From June 24 to 30, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 435 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 23 violations of environmental regulations-- 8 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 15 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

So far this year-- as of June 23-- DEP issued 3,296 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 734 to unconventional shale gas operators based on 7,678 inspections of conventional facilities and 12,223 inspections of unconventional shale gas facilities.

Radiation Levels Prompt Tank Decontamination

On June 28, DEP inspected the Sensinger shale gas well pad operated by Chesapeake Appalachia LLC in Franklin Township, Bradford in response to a notification that over 800 gallons of production wastewater was released over a 10 day period on the well pad.

DEP’s inspection report said on June 18, 2023 a vac truck was removing wastewater from the production tank when the valve on the tank was not fully closed.  It continued leaking for 10 days.

An environmental contractor on the site detected readings of radioactivity above background levels in the area of the spill and the tank-- 50 to 70 uR/hour.  The report noted background is 10 uR/hour.

Chesapeake contacted Waste Management to decontaminate the production tank and remove it from the site after decon on July 3.  Cleanup of the pad will start after the tank is removed.

Violations were issued for failure to collect and properly dispose of production wastewater.

New Well Abandonments

On June 26, DEP issued notices of violation to Big Dog Energy LLC for abandoning without plugging two conventional gas wells known as Erickson-A and Hegarty-A in Woodward Township, Clearfield County.

Both wells were found to be leaking natural gas and the operator failed to submit production and waste generation/disposal and mechanical integrity reports for the wells.

DEP asked the operator to submit a written report on how they will bring the wells into compliance by July 14.  [DEP inspection report for Hegarty-A]

Plugging/Replugging Conventional Wells

On June 26, DEP inspected the Pennfield Energy LLC conventional gas well sites known as McDowell 8 & 17 in Mineral Township, Venango County and found a well plugging contractor was setting up at McDowell 8 to plug the well after it was abandoned without plugging by the operator.

DEP’s inspection report said the operator had originally promised to start plugging both wells by May 15.  The fact there was a plugging rig there at all is good news.

On June 27, DEP inspected the Enervest OPR LLC abandoned conventional gas well known as Finnessy 15B in Wetmore Township, McKean County following a report by an Enervest contractor the well was leaking natural gas.

DEP’s inspection report said the well was leaking gas even though it was just plugged on June 22.  The operator’s intention is to re-plug the well to stop the leak.

On June 26, DEP inspected an Armac Resource LLC conventional abandoned gas well known as Warren Rail Car 2 in Warren City, Warren County and determined the operator failed to plug the well properly.

DEP’s inspection report said a camera inserted in the well to check the plug found fluid and a gas meter detected natural gas leaking from the well bore. 

The plugging rig is in the process of replugging the well.

On June 26, DEP inspected two conventional gas wells  known as Connell School and Perry School operated by the Erie City School District and found them in the process of permanently plugging the wells.

Plugging/Replugging Shale Gas Wells

On June 27, DEP inspected wells on the Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC Amcor shale gas well pad in Meshoppen Township, Wyoming County and found plugging operations underway on several wells.

DEP’s inspection report said contractors were installing retrievable cast iron bridge plugs in the wells and then filling portions of the wells with sand.

On June 27, DEP inspected the Squier B well pad operated by Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC in Springville Township, Susquehanna County and found the operator was plugging several wells on the pad.

DEP’s inspection report said the operator was replugging well 1H with cement after the initial plug leaked.  The operator was also planning to plug the 2H well.

Shale Gas Well Site Remediation

On June 26, DEP did a follow up inspection at the Jackson shale gas well pad site operated by Blackhill Energy LLC in Springfield Township, Bradford County to check on remediation of areas impacted by an April 6, 2023 production wastewater spill.

DEP found water in a stormwater control basin was still being impacted by the spill and soil impacted by the spill was excavated.  DEP recommended continued collection of water from the impacted areas and disposing of it properly.

Pipeline construction at the pad had resulted in several erosion and sedimentation issues the operator was asked to fix.

DEP’s inspection report noted the violations issued in April will remain in effect, but no new violations were found at the site.

On June 26, Seneca Resources Co LLC reported a small spill at its Covington Prospect shale gas well pad in Covington Township, Tioga County and took steps to immediately clean up the site.

