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PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 9 to 15 - Home Explosion; 140 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Methane In Water Supply; Porcupine Causes Wastewater Spill

From March 9 to 15, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 610 inspection entries.

As of March 8, DEP took these actions in the Oil and Gas Program--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 552 conventional, 4 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 1,978 conventional and 193 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 97 conventional and 22 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 502 conventional and 419 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 3,098 conventional and 4,914 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 2 conventional and 7 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 19 conventional and 78 unconventional

Home Explosion Kills 2 In Allegheny County

On March 12, 2024, a home explosion in Crescent Township, Allegheny County killed two people. Emergency crews found a natural gas well and propane at the scene. Read more here.

DEP has so far confirmed there were two unregistered conventional oil or gas wells close to the home. The nearest registered conventional well to the home was more than 2,500 feet away. Read more here.

Remember, gas directly from a conventional well in the ground has no odor and the only way to detect it is with a methane detector that are available at home stores.

DEP’s investigation of conventional oil and gas and shale gas wells and gas infrastructure nearby is continuing.

A multi-agency investigation into the explosion is underway that includes DEP.

This is the third house explosion in Allegheny County in seven months and the sixth structure explosion in about two years in Western Pennsylvania. Read more here.

140 More Abandoned Conventional Wells

DEP issued notices of violation to conventional oil and gas well operators for abandoning and not plugging 140 of their wells this week. A total of 380 violations were issued for conventional well abandonments so far in 2024.

Just two conventional operators are responsible for 124 of those wells-- Medina Res. Dev. Co. - 111 and Lendrum Energy LLC - 23 wells.

DEP updated its database this week to report that on March 5, 2024 DEP did administrative inspections of 111 more conventional wells operated by Medina Res Dev. Co., Inc. in Erie, Jefferson and Warren counties and found them all to be abandoned and not plugged.

Last week, DEP reported it declared 101 conventional wells operated by Medina Res Dev. Co. LLC abandoned and not plugged. Read more here.

This week’s abandoned wells include--

-- Erie County, Millcreek Twp.: Corsi 1

-- Erie County, Union Twp.: Walter Bem 1, Styborski 1, Tomcho 1

-- Erie County, Venango Twp.: Carl Little 1, Wroblewski 1

-- Erie County, Washington Twp.: Nancy Smith 1, Nancy Smith 2, David Walker 1, Charles Guriel 1, Kuzma 1, Means 1, Stewart 1, Stewart 2, Sanders Ray 2, Higgins 1, Adams 1, Adams 2, Tom Miller 1, Arden Stafford AL 2, Showman 1, Krzywicki 1, Fendya 1, Tarbell 1, Smith Unit 2, Austin 2, Davis 1, Adams UX 3, Braeger 2, Zimmer 1, Metzler 1, Sanders Ray 2,

-- Erie County, Waterford Twp.: Morask 1, Malinowski 2, Malinowski 3, Strafford 1, Salmon B2, Salmon B3, Salmon B4, Salmon B5, Kula 1, Benson 1, Robertson A1, Robertson A2, Robertson B1, George Estate 3, Stutzman 1, Ernest Scott A3, Roberts 93A 2, Haynes 1, Loper 1, Clavin Niemeyer 2, Calvin Niemeyer 5, Harrington 2, Clarkson 2, Hazen 1, Fails 1, Karmazon 1, Mitchell 1, Mitchell 5, Stankey 1, Proctor 2, Mahoney 1, Walker 1, Giacomelli 1, Lugaila 2, McCall 1, Erie Sportsman League 2, Patterson 1, Homes 1, Kondzielski 1, Kondzielski 2, Kowalczyk 1, Burge 1, Sementell 1, Harrison 3, Thomas 1, O'Connel 1, Faulhaber 2, Pfadt 3, Hecker 1, Walker 1, Werner 1, Sven 1, Albert 1, Wise 2, Risjan 2, Risjan 3, Risjan 4, Rieder 1, Arneman 1, Lyons 1, Shutts 1, Ostryniec 1, Pfeffer 1, Padden 1, Cross Gene 1, Ray Romba 1, Lenock 2, Lenock 3, Albert 1, McClellan, Schall 1, Moraski 1, Reider 1

-- Jefferson County, Warsaw Twp.: Webster 1, Webster 2

-- Warren County, Columbus Twp.: Bennink 1, Burik 1, Still 1, Thompson Maple Producers Inc 1, Jankowski 1.

