From January 7 through 13, DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 551 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 51 violations of environmental regulations-- 31 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 20 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

So far this year-- as of January 6-- DEP issued 45 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 23 to unconventional shale gas operators.

Violations noted for conventional operators included--

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - Failure to plug a well upon abandoning it (Mercer County)

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - Failure to submit well integrity reports (Mercer County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Failure to collect brine and dispose of drilling wastes (Greene County)

-- Dallas Energy LLC - Failure to implement erosion control practices (Washington County).

The annual integrity report is critical because it helps ensure the operator is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.

Violations noticed for unconventional shale gas operators included--

-- STL Resources LLC - Failure to report defective well casing or cementing (2) (Clinton County)

-- JKLM Energy LLC - Failure to collect brine, properly management wastes (Potter County)

-- Seneca Resources - Failure to keep wastes out of waters of the Commonwealth (Tioga County - DCNR well pad)

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator.

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.

Violation Details

Violations Reported - Conventional

1 -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

1 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

1 -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

1 -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

1 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

1 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

4 -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

2 -- Failed to design, implement and maintain erosion and sedimentation control practices

1-- Failed to restore disturbed land at well site

Company/Location/Violations - Conventional

Greene County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Cumberland Twp. - Cartier/Luxner 4

     -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

Jefferson County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Health Twp. - PA State Forest Warrant 2454

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Mercer County

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - West Salem Twp. - Morrison 1

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - West Salem Twp. - Leonard 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - West Salem Twp. - Kirila Estate 2

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- Nucomer Energy LLC - West Salem Twp. - Leskovac Unit 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

Washington County

-- Dallas Energy LLC - Buffalo Twp. - WM Knox 13

     -- Failed to design, implement and maintain erosion and sedimentation control practices 

-- Dallas Energy LLC - Blaine Twp. - Hodges Jas SR 7

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Failed to design, implement and maintain erosion and sedimentation control practices

     -- Failed to restore disturbed land at well site

Violations Reported - Unconventional Shale Gas

3 -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

2 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

1 -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

1 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

2 -- Failed to report defective well casing or cementing

3 -- Failed to implement post restoration stormwater controls

3 -- Failed to submit site restoration report

3 -- Failed to submit erosion & sedimentation permit termination

Company/Location/Violations - Unconventional Shale Gas

-- Butler County

-- Big Dog Energy LLC - Mercer Twp. - Halterlein 2064

     -- Failed to implement post restoration stormwater controls

     -- Failed to submit site restoration report

     -- Failed to submit erosion & sedimentation permit termination

-- Big Dog Energy LLC - Slippery Rock Twp. - Williams Unit 2062

     -- Failed to implement post restoration stormwater controls

     -- Failed to submit site restoration report

     -- Failed to submit erosion & sedimentation permit termination

-- Big Dog Energy LLC - Worth Twp. -  Drake Unit 2053

     -- Failed to implement post restoration stormwater controls

     -- Failed to submit site restoration report

     -- Failed to submit erosion & sedimentation permit termination

Clinton County

--  STL Resources LLC - Gallagher Twp. - Sturgis Pad B

     -- Failed to report defective well casing or cementing (2)

Potter County

-- JKLM Energy LLC - Ulysses Twp. - Headwaters Well Pad 146

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Tioga County

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC - Sullivan Twp. - Hepler 235 602 Well

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC - Delmart Twp. - DCNR 007 Pad, K Mon Pad

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 7 to 13  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 14  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 46 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 14 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases 2 More Bid Solicitations To Plug 38 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Venango County At Taxpayer Expense; Average Cost To Plug $95,000  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Report Shows Diversified Energy, Owner Of Over 22,500 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, May Be Financially Insolvent  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Investigation Of Pollution From PA General Energy Natural Gas Development Construction Site On Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek Results In Settlement Agreement  [PaEN]

-- PJM’s Preliminary Review Of Christmas Storm Electric Generation Failures Shows Natural Gas Units Failed To Provide Power At Over Triple The Rate Of Other Generation  [PaEN]

-- EPA Invites Comments On Draft Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Permit In Young Twp., Jefferson County; Feb. 13 Virtual Hearing Tentatively Set  [PaEN]

-- Better Path Coalition Outlines Needed Environmental, Climate Policy Changes For Incoming Shapiro Administration  [PaEN]

-- American Petroleum Institute Unveils Plan To Prioritize U.S. Natural Gas And Oil; Target Northeast U.S. For Pipeline Development  [PaEN]

-- EQT, Chesapeake, Equitrans Shale Gas Companies Announce Methane Reduction Initiatives  [PaEN]

-- Groups Host Jan. 17 Webinar On Climate & Health Impacts Of Methane Gas From Oil & Gas Operations  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Hosts Jan. 17 Webinar On Exploring Oil & Gas Industrialization Impacts On Watersheds  [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: Has Anything Changed? - Shalefield Stories, Revisiting Our Fracking Past

[Posted: January 13, 2023]

1/16/2023