During a routine inspection on October 25, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection discovered an oil and gas wastewater release from the Bear Lake Properties LLC Bittinger #4  conventional injection well site in Columbus Township, Warren County.

The wastewater release traveled approximately 1,770 feet from the Bittinger 4 well, down drainage swales, across an ATV trail and into unnamed tributaries to Brokenstraw Creek, according to DEP’s inspection report.

Conductivity measurements in the tributary found the release was still impacting the tributary with measurements upstream of the point it entered the tributary at 130 uS/cm compared to readings downstream on the entry point at greater than 1,000 uS/cm, according to DEP’s inspection.

Photos in the inspection report showed no effort was made by the well owner to contain or clean up the release at the time of the inspection.

There was no indication when the spill happened or what quantity of wastewater was released.

A second DEP inspector reported the injection well was not operating at the time of the inspection, but pressure was being maintained.

DEP’s inspection report noted it appeared a valve and tubing had been replaced on the wellhead.

DEP’s inspector contacted Bear Lake Properties, LLC to “request that the source and extent of the release be identified to prevent further pollution.”

The company "agreed to meet with Department officials early next week [this week] to review the release."

As of November 3, DEP posted no update on the status of this spill or any communication with the injection well owner.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s inspection report.

Injection Well Waste Permit Renewed

On November 2, DEP published notice in the PA Bulletin the agency had approved a waste permit renewal for the Bear Lake Properties LLC Saltwater oil and gas wastewater injection well and transfer facility located in Columbus Township, Warren County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7270) 

Discovery

DEP’s inspector found standing water with high conductivity levels around the floor of the shed housing the conventional injection well, including on the floor liner and in bare earth.

The spill traveled off the edge of the gravel well pad killing vegetation along its route. Exposed soil was still wet despite the lack of rain for about 70 feet.  High conductivity levels were measured.

More dead vegetation and bare soils were evident down swales leading away from the injection well for 250 feet that clearly showed how the release traveled downhill and away from the well.

The release then crossed an ATV trail traveling another 250 feet.  Standing water with high conductivity was found in a drainage swale beyond the trail

The wastewater continued 500 more feet and into an unnamed tributary of Brokenstraw Creek.

Traveling another 700 feet, the release went into another unnamed tributary that ultimately entered Brokenstraw Creek.

Conductivity readings upstream of where the release entered the second unnamed tributary were found to be 130 uS/cm compared to readings downstream on the entry point at greater than 1,000 uS/cm.

Violations

DEP’s inspection report included violations for failing to notify DEP of the spill, multiple violations related to the release itself and for causing pollution.

DEP requested the well owner to submit a plan by November 12, 2024 on how the well site will be cleaned up and brought into compliance.

Visit DEP’s Underground Injection Control Wells webpage for more information on oil and gas wastewater injection wells.

Report Violations

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

            For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

(Photos: Row 1-- Standing water around injection well; dead vegetation along path of release; standing contaminated water in drainage swale; Row 2-- wastewater crossed an ATV trail; the Bittinger 4 conventional injection 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 - Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 - No Attempt To Contain, Cleanup Injection Well Spill; Gas Storage Area Well Release; More Abandoned Conventional Wells  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 2 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 82 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 2 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles - Gas:

-- DEP Discovers Wastewater Release At Bear Lake Properties Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Warren County During Routine Inspection  [PaEN]

-- Bradford Era:  7-Part Series Details Concerns Residents Of Cyclone, McKean County Have With Catalyst Energy Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves Emergency Order Appointing Aqua Pennsylvania Temporary Operator For 6 Rhodes Estate Water Companies As Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill In Venango County  [PaEN]

-- Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board Nov. 12 On Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reductions; Hydrogen Hubs  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Quality Board To Consider Proposed Spill Notification Regulation; Blasting; NOx & VOC Corrections Nov. 12  [PaEN] 

-- Low-Flow Water Conditions Trigger Big Jump In Susquehanna River Basin Water Withdrawal Restrictions, Most Shale Gas-related  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations: Similar Action In 2023 Resulted In $10 Million Settlement  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro, Joins 4 Other Governors To Call On PJM To Reform Its Electric Generating Capacity Auction Rules To Prevent Billions Of Dollars In 'Unnecessary’ Costs To Their Residents, Businesses  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: As Fracking Turns 20 In Pennsylvania, Towns Consider New Regulations For Distance Between Homes And Well Pads [Cecil Twp., Washington County]  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Randy Bartley: Priority To Plug Old Conventional Oil, Gas Wells Deepens For DEP  [PDF of Article]

-- The Derrick - Randy Bartley: Plugging A Problem Abandoned Conventional Gas Well  [PDF of Article]

-- Institute For Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County 'Unlikely To Meet Financial Targets'

-- Inquirer: Electric Bills Are Rising In PA, NJ; Governors Want PJM To Help Cut Costs

-- National Fuel Gas Increases Natural Gas Costs 3.7% On Nov. 1

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drill Rigs Increase One To 13 From Last Week, Still Down From 21 On Aug. 23

-- S&P Global: US Natural Gas Producer Coterra Signs LNG Gas Supply Deals With Vitol, UK’s Centrica Linked To LNG Prices

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Post Biggest Weekly Decline Since January

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Drop As Goldman Warns Of Bearish Risks

[Posted: October 29, 2024]

11/4/2024