DEP inspection reports were not available online related to these Medina well abandonments.

On March 5 & 7, 2024, DEP did follow-up inspections of 23 conventional wells in Venango County operated by Lendrum Energy LLC and found them all to be abandoned and not plugged.

The wells included--

-- Cranberry Township: Lalley 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 12A, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21,

-- Pinegrove Township: Lambert 1, 2, 3, 6, 7; Hart North 5, 7, 8

DEP’s inspection reports [Lalley 1 - example] show the original violations issued for well abandonment were on or about July 20, 2022.

DEP requested the operator submit a written report by April 5, 2024 describing how the wells will be brought into compliance.

On March 11, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of conventional wells in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County operated by Questa Petro Co. and found--

-- Calvin Miller 1 and Yezek 1 abandoned and not plugged

-- Sovich 1 and Fretts 2 were venting gas

DEP’s inspection reports [Miller 1 example] requested the operator to provide a written response by April 11, 2024 explaining how the wells will be brought into compliance.

On March 15, 2024, DEP inspected the Davidson conventional well in Plum Borough, Allegheny County with an unknown operator for addition to the well plugging list.

DEP’s inspection report showed the well was located in a parking lot under a steel plate.

On March 6, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Raymond P. Shafer 1 conventional gas well operated by Crawford Energy Search Co. Inc. in Union Township, Crawford County.

DEP found the well was abandoned without being plugged. The original violation was issued on November 24, 2021. [No inspection report available online.]

On March 7, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection of the Anderson 1 conventional well operated by C & D Gas Co. in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County and found no change since the last inspection.

DEP’s inspection report issued new violations for abandoning the well without plugging, and venting gas, and continued other violations.

DEP’s report notes a Peoples Gas pipeline is located immediately next to the well.

The operator was requested to submit a written report by April 7, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

On March 14, 2024, DEP, in response to a notification by National Fuel Gas, located a conventional gas well with an unknown operator in Lawrence Park Township, Erie County that was found to be abandoned and not plugged.

In December 2022, DEP was part of an investigation of a fire that burned down a home nearby, but no well was located and there was no record of a gas well on the property.

DEP’s inspection report said on March 4, 2024, DEP received a complaint from National Fuel Gas that they received a call that a gas-like smell was coming from the unoccupied home that burned down in 2022.

This time, DEP found a gas well in the yard behind the home. A remote methane leak detector did get a reading of less than 1% methane inside the burnt home.

DEP added the well to the abandoned list.

380 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP issued 380 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well operators for abandoning wells and not plugging them.

Plugging Shale Gas Well

On March 13, 2024, DEP conducted an onsite meeting at the plugging of the Apex Energy (PA) LLC shale gas well at the Fatur well pad in Salem Township, Westmoreland County with the operator’s counsel, consultants and complainants.

DEP’s inspection report documented the well plugging and the fact site restoration work was not yet completed. It said violations may be issued in the future.

DEP’s eFACTS database shows Apex received multiple violations at the Fatur well pad for spills, mishandling waste and erosion and sedimentation control failures.

Shale Gas Driller Held Responsible For Water Supply Contamination

On February 8, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Blackhill Energy, LLC for failing to prevent the migration of shale gas into groundwater that contaminated three private water supplies with methane in Springfield Township, Bradford County in June of 2022. Read more here.

The violations involve gas wells at the Jackson A South Well Pad that contains four active shale gas wells.

The February 8, 2024 notice requests the operator to provide a written response to the notice by March 10, 2024 describing Blackhill’s investigation of this gas migration incident, including information regarding when the violations were or will be corrected, and what steps are being taken to prevent their recurrence.

Conventional Gas Migration Into Water Supply

On March 7, 2024, DEP did a complaint investigation of the James Burns 3074 conventional gas well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Rose Township, Jefferson County as part of a stray gas migration case involving contamination of a private water supply.

The well operator and their consultant were both at the inspection.

DEP’s inspection report notes the well continues to leak gas. The operator was originally cited for violations related to leaking gas on June 6, 2023.

DEP requested the operator to provide a written response by March 27, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

2 Conventional Wells Venting 100% Methane

On March 13 & 14, 2024, DEP inspected three conventional gas wells in Toby Township, Clarion County operated by Andreassi, Andreassi & Hillwig for possible inclusion in the federal well plugging program.

