From January 13 to 19, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 564 inspection entries (federal holiday, bad weather this week).

So far this year-- as of January 12-- 

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 9 conventional, 20 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 137 conventional and 28 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 12 conventional and 1 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 168 conventional and 325 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 433 conventional and 785 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 3 conventional and 4 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 5 conventional and 9 unconventional

9 Abandoned Conventional Wells

On January 17, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Cunningham 1 and 6 conventional wells in Pinegrove Township, Venango County operated by Baron Crest Energy Co and found them to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP issued notices of violation for abandonment and failure to submit production and waste generation and well integrity reports.

DEP issued NOVs for well abandonment to the same operator last week for abandoning two conventional wells in Clarion County.  Read more here.

DEP also issued an NOV for failure to submit production and waste generation and well integrity reports for Cunningham 7.

DEP’s inspection report [Cunningham 6 example] requested a written report by February 2, 2024 on how the operator planned to bring the latest abandoned wells into compliance.

On January 16, 2024, DEP did an administrative inspection of the Smiley 1 (Springhill Township, Fayette County), Murray 1 (Georges Township, Fayette County) conventional wells operated by Blackrock Enterprises LLC and found they continued to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP continued the notices of violation for abandonment and for failure to submit production and waste generation and well integrity reports.

DEP also issued notices of violation for failure to submit production and waste generation and well integrity reports for the Opperman 1 conventional well owned by the same operator in Georges Township, Fayette County.

DEP’s inspection reports [Murray 1 example] requested the operator to submit a written report by January 29, 2024 on how they plan to bring the wells into compliance.

On January 18, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of conventional wells Mark Burnett 1A and Charles J. Wanker Jr. 1 in Steuben Township and Paul Scouten 1 in Sparta Township Crawford County operated by Roach & Assoc. Inc. and found them to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP issued notices of violation for abandonment and requested a written report by February 9, 2024 on how the operator will bring the wells into compliance.  [DEP inspection report - Wanker 1]

On January 18, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Jacob & Anna Hansen 1 conventional well in LeBoeuf Township, Erie County operated by Timberline Energy, Inc. and found it to be abandoned and not plugged properly and was venting natural gas into the atmosphere.

DEP’s report notes an NOV for abandonment was issued originally on December 7, 2023 with a separate report on the gas venting.

The inspector said the operator stated a local contractor was hired to dig up the well and a service company will drill out the upper most cement plug in the well and verify where the gas movement was coming from.

 DEP’s inspection report does not recommend any follow up action.

On January 16, 2024, DEP documented an abandoned and not plugged conventional well in Davidson Township, Sullivan County whose operator is unknown.

So Far In 2024 - Conventional Well Abandonments

DEP issued or continued 18 notices of violation for conventional oil and gas well abandonment.

4 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

On January 16, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of Patton C 2H, 3H, 4H and 5H shale gas wells at the Coretsky well pad in Prospect Borough, Butler County operated by XTO Energy Inc. [Exxon subsidiary] and found them to be abandoned and not plugged.

DEP originally issued notices of violations to these wells on September 14, 2023 for abandonment.

The operator’s representative told DEP’s inspector they expected a well plugging service rig to be on site on January 18, 2024 and plugging operations will begin on January 22, 2024.  The operator plans to plug all the wells beginning with Patton C 2H. 

The abandonment violations were continued.  [DEP inspection report - example 3H]  Read more here.

So Far In 2024 - Shale Gas Well Abandonments

DEP issued or continued 4 notices of violation for unconventional shale gas well abandonment.

Abandoned Conventional Well Survey

DEP did a number of abandoned conventional well inspections this week under the Federal Stimulus Planning Project to identify wells for plugging with unknown operators in Venango County, Mineral Township--

-- Isaac Perrine K Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine M Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine N Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine O Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine P Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine Q Well - venting gas to atmosphere

-- Isaac Perrine L Well

-- Isaac Perrine G Well

DEP did additional routine abandoned conventional well inspections this week--

-- All American Energy Inc. is listed as the responsible operator, but no violations were issued--

     -- Allegheny County, North Fayette Township: J. Mevey 30

     -- Washington County, Cecil Township: M.Moorhead 5, Shane Bros 10, TB Robbinson 4

Shale Gas Freshwater Pipeline Break

On January 12, 2024, DEP inspected the Herminie North Temporary Freshwater Pipeline in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County operated by Equitrans Water Svc (PA) LLC in response to a spill reported on January 11, 2024.

An Equitrans representative said a maximum of 9,600 gallons of water was released from the damaged water line.

