PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP: Flash Fire At Expand Operating LLC Shale Gas Well Pad Compressor Station On State Game Lands Causes Minor Damage In Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna County

On October 6, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the site of a flash fire at an Expand Operating LLC shale gas well pad compressor station on State Game Lands in Great Bend Township, Susquehanna County.

The fire occurred on October 3 at about 10:48 p.m. at the RU-75 SGL-A shale gas well pad. A representative of the well owner walked the inspector through the incident.

“An optical "fire eye" sensor detected a flame and triggered an emergency shut down. This action successfully isolated the unit by shutting the suction valve, cutting off the main fuel supply and containing the incident to the compressor skid.

“Local fire departments were dispatched, and by the time they arrived, the fire was largely smoldering, having been starved of its primary fuel source. They used a small amount of water to extinguish the remaining hotspots.

“The damage is contained to the turbo charger area, and the ceiling directly above the fire shows only minor smoked blistering. The containment skid successfully held the volume of extinguishing water used by the fire department.”

An inspection "surrounding the compressor station and found no evidence of fluid contamination or staining on the ground.”

No violations were issued.

Click Here for DEP inspection report + photos.

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: Row 1-- Flash fire area at rear of compressor; Thermal damage to roof area; Row 2-- Water used to extinguish remaining fire captured in skid containment; Compressor building - left.)

[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- October 3 to 9 [PaEN]

-- 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 - 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: Conventional Well Fracking By Cline Oil Inc. Causes Uncontrolled Release Of Crude Oil From 2nd Abandoned Conventional Well In The City Of Bradford, McKean County [PaEN]

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

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

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - October 10 [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permit For Expand Operating LLC 4 Mile Long 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipeline In Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 10 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On A Chapter 105 Permit For Amazon Data Services Project Rosebud II In Luzerne County [PaEN]