DEP inspection reports found two of the wells-- Hillis 3 and Wilbur Walters 4 were venting 100% methane. There were no observations on the Stewart 1 well.

DEP did not cite the operator with any violations and no follow-up actions were noted.

Fire At Conventional Well Site

On March 11, 2024, DEP did an inspection of the Lorenzo Lease 4403 well site in Kane Borough, McKean County operated by Catalyst Energy, Inc. in response to a complaint reporting a fire at the well.

DEP’s inspection report said the fire was the result of burning paraffin wax in 55-gallon drums at the site. At the time of the inspection the fire was extinguished and drums removed.

No violations were issued and there were no follow-ups for the operator.

Porcupine Caused Conventional Wastewater Spill

On March 4, 2024, DEP inspected the Holben 5 conventional oil well operated by Diversified Prod LLC in Washington Township, Jefferson County in response to a notification of a release of approximately 546 gallons of production wastewater.

DEP’s inspection report said the release was a “result of a porcupine chewing a 2 inch plastic plug at the bottom of the tank located in secondary containment.”

Diversified employees were in the process of using a vac truck to remove wastewater.

Violations were issued (to the operator) and a written response was requested by April 2, 2024 on how the well site will be brought into compliance.

74 Act 2 Land Recycling Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 74 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to 74 oil and gas facility site cleanups.

Shale Gas Driller Withdraws 1.8 Million Gallons Without Approval

On March 8, 2024, DEP issued a notice of violation to CNX Gas Company LLC for withdrawing over 1.8 million gallons of water for shale gas fracking without approval from DEP from sources in Washington and Greene counties.

CNX withdrew 1,852,768 gallons of water over 22 days from June 24 to August 2, 2023 from Washington Reservoir #4 in North Franklin Township, Washington County.

CNX withdrew 28,192 gallons from the Southwestern PA Water Authority First Street Tap water source in Waynesburg Borough, Greene County.

The violations were corrected immediately. Read more here.

Conventional Well Inspection Related To Well Transfer

On March 11, 2024, DEP inspected the Flick 1 conventional gas well, a home use well in Concord Township, Erie County operated by James A. Fowler related to a request for a well transfer to the new property owner.

DEP’s inspection report notes a number of deficiencies at the well, but no violations were issued. The transfer was not approved at the time of the inspection.

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- Questa Petro Co conventional well venting gas; Unknown operator abandoned conventional well; 2 photos- DEP finds unregistered, abandoned conventional gas well near home that burned in 2022; Row 2- Andreassi, Andreassi & Hillwig conventional gas well venting 100% methane; Plugging an Apex Energy (PA) LLC shale gas well; Fowler Flick 1 conventional gas well transfer inspection; C & D Gas Co. abandoned conventional well next to Peoples Gas pipeline; Row 3- Diversified Prod LLC spill of over 500 gallons of conventional wastewater caused by a porcupine; Home explosion in Crescent Twp., Allegheny County.)

[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 - March 9 to 15 - Home Explosion; 140 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Methane In Water Supply; Porcupine Causes Wastewater Spill [PaEN]

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

-- DEP Posted 76 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In March 16 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Related Articles - Gas:

-- Shapiro Marks Plugging 200th Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well: These Companies Will Do Anything To Avoid Paying For Plugging; It’s Not Okay Some In The Legislature Are Shielding Them; Text Well Locations [PaEN]

-- DEP Cites Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators For Abandoning, Not Plugging 140 More Wells Last Week; Total Now 380 Wells This Year [PaEN]

-- DEP: Conventional Oil & Gas Operators Will Not Be Eligible For New Methane Reduction Well Plugging Grants If They Are Not In Compliance With State Law, Regulations [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania’s Electric Grid Is Dependent On One Fuel To Generate 59% Of Our Electricity; Market Moving To Renewables + Storage [PaEN]

-- US EIA Report Shows How Winter Storms Have Reduced US Natural Gas Production, But Disruptions Can Happen Any Time Of The Year [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Violation To Blackhill Energy, LLC Shale Gas Driller For Contaminating Groundwater, 3 Water Supplies With Methane In Springfield Twp., Bradford County [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Public Utility Commission Starts Investigation Into Possible Order For Another Utility To Permanently Acquire Venango Water Company Impacted By Conventional Oil Well Spill [PaEN]