From January 4 to 12, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 1,020 inspection entries.

[Note: DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database has now caught up with entries.]

So far this year-- from January 1 to 5--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 123 conventional, 7 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 123 conventional and 7 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 9 conventional and 1 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 244 conventional and 353 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 244 conventional and 353 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 2 conventional and 5 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 2 conventional and 5 unconventional

9 More Abandoned Conventional Wells

On January 3, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Brady F27 conventional coal bed methane well in West Pike Run Township, Washington County operated by Diversified Prod. LLC and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.

Violations were issued and DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by January 20, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

On January 4, 2024, DEP inspected 12 conventional gas wells operated by Pin Oak Energy Partners LLC and found two-- Armstrong Forest 1232 (Ridgway Township, Elk County) and Isoldi 1 (Mercer Boro, Mercer County)-- to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP’s inspection report contained photos of the well in the same condition dated September 3, 2022.

The inspection report [Armstrong Forest 1232] did not include any follow up actions.

On January 4, 2024, DEP inspected the W. Clyde Swank 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County operated by Reel Resources, Inc. and found it to be abandoned and not plugged.

“Strong natural gas odor could clearly be detected. Altair gas detector alarmed for combustible gas when placed near the hole in the wellhead.”

The inspection report notes at least 13 violations at this well go back to an inspection on March 6, 2020 and at least three other inspections after that.

DEP’s inspection report requested a written response by January 20, 2024 on how the operator plans to bring the well into compliance.

On January 4 - 5, 2024, DEP inspected the Penn Park Dev & Crest 1 conventional well  in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County and the Ray Rimer 4 conventional well in Toby Township, Clarion County operated by Baron Crest Energy Co. and found them to be abandoned and not plugged.

Notices of violation were also issued for failure to restore the well site and failure to submit production and waste reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022  (Rimeer 4).

DEP’s inspection report requests the operator to submit a written report by January 30, 2024 describing how the wells will be brought into compliance.

On January 5, 2024, DEP did follow up inspections on several John B. Best conventional wells in Cranberry Township, Venango County and found BL Solle K2 was abandoned and not plugged, illegally disposed of waste on site, had defective casing or cementing of well, failed to protect groundwater with unlawful discharge of wastewater to ground, failed to submit annual production and waste generation, well integrity reports, failed to submit a plan for bringing the well into compliance. 

In 2023, DEP issued more than 64 notices of violation to John B. Best for abandoning and not plugging conventional wells.  Read more here.

DEP’s inspection report requests a written plan by January 26, 2024 on bringing the well into compliance.

On January 11, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Frank Schropp 1 and the RACOP 1 conventional wells in Rockdale Township, Crawford County operated by Medina Res Dev Co LLC and found them to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP noted neither well was part of a consent order DEP signed with the company on plugging abandoned wells.

DEP’s inspection reports [RACOP 1] requested a written response by January 16, 2024 on how the wells would be brought into compliance.

[So far in 2024, DEP issued or continued 9 notices of violation for conventional oil and gas well abandonment.]

Leaking Conventional Wastewater Tanks

On January 3, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Mallory WT 3712 conventional well operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr. in Corydon Township, McKean County and found two 660 gallon wastewater storage tanks leaking within their containment area.

There was also evidence wastewater seeped through the containment wall and into a ditch just outside.

Notices of violation were issued and DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by January 19, 2024 on how the well site will be brought into compliance.

On January 3, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Warrant 4917-156 conventional well in Foster Township, McKean County operated by First Amer Energy Inc. and found evidence of leaking wastewater from two 8,820 storage tanks.

DEP found evidence of repeated wastewater discharges into the containment area and through the containment wall downslope of the tanks.

Violations were issued related to the releases, failure to collect wastewater and other issues.

DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by January 19, 2024 on how the site will be brought into compliance.

Venting Gas

On January 4, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the B.N. Whitmore 1 conventional gas well in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County operated by Rocksauce Opr LLC and found it was venting gas to the atmosphere.

Violations were issued and DEP’s inspection report requested the operator to submit a written report by January 24, 2024 on how the well would be brought into compliance.

