DEP Completes Plugging 173 Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells In 2008

The Department of Environmental Protection plugged 173 abandoned oil and gas wells that were found in 11 counties across the state during 2008.

 

“Today, oil and gas well operators cannot leave wells in a condition that would pose a risk to the public, but unfortunately thousands of wells were abandoned before people understood the environmental and public health risks,” said Environmental Protection Acting Secretary John Hanger. “Abandoned wells serve as conduits that allow oil and mine drainage to contaminate ground water and also allow natural gas to infiltrate buildings, creating the potential for explosions. Our efforts to properly seal these wells will ensure that they no longer present a danger to area residents.”

 

The Commonwealth invested nearly $3 million last year to close these wells as part of 12 projects. DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management awarded another 10 contracts in 2008—most of which will be completed next year—to plug 144 additional abandoned oil and gas wells.

 

From December 1999 through 2002 DEP plugged 1,336 abandoned oil and gas wells using the original Growing Greener funds, an average of 668 wells annually.  (Follow link to fact sheet-  http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddcr6dp5_3fq8whrdb )

 

Pennsylvania has the most abandoned wells in the Appalachian region and is one of the top five states nationally. The department has documented more than 8,700 wells throughout the state that were abandoned prior to passage of modern oil and gas drilling regulations.

 

A list of 2008 projects is available online.