From August 10 to 16, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 646  inspection entries and caught up with posting last week’s inspection reports..

So far this year, DEP took these actions as of August 9--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 118 conventional, 14 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,469 conventional and 669 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 330 conventional and 83 unconventional

-- Inspections Last Week: 328 conventional and 427 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 10,396 conventional and 14,944 unconventional

-- Wells Drilled Last Week: 4 conventional and 9 unconventional

-- Year To Date Wells Drilled: 96 conventional and 202 unconventional

            1 + 9 Abandoned Conventional Wells

On August 8, 2024, DEP inspected the Bickel 4 conventional well in Bloom Township, Clearfield County owned by Stonehaven Energy MGT Co  Inc. and found it to be abandoned and unplugged.

            Last week DEP inspected Stonehaven’s Bickel 2 and John Mathews 5 conventional wells in the same township and found them abandoned and not plugged.  No follow-up action was required of the well owner.   Read more here.

            DEP’s eFACTS database shows Stonehaven holds 727 conventional well permits, six other wells are listed as abandoned.

            DEP’s inspection report includes violations, but does not request the well owner to do anything further.

On August 12 to 15, 2024, DEP inspected at least eight conventional wells with Unknown owners to confirm their abandoned and unplugged status in--

-- Clarion County, Richland Twp.: Smokey Road 2

-- Venango County, Sandycreek Twp.: Hoffman 1, MB Wright 1

-- Warren County, Mead Twp.: Kinzua Road 2, 3, 4, 5

-- Washington County, East Finley Twp.: Burnham 832

            Plugging Inactive Shale Gas Well

On August 16, 2024, DEP inspected the Adams RHL 13EHSM shale gas well in Richhill Township, Greene County owned by CNX Gas Co LLC and found the owner in the process of plugging the inactive well.

            DEP’s inspection report included a description of the initial plugging process, including difficulties in pulling the casing from the well bore, however, “no issues” were found at the time of the inspection.

            701 Conventional, 13 Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP issued 701 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging wells.

So far in 2024, 13 violations were issued or continued to eight shale gas well owners [Diversified Prod LLC;  Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, Atlas Resources, LLC; Atlas Resources, LLC (follow-up inspection)’ Repsol Oil & Gas, EQT Chap LLC; M4 Energy; M4 Energy (follow-up inspection);  EQT (Rice Drilling B LLC); and Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC (follow-up inspection)] for abandoning wells and not plugging wells.

            Failure To Submit Annual Reports, Step Toward Abandonment

The annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports are critical indicators of whether conventional and shale gas well owners are effectively managing their wells to prevent leaks of gas, oil and production fluids.

The production and waste reports are critical to understanding how much wastewater and other waste those wells generated and where it was disposed of.

In 2023, DEP reported 86% of conventional oil and gas well owners-- 4,265-- failed to submit product and waste generation reports covering 33,505 wells.  Read more here.

The annual integrity report is important because it helps ensure the owner is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.

In 2023, DEP reported 89% of conventional oil and gas well owners-- 4,359-- failed to submit well integrity reports covering 34,455 wells.  Read more here.

Failing to submit these reports is one indicator conventional well owners may be getting ready to abandon the wells.

On August 6, 2024, DEP did inspections on two conventional coal bed methane wells-- Gergely 1, Herbert C. Smith 193D-- owned by Vessels Coal Gas, Inc. in Munster Township, Cambria County and found the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports over multiple years.

Last week DEP declared two other Vessels conventional wells abandoned and not plugged.  Read more here.

DEP’s eFACTS database shows Vessels Coal Gas Inc. holds 14 conventional well permits. 

DEP’s inspection reports [Smith as an example] issue violations related to the failure to submit annual reports and requests the well owner to submit a plan by September 8, 2024 on how to bring the wells into compliance.

On August 8, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection on seven conventional wells-- Corse 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7-- in Cornplanter Township, Venango County owned by Northwestern Well SVC Inc. and found the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports over multiple years.

Several of the wells were found to also have leaks and spills.

            DEP’s inspection reports noted the original violations for these offenses were issued on April 7, 2017 and May 17, 2018. 

            DEP’s eFACTS database shows Northwestern Wll SVC holds 47 conventional well permits in and around the Allegheny National Forest.

            DEP’s inspection reports [Corse 1 as example] requested the owner-- again-- to submit a plan by August 30, 2024 to bring the wells into compliance.

On August 14, 2024, DEP issued notices of violation to 16 owners of 5,374 conventional oil and gas wells for failing to submit annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports over multiple years, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.