Warren County Conventional Gas Migration Investigation

On January 4, 2024, DEP inspected nine wells as part of an investigation of a conventional gas migration problem in Pleasant Township, Warren County--

-- Hirtzel H48 operated by SLT Production LLC, no leaks

-- Hackney 51A operated by Russ Holden Well SVC, no leaks

-- Phillips 59 operated by Otter Exploration, Inc., no leaks

-- HD Petersen 9 operated by Baily & Holden Energy LLC, no leaks

-- HD Petersen 10 operated by Baily & Holden Energy LLC, no leaks

-- Hook & Eddy 9 operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr., no leaks

-- Hook & Eddy 10 operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr., no leaks

-- Hook & Eddy 21 operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr., no leaks

-- Hook & Eddy 27 operated by Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr., no leaks

Equitrans Act 2 Cleanup At Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area

DEP published notice in the January 13 PA Bulletin it has received and is reviewing the Act 2 Land Recycling Final Report by Equitrans on the cleanup of soil around the conventional gas well that failed and resulted in the uncontrolled venting of 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas from the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County in November 2022. (PA Bulletin, page 201)  Read more here.

As recently as December 13, 2023, DEP conducted the latest in a series of inspections at the George Reade 1 well site and found Equitrans still has not resolved ground and surface water pollution issues related to plugging the well.

DEP has an ongoing water sampling effort involving the use of 10 monitoring wells to document groundwater conditions.

In addition, this inspection found a “rotten egg odor” from one of the monitoring wells which usually indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. Read more here.

2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received these Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility cleanups:  Notice Of Intent: 2   Final: 9   Remedial Investigation: 1  Approved: 5  Disapproved: 1.

MarkWest Fails To Address Slides Affecting Pipeline

On January 5, 2024, DEP did a follow up inspection of the LL Day to Baker Natural Gas Pipeline in Amwell Township, Washington County operated by MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC and found the company failed to permanently stabilize two landslide areas affecting the pipeline right of way.

DEP originally issued notices of violation related to the landslide areas on June 10, 2020 in response to a complaint received by the Department.

The violations were for failure to permanently stabilize the site and protect it from erosion and sedimentation and the Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation permit had expired on March 31, 2015.  [DEP inspection report - 2020]

“The Department had requested that MarkWest submit a geotechnical report within Inspection Report 3043325 [June 2020].

“Per the operator response, dated 07/01/2020, MarkWest disputes the NOV and "will continue to aerially inspect this right of way and monitor the slip activity on a quarterly basis for pipeline integrity purposes and potential impacts to waters of the Commonwealth"”.

DEP’s 2024 inspection report found two landslide  areas-- one 50 by 55 feet and another 135 by 140 feet-- that show recent signs of movement.

Although the inspector said the two slides “appeared relatively stable,” both are encroaching on the pipeline right-of-way “which raises concerns regarding the progression of the slides and their potential impact to the ROW and the integrity of the pipeline overtime.

“It is strongly recommended to continue monitoring and any progression towards and within the ROW. These areas may eventually need to be addressed. 

“Due to the encroachment onto the ROW and the potential for the slides to progress with freeze thaw and precipitation/snow melt, the violations issued on 06/10/2020 remain outstanding.”

DEP’s inspection report requested the operator to submit a written response by January 25, 2024 on how the slide areas will be brought into compliance.

EQM Gathering Reports Small Landslide

On January 10, 2024, DEP inspected the NIDBS001 Pipeline Project site in Springhill Township, Greene County in response to a notification on January 4, 2024 from EQM Gathering Opco LLC that a small landslide occurred, but had not impacted the pipeline.

The operator had geotechnical engineers on site January 8 to evaluate the slide and oversee the repair.

Violations were issued and DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by January 26, 2024 on how the operator would bring the site into compliance.

Failed To Restore Conventional Well Sites

On January 3, 2024, DEP did a follow up inspection of the Corbett 1 and 3 conventional well sites operated by Apollo Resources, LLC in Derry Township, Westmoreland County and found the operator had failed to restore both sites after plugging the wells.

Plugging was completed on November 8, 2022 and the deadline to have the well sites restored was August 9, 2023.

Notices of violation were issued for failure to restore the site, failure to implement erosion and sedimentation controls and failure to remove well equipment.

DEP’s inspection reports [Corbett 1]  requested a written report by January 15, 2024 on how the well sites will be brought into compliance.

