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On August 24, Equitrans Midstream Corp. released the results of its root cause investigation into the uncontrolled leak of natural gas from the Rager Mountain Storage Facility in Cambria County in November of 2022, one of the largest natural gas leaks in the world in 2022.
Equitrans confirmed that over 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas was vented into the atmosphere from the underground storage facility during the leak.
However, they also reported another 127 million cubic feet of natural gas "was diverted to and contained within the geologic formations located at approximately 1,800 and/or 3,000 feet below ground."
Equitrans said the direct cause of the venting from Rager well #2244 was due to water- and oxygen-induced corrosion on the outside diameter of the top joint of the well and the infiltration of organic/inorganic matter into the annulus, which resulted in a failure of the well casing.
The wells serving the Rager Mountain facility were originally drilled in the 1960s.
The analysis was conducted by an independent, third-party company with expertise in reservoir management and well and corrosion engineering.
Equitrans said their investigation results were shared with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Mitigation Measures
Equitrans said they have taken a number of steps to mitigate the impacts of the leak, including--
-- Replacing the damaged casing on the conventional well where the leak occurred which remains temporarily plugged.
-- Several other conventional wells have underground casing and other piping replacement to address corrosion issues.
-- Evaluated more than 180 conventional wells at other Equitrans storage facilities for the same sort of corrosion issues.
-- To address potential concerns related to the roughly 127 million cubic feet of migrated natural gas, Equitrans completed extensive field and laboratory soil and water well testing, which confirmed that no gas migrated to nearby residential areas.
Click Here for the complete announcement on the root cause investigation.
Ongoing Enforcement
DEP has conducted regular inspections of the conventional gas wells serving the Rager Mountain facility and the efforts of Equitrans to update the casing and other requirements at those wells.
DEP’s ongoing inspections have found violations related to failure to comply with erosion and sedimentation requirements, discharges and leaks from the wells and other equipment at the well sites. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.
Compliance reports can be found through DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database webpage.
(Photo: The Equitrans leak as seen from space, courtesy of the Environmental Defense Fund.)
NewsClips:
-- WJAC: Cause Of 2022 Natural Gas Leak At Equitrans Gas Storage Facility In Cambria County Determined
-- Reuters: Equitrans Midstream Says November Natural Gas Leak Caused By Failure Due To Corrosion At PA Gas Storage Area
Related Articles - Equitrans:
-- UPDATED: After 14 Days, Efforts To Stop A Natural Gas Leak At A Cambria County Underground Gas Storage Area Have Apparently Been Successful [PaEN]
-- The Guardian: One Of The Worst Global Methane Leaks In 2022 Was In PA - Equitrans In Cambria County; Routine Abandonment, Non-Compliance Of Conventional Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP/Equitrans Settlement: DEP, Preempted By Federal Law, Withdraws Order, Closes NOVs Against Equitrans For Cambria County Natural Gas Storage Leak Releasing 1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas [PaEN]
-- DEP Has Ordered A ‘Top To Bottom Review’ Of How It Regulates Underground Natural Gas Storage Areas As A Result Of The Equitrans Gas Leak In Cambria County In Nov. [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - August 19 to 25 - More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Gas Frack-Out; More Leaking Wastewater Tanks; Equitrans Cleanup Continues [PaEN]
-- DEP Finds 2 More Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks With A Pipe Leading To A Discharge Area In A Ditch In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County [PaEN]
-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming [PaEN]
-- Equitrans Determined Leak Of Over 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas From Cambria County Storage Facility Was Caused By Corrosion In Conventional Gas Well Casing [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - August 26 [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission To Vote Sept. 14 On Budget, Climate Change Resolution, Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 8 Shale Gas Drilling Operations - 1 In Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 25 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 26 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
NewsClips This Week - Natural Gas:
-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma
-- Post-Gazette Letter: We Now Know How Bad Natural Gas Development Is For Children - By Dr. Edward Ketyer, Physicians For Social Responsibility PA
-- Inquirer - Will Bunch: Does Anyone Care About The Study Linking PA Natural Gas Development To Cancer In Kids?
-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development [PaEN]
-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs
-- Scranton Times Editorial: Give Teeth To Environmental Justice Policy
-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells
-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply] [PDF of article]
-- The Derrick: No Word Yet On When Do Not Consume Water Advisory Will Be Lifted For The Village Of Reno Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater In Venango County [PDF of article]
-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’
-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say
-- WHYY: Chester Residents Unite Against Philly LNG Natural Gas Task Force Proposal: ‘We Will Not Allow This Environmental Genocide’
-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest community
-- Inquirer: LNG Natural Gas Plant Could Bring Millions To Bankrupt Chester, Leaders, Residents Say No Thanks
-- Broad & Liberty Guest Essay: Federal Permitting Reform Critical In Making Pennsylvania Leading Player In Exporting Liquid Natural Gas - By Jon Anzur, PA Chamber of Business & Industry
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs
-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform
-- The Center Square: Permitting Reformers Say Make State Permits More Like Pizzas
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says
Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas:
-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force [PaEN]
-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development [PaEN]
-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs
-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials [PaEN]
-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells
-- Shapiro Administration Secures Methane Detectors For Neighborhood In Plum Boro, Allegheny County Where Home Exploded [PaEN]
-- PUC Approves 2 Penalty Settlements With Columbia Gas Totaling $1.525 Million For A House Explosion In Washington County, 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents In Franklin, Clarion Counties [PaEN]
-- US DOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Announces Proposed Rules To Reduce Risk Of Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions [PaEN]
-- On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia Faith In Action: Environmental Justice For All - Ensuring Equity And Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities [PaEN]
[Posted: August 24, 2023]
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