Companies Getting Violations

The companies issued violations include--

-- Alma Gas Co Inc. (Olean, NY) - holds 154 conventional permits

-- Apollo J. Shreffler (Hydetown, Crawford County) - holds 176 conventional permits

-- Delta Inland Oil Res LLC (Sugar Grove, Warren County) - holds 363 conventional permits

-- Donald D. Coleman Jr. (Oil City, Venango County) - holds 224 conventional permits

-- Lazy Oil Co (Emlenton, Clarion/Venango County) - holds 200 conventional permits

-- Morrison Baker Carol A (Franklin, Venango County) - holds 217 conventional permits

-- Oakes Gas Co Inc. (Kane, McKean County) - holds 163 conventional permits

-- Oil Creek Operators LLC (Ocean View, DE) - holds 283 conventional permits

-- Olympia Oil SVC Inc. (Pleasantville, Venango County) - holds 403 conventional permits

-- OWS Acquisition Co LLC (Bolivar, OH) - holds 1,072 conventional permits

-- Timberline Energy Inc (Franklin, Venango County) - holds 730 conventional permits

-- Tome Enterprises (Warren, Warren County) - holds 178 conventional permits

-- Turm Oil Inc. (Butler, Butler County) - holds 212 conventional permits

-- Universal Resources Holdings Inc. (Dunkirk, NY) - holds 371 conventional permits

-- Vista Petro Inc. (Fairview, Erie County) - holds 165 conventional permits

-- Warner Oil & Gas Prod Inc. (Hummelstown, Dauphin County) - holds 463 conventional permits

            Samples Confirm Spills At Shale Gas Well Pad

On August 13, 2024, DEP reported water sample results at the DCNR Tract 726D Shale Gas Well Pad in Plunketts Creek Township, Lycoming County owned by PA General Energy Co LLC that confirmed a spill had taken place on the well pad.

            During an inspection on July 18, 2024, DEP found unreported pollution discharges of contaminated water on the well pad as well as releases that breached secondary containment.

            PA General Energy responded to the July 18 inspection by saying “PGE asserts that it was not in violation of any state or federal regulation nor was PGE acting contrary to the permit issued under the authority of the Department. It cannot be established that the puddled fluid was caused solely by any activity conducted by PGE rather than a combination of mat washing and heavy rainfall,” according to DEP.

            DEP’s August 13 inspection report said water sample results show pollution discharges did take place on the well pad, contrary to PGE’s assertions, and DEP issued additional violations.

            DEP requested the owner to submit a plan by September 4, 2024 on how the well pad will be brought into compliance.

            Leaking Conventional Wells

On August 6, 2024, DEP inspected the Elk Haven 1 conventional oil well as a result of a complaint in Saint Marys City, Elk County owned by Dobsons Excavating Inc. and found crude oil leaking from a storage tank.

            The crude oil followed an unnamed tributary and entered Elk Creek for a short distance.

            DEP noted the current well owner had started the process to transfer the well to a new owner.

            DEP’s inspection report included violations related to the spill and requested the owner to submit a plan by August 26, 2024 to cleanup the spill and bring the site into compliance.

On August 7, 2024, DEP inspected two conventional wells-- Robert Hood 1 and Mary Alice Farrow 1-- owned by Farrington & Hepler Gas & Oil Inc. in Economy Borough, Beaver County and found spills at both wells.

            DEP originally issued violations related to the spill at the Robert Hood 1 well on March 27, 2024 and the owner did little to clean it up. DEP has yet to receive a cleanup plan from the owner requested in March.

DEP’s inspection report for the well continued the violations from March.  The owner, who was at the inspection, committed to start cleanup by the end of the day.

            DEP’s inspection report included new violations for spills at the Mary Alice Farrow well and requested the owner to submit a plan by August 24, 2024 on how the well will be brought into compliance.

            2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 194 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Almost all of the Act 2 cleanups related to oil and gas are at shale gas facilities.  Read more here.

            Conventional Wells Leaking Gas, One Over 3.5 Years

On August 14, 2024, DEP inspected the JH Penn 1025 conventional gas well in Amwell Township, Washington County owned by EQT Production Co. and found it was still venting gas to the atmosphere.

            DEP issued the original violation for leaking gas on December 22, 2020 and was notified by EQT in January 2021 that repairs were made to stop the leaks.

            DEP said, “It appears that several portions of the wellhead were repaired [with duct tape] as indicated in the Operator's NOV response, however the observed leaks were coming from other portions that don't appear to have been addressed during the repairs in 2021.”

DEP’s inspection report continues the violations, but no additional actions were requested of the well owner.

