gas well pad in Young Township, Indiana County and found multiple contaminated water seeps were continuing from the pad after a 336,000 gallon fracking fluid spill on August 17.

DEP said three large areas of riprap had been installed on the excavated slope of the well pad where contaminated water seeps have been occurring due to loose connections in the pad’s water containment system.

Photos show water from the seeps was being collected at the foot of the slope in a sump.

Other photos show large areas where contaminated soil was excavated around the pad were being seeded to help control erosion.

DEP suggested INR contact the Department permitting section to see if their Erosion and Sedimentation Permit needs updating as a result of these actions.

Click Here for the DEP inspection report + photos.

Also take a look at DEP’s September 30 inspection report photos to get a better idea of the scale of the restoration efforts in areas where contaminated soil was excavated.

Incident

An August 17, 2026 inspection report posted by the Department of Environmental Protection documents how “copious quantities” of fracking water came “gushing” from an uncontrolled shale gas well at the INR OPR LLC Cooper well pad in Young Township, Indiana County contaminating a large area and polluting nearby Whiskey Run.  Read more here.

On August 31, 2026 DEP reported an estimated 336,000 gallons of fracking flowback water was released during the incident and an undetermined amount went into Whiskey Run.  Read more here.

The incident resulted in a major response from firefighters in Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to support a specialized gas well response crew that worked to bring the well under control.  Read more here.

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: 3 large areas of riprap where water is still seeping from the pad; Excavation areas seeded to help control erosion.)

[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.]

Resource Links - Cooper Pad:

-- DEP - Day 29: Cleanup Of 336,000 Gallon Spill Of Fracking Flowback Fluid From An Uncontrolled Shale Gas Well Continues At INR OPR LLC Pad In Young Twp., Indiana County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: An Estimated 336,000 Gallons Of Fracking Flowback Water Was Released During An Uncontrolled Shale Gas Well Incident At The INR OPR LLC Cooper Well Pad In Young Twp., Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Large Release Of Contaminated Water Soaks Ground At DJR Well Services Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Mercer County  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Snapshot - October 3 to 9  

-- DEP - Day 51: Multiple Contaminated Water Seeps Continuing From INR OPR LLC Cooper Shale Gas Well Pad In Indiana County After 336,000 Gallon Fracking Fluid Spill  [PaEN]  

-- DEP: Routine Inspection Of Appalachia Midstream SVC Shale Gas Water Pipeline Construction Site Found Fertilizer Mixture Sprayed Directly Into A Stream In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 357: S.R. Star O&G LLC Still Fails To Comply With An Order To Plug At Least Some Of The 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells It Owns In Butler County  [PaEN]  

-- DEP: Large Release Of Contaminated Water Soaks Ground At DJR Well Services Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Mercer County  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough!  Families, Environmental And Health Groups Call On Shapiro Administration To Increase Minimum Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells To Protect Pennsylvanians  [PaEN] 

-- House Hearing I: DEP Allows The Use Of Contaminated Water From New 'Mineral Brine' Conventional Wells On Roads, While Prohibiting Contaminated Water With The Same Harmful Pollutants On Roads From Other Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- House Hearing II: Road Dumping Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Creates An Aerosol Mist Carrying Pollution Through The Air And Into My Lungs - By Siri Lawson, Warren County Resident  [PaEN] 

-- House Hearing III: Protect PT: For Too Long The Oil & Gas Industry Has Used Our Southwest PA Communities As Dumping Grounds For Their Waste - Road Dumping Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Must Be Banned  [PaEN] 

-- House Hearing IV:  We Should Not Be Trying To Find New Ways To Dump More Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells On Our Roads, It’s Obviously Not A Solution; We Need Safe Disposal Options - Here’s One  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inside Climate News - Marie Cusick: In Harrisburg, Advocates Rally To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells To Better Protect Public Health, Environment 

--  Spotlight PA: Barbara Laxon: A Retiree’s Quest To Help Track Down PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Board Of Health Votes To Review Air Pollution Permit Exemptions For Shale Gas Operations

[Posted: October 8, 2026] PA Environment Digest