Federal Well Plugging Site Inspections

Last week, DEP filed site inspection reports on 8 well plugging sites being conducted under the new federal Well Plugging Program in Allegheny County (Moon & Ross Townships); Armstrong County (Manor & Gilpin Townships); McKean County (Eldred Township- 2); Potter County (Eulalia Township); Venango County (Cranberry Township);

No violations were found.

Coterra Energy - Dimock Twp. Area Inspections

On June 26, 27 and 28, DEP conducted a second week of a focused effort to inspect unconventional shale gas well pads owned by Coterra Energy Inc. in and around Dimock Township, Susquehanna County.

Nine well pads were inspected in Dimock Township (5); Gibson Township (1); Lenox Township (1); Bridgewater Township (1); and Springville Township (1)

DEP reported no violations were found.

Coterra Energy Inc. signed a consent order with DEP in December, 2022 that allowed them to resume shale gas drilling in a 9 square mile Dimock/Carter Road Area of Susquehanna County after they were held responsible for significant water supply protection violations.  Read more here.

Failure To Submit Reports Since 2013

In response to a citizen complaint about leaking gas, DEP inspected the Waddell Farms conventional gas well operated by Apple Shamrock Dairy Farms LLC in Steuben Township, Crawford County on June 30.

DEP’s inspection report said the inspector could not detect leaking gas, but the well had not been inspected since 2013 and the operator failed to submit annual production/waste generation and mechanical integrity reports since 2013.

DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by August 1, 2023 on how they were going to bring the well into compliance.

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.

(Photos: top- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC Sensinger shale gas pad radioactive water spill;      Armac Resource LLC Warren Rail Car improperly plugged conventional gas well; Big Dog Energy Hegarty-A abandoned conventional gas well; bottom- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC replugging shale gas well on Amcor pad; Chesapeake Appalachia LLC replugging shale gas well on Squier pad; Apple Shamrock Dairy Farms LLC Waddell Farms conventional gas well; Enervest OPR LLC abandoned Finnessy conventional gas well.)

[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 Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 24 to 30 - Radiation Levels Prompt Shale Gas Wastewater Tank Decontamination; Replugging Conventional, Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment -  July 1   [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts 57 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 1 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Children’s Health Defense News: For Decades He Railed Against Fracking In Washington County - Now His Wife Has A Type Of Cancer Linked To Fracking Chemicals

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Who Is Blocking Climate, Oil & Gas Bills In Pennsylvania?

-- TribLive: Concerns Over Proposed Invenergy Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant In Elizabeth Township To Be Aired Tuesday, June 27

-- TribLive: Opposition Continues On Proposed Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant On Yough River

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA’s Natural Gas Act 13 Impact Fee Boom Year May Go Bust Next Year

-- Observer-Reporter Letter: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees Don’t Help Those Impacted By Gas Drilling - By Cathy Lodge, Washington County

-- Observer-Reporter Letter: The Definition Of Insanity - Have Qualified Stewards Of Our Health, Environment, Learning, Play Spend Washington County’s $9 Million In Act 13 Impact Fee Money

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: Federal Court Voids Chesapeake Energy Settlement In PA Natural Gas Royalty Dispute

-- Vermont State Police: Joint Investigation Into June 1 Natural Gas Tanker Fire Finds Truck Was Destroyed And Damaged U.S. Route 7 In Ferrisburgh Was The Result Of Mechanical Failure

-- Wall Street Journal: Cheaper Natural Gas Prices In Store This Summer; Earlier Price Spikes Driven By Europe’s LNG Imports

Related Articles This Week:

-- Senate Overwhelmingly Confirms Richard Negrin As Secretary Of DEP  [PaEN]

-- House Democratic Leadership Blocks Environmental Committee Action On Bills Increasing Safety Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities, Cryptocurrency Permit Moratorium  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Quality Board Meets July 11 To Consider Changes To Water Quality Standards; DEP Reports Law Limiting Its Authority To Change Conventional Oil & Gas Well Bonding May Be Unconstitutional [PaEN]

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets July 11 On Programs To Promote Use Of Electric Vehicles; Chapter 105 Environmental Assessment Alternatives Analysis  [PaEN]

-- Independent Fiscal Office Projects 2023 Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue At $180 to $184 Million, A Drop Of $94 Million From 2022 Revenue  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Groups Call For Transparency With State Plans For Carbon Capture, Storage  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 1, 2023]

7/3/2023