On August 12, 2024, DEP inspected the Boyce 1 conventional gas well in Somerset Township, Washington County owned by Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] and found the well was leaking gas.

            DEP’s inspection report included a violation for the gas leak and requested the owner to submit a plan by August 28, 2024 for bringing the well into compliance.

            Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

            Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.

            Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner 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--  PA General Energy Co LLC shale gas well pad spills confirmed; Dobsons Excavating Inc. leaking conventional crude oil tank; Farrington & Hepler Gas & Oil Inc. conventional well tanks spill area;  Row 2-- Northwestern Well SVC Inc. one of seven conventional wells all with problems; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co  Inc. abandoned conventional well; EQT Production Co. conventional well leaking gas for over 3.5 years; CNX Gas Co LLC in the process of plugging inactive shale gas well.)

[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 - August 10 to 16 - Failure To File Critical Annual Report Violations Sent To Owners Of 5,300+ Conventional Wells; Failure To Fix Leaking Wells  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 17 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 17 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Attorney General Henry Announces Greylock Shale Gas Driller Will Pay $140,000, Plead No Contest To Multiple Criminal Charges For Environmental Violations In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Violations To 16 Owners Of 5,374 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells For Failing To Submit Annual Production, Waste Generation/Disposal, Well Integrity Reports  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Information Sessions On New Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program Aug. 26, 27 & 30  [PaEN]

-- US Dept. Of The Interior Announces Pennsylvania Eligible For Up To $152.6 Million In Funding To Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- CNX: 'Natural Gas Development Is Safe And Poses No Public Health Risks,' Based On CNX Air Quality Monitoring From 14 Sites, Most For Just 4 To 24 Weeks  [PaEN]

-- DCED Conventional Oil & Gas Advisory Council Meeting Aug. 15 Agenda Includes Road Dumping Wastewater; Updates On Abandoned Well Plugging; Changing Definition Of Abandoned Wells  [PaEN]

-- Penn State, Shell Petrochemicals, Shell Pipeline Company Announce Collaboration Focused On Energy And Sustainability  [PaEN]

-- Briefing By US Dept. Of Energy On Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Previewing Future Engagement Opportunities Featured Comments Expressing Concerns About The Project  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Introduce SPEED Permit Review, Joint Chapter 105 Permit Pilot Programs  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WPXI: Western PA Natural Gas Driller Convicted In Water Contamination Case

-- TribLive: Indiana Twp. Supervisors Deny Request That Could Have Led To New Gas Wells And Fracking In Allegheny County

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: The Peril, Politics And Price Of Shale Gas Development, Fracking Waste - By Eric de Place And Julia Stone

-- TribLive Letter: PA Must Make A Stronger Plan For Reducing Methane From Oil & Gas Facilities

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: After Partnering With Pennsylvania To Monitor Itself, CNX Shale Gas Company Declares Its Fracking Operations ‘Safe’

-- Investing.com: CNX Resources Stock Downgraded As Natural Gas Price Outlook Dims

-- MarketBeat.com: CNX Resources Downgraded By Piper Sandler To ‘Underweight’

-- Financial Times: Schlumberger Oilfield Services Expands In Russia As Rivals Baker Hughes, Halliburton Both Sold Russian Businesses. [Schlumberger Serves Shale Gas Industry In PA]

-- PA House Republican Caucus: American Petroleum Institute Hosts Republican Lawmakers To Talk About The Role Of Natural Gas In Attracting AI Data Centers In Luzerne County

-- Williamsport Sun: Republican US Senate Candidate: Energy Superpower Status Hindered By Permitting, Policy

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Officials Ignore Most Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Worries

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Officials Promise Greater Transparency For Hydrogen Projects Now That It Has US DOE Approval

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Leaders At Beaver County Shell Petrochemical Plant Admit To Rocky Start But Insist Operations Are Stabilizing

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Shell Flushes $1 Million Down Penn State Toilet On Energy Transition, DEI; Is It Buying Off Penn State?  [PDF of article]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Shell Must Level With Petrochemical Plant’s Neighbors - It’s Too Often Bright, Loud And Stinking

-- Reuters: Shell, PetroChina To Expand Surat Coal Seam Gas Project In Australia

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: 75-Year-Old Plastics Plant In Beaver County May Close By End Of Year

-- WHYY: Climate Change Takes Center Stage At Philadelphia Gas Commission Meeting

-- E&E News: Oil & Gas Industry Says Bucks County Climate Damage Responsibility Lawsuit Violates State Sunshine Law

-- Bloomberg: Kamala Harris Once Trashed Fracking, And Pennsylvania Hasn’t Forgotten

Posted: August 17, 2024]

8/19/2024