From December 9 to 15, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 149 inspection entries.

[Note: DEP’s Compliance Database had IT issues this week and was only displaying the results of inspections on December 11 and 12.]

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

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 76 conventional, 7 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 6,311 conventional and 1,223 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week:  237 conventional and 373 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 15,325 conventional and 21,685 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 1 conventional and 7 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 173 conventional and 395 unconventional

Abandoned Conventional Well

On December 5, 2023, DEP did an inspection of the Weirton Coal 1 conventional well operated by The Production Co LLC in Luzerne Township, Fayette County and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.

Violations were also pending for failure to submit production and waste generation and well integrity reports.

The inspection summary notes the inspection was done accompanied by a representative of Stone Ridge Energy.

DEP’s inspection report was not available online.

DEP issued or continued 500 notices of violation for abandoning conventional oil and gas wells without plugging them so far in 2023.  Read more here.

Shale Gas Water Withdrawals 25 Days Without Approval

On December 8, 2023, DEP determined PennEnergy Resources, LLC withdrew water from the PA American Water Butler-Limbacher Lane water source in Clinton Township, Butler County for 24 days after permission to use the water expired on August 20, 2023.

Each day constitutes a separate violation of PennEnergy’s Water Management Plan and a notice of violation will be sent to the operator.  [DEP determination]

DEP also posted a second determination PennEnergy Resources, LLC withdrew water from the PA American Water Butler - Thorn Run Road water source in Summit Township, Butler County for one day after permission to use the water expired on August 20, 2023.

A separate notice of violation will be issued for this violation.

Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Release

On December 1, 2023, DEP inspected the Barley Wine Well Site in Jackson Township, Greene County operated by EQM Gathering OPCO, Inc. in response to a reported release of 1,260 to 2,100 gallons of production wastewater on November 30, 2023 when a pressure gauge failed.

A representative of EQT said production wastewater was continuing to flow from the location to stimulation of a shale gas well on nearby State Game Lands, in spite of the reported release.

EQM arranged to begin cleanup at the site and took other steps to contain the spill.

DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by December 26, 2023 on how the operator will bring the site into compliance.

Conventional Crude Oil Spill

On December 5, 2023, DEP inspected the WT 3402 105 conventional oil well in Lafayette Township, McKean County on Allegheny National Forest land in response to a call from the operator Bull Run Resources reporting a spill of crude oil.

DEP’s inspection report said, “The crude ran approx. 40 feet over a steep embankment. Bull Run employees built a small siphon dam and deployed booms, absorbent pads and "peat-zorb".

The impacted area was relatively small and soil was removed by hand.  The amount of crude oil spilled is not known.

DEP issued violations related to the spill and requested a written report by December 27, 2023 on how the well site will be brought into compliance.

Failure To Comply With Conventional Well Order

On December 6 and 7, 2023, DEP reported River Ridge Gravel Co. failed to comply with a June 23, 2022 administrative order to submit well production and waste generation and well integrity reports by February 15, 2023 for 11 conventional wells in Cranberry Township, Venango County.

The wells include River Ridge Dev - 5, 6, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 144 and 145.

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: Bull Run Resources conventional well crude oil spill; EQM Gathering OPCO, Inc. shale gas wastewater pipeline spill.)

[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:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec.  9 to 15 - 500 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations; 25 Days Of Shale Gas Water Withdrawals Without Permission; Wastewater Pipeline Spill  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance So Far In 2023 - It Isn’t Pretty   [PaEN]

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

-- DEP Posted 68 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 16 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Former Employees Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Ask For Criminal Investigation Of Eureka And An Audit Of DEP Over Alleged Workplace, Environmental Violations  [PaEN]

-- Senate Environmental Committee Reports Independent Energy Information Office Bill; Democrats Attempt To Table Environmental Hearing Board Nominee  [PaEN]

-- EPA/DOE Award DEP $44.4 Million To Plug Active, Conventional Oil & Gas Wells To Stop Leaking Methane  [PaEN]

-- Videos Now Available From PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Shale Gas & Public Health Conference; Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts  [PaEN]

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant  [PaEN]

-- CNX Ends Coordination On West Virginia Adams Fork Ammonia Energy Project, Anchor Of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Application  [PaEN]

-- HEI Energy Hosts Dec. 18 Webinar On New Research On Community Exposures To Oil & Gas Development & Groundwater Contamination In Beaver, Greene & Washington Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Independent Fiscal Office Estimates 2023 Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Will Drop By Nearly $105 Million, While Almost 400 New Wells Were Drilled So Far In 2023  [PaEN]

