From September 9 to 15, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 554 inspection report entries.

So far this year-- as of September 8--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 19 conventional, 24 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,561 conventional and 913 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 300 conventional and 378 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 10,821 conventional and 16,639 unconventional

Abandoned Shale Gas Well Pad?

On September 14, 2023, DEP inspected the Coretsky shale gas well pad operated by XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, in Prospect Borough, Butler County and found Patton C 2H gas well partially completed with casing installed down to 1,886 feet.  Records indicated it was drilled in April 2019.

A total of four Patton wells remain partially drilled and four plugging certificates were received by DEP for other wells on the well pad.  Steel plates were placed over the partially drilled wells.  No pipeline has been run to the pad.

DEP issued a  notice of violation for failure to plug wells upon abandoning them and requested the operator to submit a written report by September 28, 2023 on how it plans to bring the well into compliance.  [DEP inspection report]

It is unusual for an unconventional shale gas operator to get an NOV for well abandonment.

New Well Abandonment - Conventional

On September 14, 2023, DEP inspected the Robinson 17 conventional well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Springhill Township, Fayette County and issued a notice of violation for failure to plug the well upon abandoning it.

The inspector noted this well did not appear to be part of the consent order and agreement signed with Diversified Prod LLC in 2019 on plugging conventional wells.  Read more here.

DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by October 14, 2023 on how it will bring the well into compliance.  [DEP inspection report]

On Road To Abandonment?

On September 12, 2023, DEP filed inspection reports on 14 conventional wells operated by Dorso LP in German and Nicholson Townships, Fayette County noting the operator failed to submit annual production and waste and mechanical integrity reports as requested by September 6 and 7.

The production and waste report is critical to understanding how much wastewater and other waste those wells generated and where it was disposed of.

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.

Not filing these reports is a sign a conventional operator is not actively managing the well and could be on a path to abandoning them.

Equitrans Leaking Storage Area Well

On September 12, 2023, DEP a follow up inspection of the W.E. & Norna F. Wood I conventional gas well serving the Equitrans Gamble Hayden Gas Storage Area Reservoir in Forward Township, Allegheny County and found well plugging equipment was onsite and was to start working soon.  [DEP inspection report]

DEP noted a notice of violation was issued on May 23, 2022 for natural gas leaking from the well casing and the inspector said you “could hear bubbling.”  [DEP inspection report]

Venting Shale Gas Well

On September 14, 2023, DEP inspected the Sturgis South shale gas well pad operated by STL Resources LLC in Grugan Township, Clinton County with five producing wells and found the annulus vent open and vented to the atmosphere.

Natural gas was detected venting from the annulus vent.

DEP noted the continuation of a notice of violation originally issued on July 11, 2023 for defective casing and cementing the operator failed to correct in 30 days.  [DEP inspection report]

Conventional Production Wastewater Tank Leak

On September 14, 2023, in response to a citizen complaint, DEP inspected the RW Linsenbigler conventional well operated by Diversified Prod LLC and found evidence of a leak of production wastewater from a storage tank on the site-- dead vegetation and standing puddles.

DEP issued multiple notices of violation for the release and failure to control and store waste to prevent pollution.

DEP requested the operator to submit a written report by September 29, 2023 on how the operator would bring the site into compliance.  [DEP inspection report]

PGE Plugging Proposed Injection Well

On September 14 and 15, DEP inspected the Marjorie Yanity 1025 well site in Grant Township, Indiana County operated by PA General Energy Co. LLC and found operations were underway to plug the well.

This well was ground zero in a years-long dispute between Grant Township, PA General Energy Co. LLC and DEP over permits for an oil and gas wastewater injection well that began in 2013.

In May, PA General Energy Co. LLC announced they were abandoning the project and plugging the well.  Read more here.

DEP inspection report 9.14.23(A).  DEP inspection report 9.14.23(B). DEP inspection report 9.15.23.

Failure To Submit Annual Reports

On September 11, 2023, DEP inspected the Benedictine Society Westmoreland City 4105 well operated by Blackrock Enterprises LLC in Mount Pleasant Township in Westmoreland County and found the operator continued to be in violation for failing to submit production and waste disposal and mechanical integrity reports.

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 and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

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- Diversified Prod LLC conventional well abandoned; 2-photos XTO Energy Inc. Coretsky shale gas well pad abandoned well(s); bottom- Equitrans conventional gas well serving the Gamble Hayden Gas Storage Area Reservoir leaking gas & plugging rig over well; Diversified Prod LLC production wastewater tank leak; PA General Energy plugs Grant Township well originally intended as an oil and gas wastewater injection 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 Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard -  September 9 to 15;  First Abandoned Shale Gas Well Pad? Another Leaking Equitrans Storage Well; Plugging Grant Twp. Injection Well  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - September 16  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Section 401 Water Quality Certification For A Texas Eastern Natural Gas Pipeline Project Going Under The Schuylkill River In Chester, Montgomery Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 75 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Sept. 16 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- Public Source: ‘It’s Just Too Close:’ People Living Near Natural Gas Drilling, Industrial Facilities Suffer As State And Local Governments Fail To Buffer Homes

-- Bedford Gazette Editorial: Natural Gas Development is Making Pennsylvanians Sick, Lawmakers Must Act

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Oil, Natural Gas Industry Urge EPA To Drop Plans To Tighten Particulate Matter Limits

-- Inside Climate News: Shale Gas Driller In PA Wants To Take 1.5 Million Gallons A Day Of Fresh Water From Small, Biodiverse Big Sewickley Creek In Beaver-Allegheny Counties. Should DEP Allow It?

