NOTE: This week’s Compliance Dashboard adds two new features-- spreadsheets showing all the violations DEP posted from November 2 to 8 and all 753 inspection entries from the week so readers get a better idea of the magnitude of inspection work going on.   The individual descriptions of violations highlighted here were made shorter because the growing number of violations was making the Dashboard articles very long.

From November 2 to 8, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 753 inspection entries and delayed entry postings.

Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspection entries posted between November 2 and 8--

            Click Here for violations issued between November 2-8.

            Click Here for inspection entries between November 2-8.

            Enforcement Actions So Far In 2024

So far this year, DEP took these actions as of November 1-- 

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 40 conventional, 19 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 6,734 conventional and 898 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 453 conventional and 116 unconventional (orders, agreements)

-- Inspections Last Week: 393 conventional and 209 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 15,110 conventional and 20,320 unconventional

            5 More Abandoned Conventional Well Violations

-- Marco Drilling Inc. - Violation: Abandoning Well (2023)

November 5, 2024 routine inspection of J.A. Myers 1374 conventional well in Burrell Township, Armstrong County found the well abandoned and not plugged.  No action taken by the owner since the original violation issued in October 18, 2023. Violations for abandonment and others were continued. Owner holds 38 conventional well permits.  No follow-up action requested. DEP inspection report.

-- S. M. Speers - Violation: Abandoning Well

November 4, 2024 routine inspection of Stephen L. Tomasic 1 conventional gas well in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County found the well leaking gas, abandoned, not plugged. Speers holds four conventional well permits. DEP said they “no longer does business with DEP.’  Violations may be issued later.  DEP inspection report.

-- Hyde Park Foundry & Mach Co - Violation: Abandoning Well (2023)

October 25, 2024 follow-up inspection of the LOTS 255,256,257,358 2 in Hyde Park Borough, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned, not plugged and without production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations were issued August 9, 2023 and well owner did nothing. DEP continued violations. Well owner holds 4 conventional well permits.  Response again requested by November 24. DEP inspection report.

-- Andrew F. Suchko - Violation: Abandoning Well (2023)

October 24, 2024 follow-up inspection of Suchko Tract 2 conventional well in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned, not plugged and without production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations June 7, 2023 and well owner did nothing. DEP continued violations. Owner holds 4 conventional well permits. Response requested by November 8, 2024.  DEP inspection report.

-- STK Investments LLC  - Violation: Failed To Comply With Order

October 24, 2024 follow-up inspection on the J. Lawrence Beth Ann Adams 2 conventional well in Washington Township, Lawrence County found the owner failed to comply with a July 17, 2024 DEP order to submit a plan to replug the well. DEP continued violations. STK holds 6 conventional well permits  No follow-up action requested of well owner.  DEP inspection report.

            Unknown Abandoned Well Owners

DEP inspected inspected additional conventional oil and gas wells to determine their status and found these abandoned--

-- Allegheny County, Neville Twp.: Hamilton;

-- Allegheny County, Ross Twp.: Peter Ivory;

-- Clarion County, Redback Twp.: Bish 1; Shirey 1;

-- Warren County, Mead Twp.: Hansen 1, 2, 3, & 7;

-- Washington County, Donegal Twp.: R.C. Rice; C.M. Jolly;

-- Westmoreland County, South Huntingdon Twp: Tomasic 1 (S.M. Speers)

            823 Abandoned Conventional Well, 26 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP issued 823 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.

So far in 2024, 26 violations were issued or continued to 10 shale gas well owners [Diversified Prod LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC follow-up; Big Dog Energy LLC; EQT Production Co.; 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.

            Spills & Releases

-- Beech Resources LLC - Violations: 8,820+ Gallon Spill

November 6, 2024 inspection of the Premier shale gas well pad in Lycoming Township, Lycoming County in response to a November 5 notification of an 8,820 gallon production wastewater spill outside of containment on the well pad as a result of a pipeline coupler failure. Cleanup in progress during inspection.  Response requested by December 4.  DEP inspection report.