The water supply source was the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

There were multiple erosion channels showing where the released water went, including flowing into the Little Sewickley Creek.

DEP issued notices of violation for failure to report a release in the proper time frame, failing to implement erosion and sedimentation controls and polluting the waters of the Commonwealth.

DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by January 27, 2024 on how the operator planned to bring the area of the damaged pipeline into compliance.

Heating Shale Gas Well Heads

On January 16, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Ratzel D shale gas well pad operated by Coterra Energy Inc. in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County and found three of the producing wells covered with plastic and being heated.  [DEP inspection report]

DEP’s inspection reports found lots of iced-over and snowy conditions during their oil and gas inspections, as expected with the weather this week.

Well Transfer Inspections

DEP inspected several conventional wells this week as part of a well transfer request from the Stephens Oil Lease to RAR Energy LLC in Richland Township, Venango County-- Stephens 14, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 40 and found no violations.

2024 Act 2 Land Recycling Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received these Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility cleanups:  Notices Of Intent: 2  Final Reports: 13  Remedial Investigations: 1  Approved: 8  Disapproved: 1.  Read more here.

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-  Baron Crest Energy Co abandoned conventional well; Equitrans Water Svc (PA) LLC freshwater pipeline break, release; Row 2-  Roach & Assoc. Inc. abandoned conventional well;  XTO Energy Inc. [Exxon subsidiary] one of 4 abandoned shale gas wells to be plugged.)

[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.]

Weekly PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 13 to 19;  9 Abandoned Conventional Wells; 4 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; Freshwater Pipeline Break; Ice & Snow  [PaEN]

-- 4 Months Later, XTO Energy, Inc. Said They Will Plug 4 Shale Gas Wells DEP Found To Be Abandoned And Not Plugged In September  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 20  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 41 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 20 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:

-- DEP Releases Final Guidance On Environmental Considerations In Using Trenchless Technology To Construct Natural Gas, Other Pipelines  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets Feb. 1 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 8 Related To Shale Gas Development; And On Cooperative Fish Nursery General Permit  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 25 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wyoming Counties  [PaEN]

-- Senate Environmental Committee To Hold 2nd Joint Hearing With Ohio Legislature On Electric Grid Reliability Feb. 1;  Will It Address Natural Gas Infrastructure Vulnerabilities?  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Issues New Cold Weather Alert For Western Region Jan. 19-22  [PaEN]

-- CFA Approves $27 Million In Watershed, Recreation Projects Funded By Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees; Fees Dropping $104 Million In 2024; New Grant Round Opening  [PaEN]

-- DEP Hosts In-Person, Virtual Q/A Sessions On Applying For $5 Million Shell Petrochemical Plant Mitigation Grants In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- Health Effects Institute Hosts Annual Conference April 28-30 In Philadelphia; Call For Abstracts  [PaEN]

-- PA Cong. Thompson, Deluzio Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Provide Flexibility To States Implementing The Federal Conventional Orphan Oil & Gas Well Plugging Program  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WJAC - Stoker Wieczorek: Equitrans Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area Leak Site Not Cleaned Up Over A Year Later In Cambria County

-- Reuters: Severe US Cold Snap Prompts Peak Power, Natural Gas Demand, Drop In Gas Production  [Freeze-offs Caused 17 Billion Cubic Foot Reduction In Gas Production; 19.6 Bcfd Reduction During Winter Storm Elliott; 20.4 Bcfd Reduction In Feb. 2021]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: US Natural Gas Prices Make Huge Jump On Deep Freeze; Some Shale Gas Prices Increase By 400%

-- TribLive Letter: Proliferation Of Natural Gas Operations In Bell Township, Westmoreland County Raise Concerns - Cody Deluisio

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Demand Eyes Record As Arctic Blast Dents Output

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Supplies Drop Due To Frozen Wells, Record Demand Forecast Due To Extreme Cold  [Again]

-- Reuters: US LNG Natural Gas Feedgas To LNG Plants Drops To One-Year Low By Arctic Freeze, Problems At Freeport LNG Plant In Texas

-- Bloomberg: US Deep Freeze Force LNG Natural Gas Exporters To Cancel, Delay Shipments

-- Bloomberg: EU Sees Natural Gas Storage Levels More Than Half Full By Winter’s End

-- Bloomberg: LNG Natural Gas Tankers Divert From Red Sea As Qatar Warns Of Escalation

-- Financial Times: The LNG Natural Gas Glut Will Chill The Gas Ambitions Of Oil Majors

-- Financial Times: US Energy Security Role In Question As Natural Gas Exports Receive New Scrutiny

[Posted: January 20, 2024]

1/22/2024