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Residents In Village Of Reno, Venango County Still Reporting Problems With Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater; Late Mayor Of Sugarcreek Boro Praised  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Some Residents Of Village Of Reno, Venango County Didn’t Receive Water Updates Relating To Contamination Of Their Water Supply By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: The Late Sugarcreek Boro Mayor Charlie McDaniel Praised For Leadership Responding To Village Of Reno Water Supply Emergency Caused By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill  [PDF of article]

-- WPXI: Multiple Ross Twp. Homes Evacuated After Contractor Hits Natural Gas Line In Allegheny County

-- WTAE: Records Show Dozens Of Abandoned Natural Gas Wells In Plum Boro, Allegheny County

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Federal Oil, Gas Leases Create Jobs And Meet Needs For Affordable Energy  [Note: There are 5,000 to 7,000 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells in the Allegheny National Forest]

--  Inquirer Guest Essay: Abandoned Conventional Oil, Gas Wells In PA Must Be Plugged - By Well Done Foundation  [In The Business Of Plugging Wells]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Natural Gas Industry Says Not Enough Pipelines Could Cut Off Expansion Of Natural Gas Supplies  [Pipelines are the most penalized industry in PA for environmental violations]

-- EPA Issues Final Rule Strengthening State Section 401 Water Quality Certification Rule For Infrastructure, Pipeline, Development Projects  [Pipelines are the most penalized industry in PA for environmental violations]

-- The Hill: EPA Gives States More Authority To Block Pipeline Projects [Section 401 Certification Rule]

-- Inside Climate News: Ohio Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Well Suspended Over ‘Imminent Danger’ To Drinking Water  [PA gas drillers use Ohio sites for disposal]

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio Attorney General Investigating Disputed Public Comments That Urge Natural Gas Development In State Parks

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: EPA Failed To Take Action On Excessive Benzene Emissions At Philly Refinery Site For Years

-- PA Capital-Star: Report Faults EPA For Not Enforcing Limits On Toxic Benzene Emissions At Oil Refineries

-- Warren Times: Warren County Leading Region In High Gasoline Prices

-- Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia’s Oil Squeeze Rekindles Talk Of $100 Oil

-- The Derrick: Oil Region National Heritage Area To Hold Oil Heritage Energy Security Conference Oct. 12-13 In Venango County [Some Events Invitation Only]  [PDF of article]

-- Post-Gazette: Top Work Places Survey In Pittsburgh Has EQT Natural Gas Drilling In First Place  [Check their DEP environmental compliance record here ]

-- The Allegheny Front: Groups Say ‘Clean’ Hydrogen Projects Lack Transparency And Fear Climate, Safety Impacts

-- LancasterOnline: Fracking Revenue Fund 12 Years Of Environmental Projects In Lancaster County

-- Bay Journal: Virginia Natural Gas Compressor Project Raises Environmental Justice Questions

-- Financial Times: World At ‘Beginning Of End’ Of Fossil Fuel Era, Says Global Energy Agency [Demand For Oil, Natural Gas, Coal Will All Peak Before 2030]

-- Wall Street Journal: Demand For Oil, Natural Gas, Coal To Peak This Decade, IEA Chief Says

Related Articles This Week:

-- Environmental Health Project Finds Results ‘Very Concerning’ From University Of Pittsburgh Studies Showing Links Between Natural Gas Development And Lymphoma Cancer, Worsening Asthma Conditions, Lower Birth Weights  [PaEN]

-- Oil & Gas Industry Spills, Releases Created Over 575 New Brownfield Sites So Far In Pennsylvania, With More Every Week  [PaEN]

-- Petro Erie, Inc. Says It Lacks The Financial Ability To Comply With DEP’s Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater That Contaminated The Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; Will Taxpayers Be Stuck With Cleanup Costs Again?  [PaEN]

-- DEP Publishes Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy Changing Permit Review Process; Opens Comment Period Setting 9 Public Hearings  [PaEN]

-- Oil Region National Heritage Area To Hold 2nd Oil Heritage Energy Security Conference Oct. 12-13 In Venango County  [PaEN]

-- PUC Urges Consumers To Shop For Natural Gas Supplies To Lock In Lower Gas Prices To Help Insulate Against Potential Energy Price Spikes  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 16, 2023]

9/18/2023