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Violations: Wastewater Tank Leak

October 31, 2024 spill of unknown quantity of drilling wastewater from storage tanks at Ronmary shale gas well pad in Elkland Township, Sullivan County results in DEP issuing violations. Response requested by November 26.  DEP inspection report.

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Violations: Wastewater Tank Leak

November 6, 2024 inspection of the Indiana Foot shale gas well pad in Albany Township, Bradford County in response to a spill notification found a production wastewater release from a storage tank contaminated the well pad resulting in DEP violations. Response requested by November 26.  DEP inspection report.

-- Diversified Production LLC -  Violations: Leaking Fluid

November 5, 2024 routine inspection with the property owners finds two unreported leaks of production wastewater from the C&K Coal Co 4910 114-CEN conventional gas well in Snow Shoe Township, Centre County that have been leaking an unknown quantity of fluid. Large rocks were placed in a hole leaking fluid in an attempt to stop it.  Violations were issued. Response requested by November 26.  DEP inspection report.

-- Timberline Energy Inc.  -  Violations: Failed To Cleanup Spill (2017)

October 31, 2024 follow-up inspection from October 17, 2017 and October 3, 2024 violations at the Garmer 3 conventional well in Porter Township, Clarion County found no progress in cleaning up wastewater releases and collapsed bridge leading to the site. Response requested by November 15.  DEP inspection report.

-- Northeast Natural Energy LLC - Violations: Failed To Cleanup Spill (August)

October 25, 2024 follow-up inspection of a Trafford Gas Storage Reservoir conventional well in Penn Township, Westmoreland County found no progress in cleaning up spill from August 13, 2024. DEP continued violations. No follow-up actions requested.  DEP inspection report.

-- Richard L. Wagner - Violations: Failing Wastewater Tank (Sept.)

October 25, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Charles D. & Myrna L. Halcomb 1 conventional well in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County found the owner failed to address violations issued on September 5, 2024 related to the structural integrity of the wastewater tank to prevent releases.  DEP continued the violations. No deadline set for follow-up actions.  DEP inspection report.

            2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 244 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups.  Read more here.

            Gas Leaks, Erosion & Sedimentation Violations

-- Apex Energy (PA) LLC  -  Violations: Air Pollution

October 31, 2024 complaint investigation at the Draftina Center shale gas pad 31 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County where spreading and moving aggregate across the well pad with bulldozers and rollers caused significant dust.  Air Quality violations will be issued. Response requested by November 11.  DEP inspection report.

-- Joseph & Debbie Minton - Violations: Well Integrity, Leaking Gas

October 31, 2024 complaint investigation of strong natural gas odor from the J. Hremoth 0 conventional well in Jefferson Township, Butler County resulted in violations for not submitting production, waste generation and well integrity reports for the well used to supply gas to three residents.  No direction to fix the leak. The Minton’s hold one conventional well permit. Response requested by November 22.  DEP inspection report.

-- Niche Energy LLC  - Violations: Well Integrity, Leaking Gas

October 30, 2024 complaint investigation of natural gas odor from Howard Rohde 1 conventional well in Amity Township, Erie County resulted in multiple violations after finding gas readings “maxing out” from the well.  Niche Energy holds 191 conventional well permits. No follow-up requested.  DEP inspection report.

-- Enterprise TE Production Pipeline Co. Inc.  - Violations: E&S

October 30, 2024 inspection of the LID P40 AID 696 Dig 34 Pipeline construction right-of-way in Leidy Township, Clinton County found areas of the right-of-way denuded of vegetation and not reseeded as required by the erosion and sedimentation control permit resulting in violations.  Response requested by November 21.  DEP inspection report.

            Stray Gas Well Contamination Investigation

DEP is conducting a stray gas water supply complaint investigation in Valley Township, Armstrong County inspecting multiple conventional oil and gas wells with no leaking conventional gas well found so far.