Inspection Focuses

DEP continued to devote inspection resources last week to overseeing Coterra Energy shale gas sites in the Dimock area of Susquehanna County and to the federally-funded well plugging project sites.

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:  Row 1-- EQM Gathering Opco LLC small pipeline landslide; Baron Crest Energy Co. abandoned conventional well;  Reel Resources, Inc. abandoned conventional wll;  Rocksauce Opr LLC conventional well venting gas;  Row 2-- Medina Res Dev Co LLC abandoned conventional well, rusted tank; Diversified Prod. LLC abandoned, unplugged coal bed methane well; First Amer Energy Inc. leaking wastewater tanks; Terrence L. Allshouse, Jr. leaking wastewater tanks.)

[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 - Jan. 4 to 12 - 9 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Leaking Wastewater Tanks; Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area Cleanup Continues; Pipeline Land Slips  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 13  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 61 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 13 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

2023 Oil & Gas Compliance Reports:

-- DEP Issued At Least 512 Violations To 95 Conventional Oil & Gas Operators For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them In 2023; 10 Shale Gas Operators Were Issued NOVs For Abandoning Wells  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Record 6,860 Notices Of Violation To Conventional Oil & Gas Operators In 2023-- Nearly 52% More Than In 2021; ‘Culture Of Non-Compliance’ Continues  [PaEN] 

-- 2023 Shale Gas Operator Compliance Report: 1,310 Violations; Explosions; Pad Fire, Evacuation; Uncontrolled Gas Venting; Frack-Outs; Polluting Water Supply; Spills; Pipeline Crashing Thru A Home; More  [PaEN]

-- PA Environment Digest: Articles On Oil & Gas Facility Impacts

Related Articles This Week:

-- Environmental Hearing Board Allows Protect PT Appeal Of Olympus Shale Gas Well Permits In Westmoreland County To Proceed; Olympus Was Trying To Deprive Protect PT Of Its Rights  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection: Winter Weather Forces Natural Gas Pipeline Fuel Restrictions, ‘Conservative Operations’ Declared To Assure Electric Grid Reliability Through Jan. 17  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Water Quality Certification For Equitrans Project To Replace Abandoned Natural Gas Storage Wells In Greene County Due To Coal Mining  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reviewing Equitrans Act 2 Soil Cleanup Report On Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area Conventional Well That Failed Venting 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In Cambria County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issued Air Quality Permit For Leachate Evaporation System At Westmoreland  Landfill With Special Radiation Monitoring Due To The Disposal Of Shale Gas Drilling Waste  [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets Feb. 27 Hearing On Helix Ironwood Gas-Fired Power Plant Air Quality Permit Renewal, Lebanon County  [PaEN]

-- No False Solutions PA Coalition Issues Position Statement On Hydrogen, Carbon Capture & Storage, Chemical Recycling Of Plastics, Other Climate 'Solutions'  [PaEN]

-- Jewish Earth Alliance, Beth Am Israel Hosting Jan. 23 Online Program Rethinking Our Connection To Fossil Fuels - A Discussion  [PaEN]

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: EPA Proposes Waste Charge On Methane Leaking From Large Oil & Gas Facilities  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week - Oil & Gas:

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Fracking Groundwater Study Underway In SW PA

-- TribLive: Olympus Energy Contends Natural Gas Compressor Station For Penn Twp. Not Harmful To Environment In Westmoreland County

-- Bob Donnan Blog: What’s Not To Hate About Natural Gas Compressor Stations?

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Problem Persists [Industry Points To Out-Of-State Pipeline Delays As Examples]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Partisan Split On Energy, Environment Makes Compromise Unlikely

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Chesapeake Energy Buys Southwestern Leapfrogging EQT As Biggest Gas Producer In US

-- Bloomberg Columnist: US Oil And Gas Boom Doesn’t Feel Like One To Workers

-- Wall Street Journal - Kris Maher: Democrat PA Gov. Shapiro, CNX Fracking Executive And The Deal They Struck, Can It Work?

-- TribLive Editorial: Hydrogen Isn’t Clean If It Adds To Climate Pollution; Biden’s Rules Are A Good Start

[Posted: January 13, 2024]

1/15/2024