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant  [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Expanding Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Renewables Lower Energy Costs; Increase Grid Reliability; More Work Needed To Improve Natural Gas Reliability  [PaEN]

-- PJM Makes Multiple Reliability-Focused Improvements To Prepare For Winter To Deal With 70% Natural Gas, Other Generator Nonperformance In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PUC To Hold Stakeholder Meeting Feb. 7-8 On Act 129 Statewide Evaluator Energy Efficiency Baseline Studies And The 2026 Reference Manual  [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA Hosts Jan. 22 Webinar On Why Municipalities Should Consider A Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Webinar Dec. 21: Shale Gas Trends For Landowners, Growth & Land Leasing  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- Public Herald: I Turned Blue - Workers Share Horrifying Experiences Treating Oil & Gas Wastewater

-- Williamsport Sun: Ex-Employees Seek Criminal Probe Against Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport

-- NorthcentralPA.com: Former Eureka Resources Employees Ask Lycoming County DA Gardner For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant

-- Citizens Voice: Former Eureka Employees Ask Lycoming County DA For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant

-- Williamsport Sun: Fracking Water Spills At Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport

-- TribLive Letter: For Natural Gas Industry, Concern For Health Should Trump Industry Profits

-- Lock Haven Express Letter: Who Does Senator Yaw Represent? - By Karen Elias

-- The Daily Item Letter: We Deserve A Refund, Too, From The Legislature [Pitt Shale Gas Health Studies]  - By Trey Casimir

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Unleashing LNG Natural Gas Exports On Pennsylvania’s Habitat

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Regulatory Reform Needed To Advance Critical Natural Gas Projects In PA - By American Petroleum Institute PA

-- TribLive Letter: Natural Gas Industry A Win For Pennsylvania - Keystone Contractors Assn.

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Black And Brown Communities Cannot Be Left In The Dark As Energy Innovation Booms - By Fmr ExxonMobil Executive

-- Williamsport Sun Letter: ‘Any Legislation Or Regulation That Seeks To Further Restrict The Development, Transportation or Use Of Natural Gas Will Harm Our Economy, Undermine Personal Property Rights, Weaken National Security And Reverse The Significant Environmental Program Enabled By This Clean Abundant Energy Source’ - By Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Per Well Fee Revenues To Drop $105 Million

-- Post-Gazette: PA Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenues Drop $105 Million

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Board Risks Missing Deadline For Adopting New Generator Winterization Standards To Ensure Grid Reliability  [Response To Winter Storm Elliot Problems]

-- Reuters: Extreme Cold Still Poses Reliability Challenge For North American Power Generators, Particularly Natural Gas Infrastructure - NERC

-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Will Have 2 Years To Update Oil & Gas Facility Methane Emission Rules To Match EPA

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Up 1% On Higher Demand, Record LNG Exports

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shale Gas Exports Get A Seat At The Global Table: ‘That’s Our Business’  [EQT]

-- Reuters: Freeport LNG Natural Gas Plant Settles With EPA Over Safety Failures In 2022 Texas Blast

-- Offshore Technology: US Gas Producer EQT Explores Sale Of Production Assets Worth $3 Billion In NE PA

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Producer EQT Explores Sale Of Production Assets Worth $3 Billion In NE PA

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Pulls Out Of Adams Fork Hydrogen Project

-- PennLive Letter: Let’s Get To Work On PA’s Hydrogen Hubs, Develop Strong Standards - By Rep. Rabb (D-Philadelphia)

-- Herald-Star: Tenaska Outlines Carbon Capture, Storage Project In Shale Gas Formations In SW PA, Southern Ohio

-- The Allegheny Front: COP28 Roundup: Food, Health, Disaster Relief And The Oceans

-- Financial Times: COP28: The New Climate Commitments That Really Count: Oil & Gas Methane Reductions; Tripling Renewables; Boost Energy Efficiency

-- AP: Experts At Odds Over Result Of UN Climate Talks: ‘Historic,’ ‘Pipsqueak’ Or Something Else?

-- Bloomberg: COP28 Deal Signals Role For Natural Gas In Clean Energy Transition

-- Reuters: What Are The Loopholes In COP28 Climate Deal That Could Keep Oil, Gas, Coal Flowing Indefinitely

[Posted: December 17, 2023]

12/18/2023