On January 25, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Fatur shale gas well pad operated by Apex Energy (PA) LLC in Salem Township, Westmoreland County and found multiple sites of contamination of an unknown pink fluid with elevated conductivity readings at the pad.

The DEP inspector found the pink fluid had elevated conductivity readings in some areas, which often indicates drilling wastewater of some kind.

“Upon inspecting the additional production equipment onsite, there appeared to be oil based matter being absorbed by cloths beneath the compressor.”

“Upon inspection of the area mentioned by an OGI [Oil & Gas Inspection] to have a pink oily matter on the ground, it appeared that a majority of the substance may have been washed away by recent rain as only small spots of a pink colored matter was observed on the ground surrounding a production tank next to the compressor.”

“The Department recommends the operator assess the red tinted fluid observed on the ground near the GPU as well as inside of the containment and remediate any spills in accordance with Department standards.

“The Department recommends the operator ensure the structural integrity of the all production equipment is sound and properly contain and dispose of any production related fluid in the proper manner to prevent any future pollution events.’

“The Department requests clarification on what the red tinted fluid observed on the ground is and how much was released within 10 days of receiving this report.”

“Based on today’s inspection, violations are being issued for the release observed near the GPU, failure to have the gear lubricant in proper secondary containment, and the secondary containment for the production tank near the compressor failing to meet proper storage capacity.

“Additional violations may be forthcoming pending receipt and review of operator response.”

DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by February 5, 2024 on how the operator will bring the site into compliance.

What do you think the pink stuff is?  Email your answer to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - February 3  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 56 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 3 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Issues Equitrans Midstream Violation For Not Plugging 19 Abandoned Conventional Wells At The Swarts Natural Gas Storage Field In Greene County; Conflicts With Coal Mining  [PaEN]

-- Protect PT: Commonwealth Court Vacates Penneco Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit, Remanding It To Plum Boro For Additional Fact Finding In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- What’s That Pink Stuff Spilled At Apex Energy Shale Gas Well Pad In Salem Twp., Westmoreland County?  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Continues To Operate The Water System Serving The Village Of Reno After A Conventional Well Wastewater Release Contaminated Its Water Supply Last July In Venango County  [PaEN]

-- PUC To Seek Comment On $250,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Gas On Natural Gas Over-Pressurization Incident In Indiana County That Damaged Hundreds Of Appliances, Caused Distribution Pipeline Leaks  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Feb. 13 To Discuss Guidance Limiting Impacts Of Pipeline Construction; Pipelines Needed For Carbon Sequestration, Hydrogen; Electrification  [PaEN]

-- PJM Preliminary Performance Review Found 16,119 MW Of Forced Power Plant Outages During Winter Storm Gerri Affecting The Western Region Of PJM  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WHYY: Chester LNG Natural Gas Export Project Promises Return, Despite Biden’s Pause And Other Hurdles

-- DelcoTimes.com: Chester Mayor Says LNG Natural Gas Export Plant ‘Dead In The Water’

-- Inquirer: Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Approvals May Have ‘Saved Chester,’ The City’s New Mayor Says

-- Inquirer: Casey, Fetterman Split With Biden Over LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Casey, Fetterman Say They’re Concerned About Biden’s LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- WESA: Political Debate Over Natural Gas Burns Bright In Casey-McCormick US Senate Race

-- The Hill: European Union Lawmakers To Biden: We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Liquefied Natural Gas Or LNG: EU Lawmakers To Biden - We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas

-- Reuters: US LNG Natural Gas Exports Fall In January On Arctic Freeze, Plant Outages

-- PA Business Report: Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition, Other Groups Call For End To Permit Halts For New LNG Export Facilities

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Hold On Permits For New LNG Natural Gas Exports May Undermine Global Emissions Reduction Goals [Natural Gas Industry]

-- Financial Times: Household Energy Costs Factor Into Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities  [Industrial Energy Consumers: “More Exports Equal More Reliability And Price Risk”]

-- Utility Dive: FERC Approves PJM Capacity Accreditation, Including Measuring Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Contributions, Modeling Reforms Aimed At Boosting Reliability

-- The Energy Age Blog: Reality - ‘Proprietary’ Fracking Chemicals Remain Secrets, But What About The Bigger Picture?

-- CNX Natural Gas Drilling CEO Nick Deiuliis Says  Dr. Edward Ketyer’s Comments Raising Questions About The CNX ‘Radical Transparency’ Initiative May Violate His Hippocratic Oath

-- The Energy Age: Energy Politics In PA - CNX CEO Critical Of Dr. Ketyer’s Comments On ‘Radical Transparency’

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Industry Coalition Twitter comment on Gov. Shapiro's new Fracking Chemical Disclosure Policy: "This info is already submitted to @PennsylvaniaDEP through Greenport when the well pad & first well are permitted. DEP has had this information on its servers for years.”

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant’s Costs Much Higher Than Previously Disclosed,-- $14 Billion; Won’t Be Fully Up And Running Until 2025, 2026

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Shapiro Pays Hollow Lip Service To Natural Gas In New Economic Strategy [PDF of article]

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Water Authority Lifts Mandatory Conservation For Customers Served By Beaver Run Reservoir

-- US DOE Finalizes Efficiency Standards For New Residential Gas, Electric Cooking Products That Will Lower Utility Bills By $1.6 Million

-- Bloomberg: Biden’s LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause Has Asian Fuel Buyers Hunting For Other Options

-- Help Wanted: Environmental Health Project Fellowship Summer 2024  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 29, 2024]

2/5/2024