On February 2, Anya Litvak of the Post-Gazette reported a CNX Resources Corp Utica Shale gas well in Washington Township, Westmoreland County experienced a pressure problem on January 26 during fracking operations.  An obstruction was found in the well after it stopped fracking.

In follow up reporting, Litvak said a total of 9 nearby conventional shallower wells showed spikes in pressure which indicated some communication between the as in the Utica well and those wells.

A special well control team has been summoned from out-of-state to plug the well and it was ultimately plugged temporarily on February 4, but work remains ongoing at the site.

As part of the response to the well problem, CNX asked County Emergency Management officials to establish a no-fly zone within a 5-mile radius of the well.

The well is located near the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s Beaver Run Reservoir which the Authority said has not been affected by the problems at the well.

On February 9, Anya Litvak of the Post-Gazette reported a preliminary report by CNX has found so far the over pressure and leaks in the well were caused by a problem with the well casing and cementing issue which prevents natural gas from leaking out of the vertical well to surrounding rock. Click Here for more.

DEP is waiting until it has all the information from CNX before making its assessment of the cause of the problem., according to an agency spokesperson.

DEP

CNX reported an incident at its Shaw 1G well on the evening of Saturday, January 26. Throughout this week, DEP’s Oil & Gas program has been, and continues to be, in regular communication with CNX on the well control issue.

During the fracking stage of the Utica well, CNX experienced a significant loss of pressure and potential communication with other nearby conventional wells.

DEP requested—and is receiving—multiple daily updates from CNX. Once the issue is under control, the department will request a root cause analysis from CNX.

DEP’s Emergency Response and Oil & Gas personnel will be on site 24/7 until the well is under control and the Department will continue to investigate this matter.

DEP’s Safe Drinking Water program is in communication with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) on precautions to the Beaver Run Reservoir.

MAWC reported to DEP that it has been sampling the reservoir and MAWC’s intake is one to two miles from the well site.  MAWC has been in communication with CNX.

MAWC reported no issues or abnormalities to DEP, but—like all public water systems—has emergency response plans if necessary.

There are no issues with private water wells that DEP is aware of.

CNX and DEP will be investigating the incident to determine its cause and impacts.

NewsClips:

Litvak: CNX Reports Well Casing Issue Likely Cause Of Out Of Control Utica Gas Well In Westmoreland

Litvak: After 10 Days, Westmoreland Utica Gas Well Now Under Control; 9 Conventional Wells Saw Pressure Spikes

Gas Well Pressure Issue Leads To Testing Water Supply Reservoir In Westmoreland County 

Westmoreland Residents Remain Concerned About Flaring, Ongoing Deep Gas Well Issue

PaEN: Litvak: DEP Monitoring Pressure Problem From Fracking Deep Gas Well In Westmoreland County

Litvak: DEP Monitoring Pressure Problem From Fracking Deep Gas Well In Westmoreland County, Crews Coming From Out Of State To Kill The Well

[Posted: Feb. 6, 2019]

2/11/2019