 DEP inspected the Cook & Son Oil Co. Mary E. Runyan 2 conventional well as part of the investigation, but could not find the well. This well was 1,100 feet east of the contaminated water well.   DEP inspection report.

Use Latitude 40.815090 Longitude -79.413002 of this well from the inspection report  in DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to determine if you are near the impacted area.

A second well at Latitude 40.816548 and Longitude -79.410377 was also inspected located 1,830 feet north of the water well. It had no leaks.  DEP inspection report.

A third well at Latitude 40.808779 and Longitude -79.405087 was inspected located 2,450 feet Southwest of the water well.  It had no leaks.  DEP inspection report.

Click Here for more wells investigated.

            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 and Inspection Reports Viewer webpages to search their compliance records by date and owner.

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.

Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.

(Photos: Row 1-- Diversified Production LLC conventional well leaking wastewater; Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC leaking shale gas wastewater storage tank; Enterprise TE Production Pipeline Co. Inc. pipeline right-of-way not reseeded as required; Row 2-- STK Investments LLC failed to comply with order to plug conventional well; Andrew F. Suchko abandoned conventional well;  Richard L. Wagner failing conventional wastewater tank;  Beech Resources LLC impact area of 8,800 gallon shale gas wastewater spill,)

[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 - Nov. 2 to 8 - 8,800 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill; Failure To Comply With Plugging Order; Spills, Releases, Gas Leaks  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 9 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 71 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 9 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Cecil Township Supervisors In Washington County Adopt 2,500 Setback From Shale Gas Well Pads From Homes, Businesses, 5,000 Foot Setback From Hospitals, Schools   [PaEN]

-- PA Republican Senators Introduce Bill To Punish Local Elected Officials Who Want To Protect Their Constituents From The Documented Adverse Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: Longtime Environmental Official On PA Election Results: People Will Need To Be ‘As Tenacious As The Industry’

-- Protect PT, Three Rivers Waterkeeper Appeal DEP Permits For CNX Slickville Natural Gas, Shale Gas Wastewater Pipelines Project In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]

-- 66 Water Withdrawals Now Restricted In Susquehanna River Basin Due To Low-Flow Water Conditions, Most Shale Gas-related  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Nov. 25 Webinar On Private Water Supply Testing, Education; Helpful To Those In Oil & Gas Drilling Areas Which May Impact Water Wells  [PaEN]

-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Dec. 12 Learn How To Effectively Advocate For Change Workshop In Washington County  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Observer-Reporter: Cecil Township Supervisors Approve Ordinance Increasing Setbacks For New Shale Gas Well Pads  [PDF of Article]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Cecil Township Supervisors Pull The Trigger On Frack ‘Ban’ Via Setbacks  [PDF of Article]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Pushes Back Against Cecil Township’s 2,500 Foot Setback From Well Pads  [PDF of Article]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: MarkWest/MPLX To Add Natural Gas Liquids Processing Plant At Harmon Creek Facility In Smith Twp., Washington County  [PDF of Article] 

-- 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 Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: Longtime Environmental Official On PA Election Results: People Will Need To Be ‘As Tenacious As The Industry’

-- Observer-Report: Natural Gas Poised To Be Long-Term Energizer In Washington County [PDF of Article]  [Last Of A Series]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Celebrating 20 Years Of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development - By Dave Callahan, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition & Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: Pennsylvanians See Utility Bills Climb Despite Living In One Of America’s Most Productive Natural Gas States 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Coterra Energy Expands Curtailment Of Marcellus Drilling, Fracking; No Rigs In Marcellus Due To Low Prices  [PDF of Article]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: CEO Of PA Fracking Services Company Says Shale Gas Drillers Are Idle, Hitting Rock Bottom Due To Low Natural Gas Prices [PDF of Article]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Deep Well Services Company In Southwest PA To Be Bought By United Arab Emirates Company 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Federal Court Agrees The Environmental Hearing Board Can Hear Appeals Of Transco’s Regional Energy Access Expansion Natural Gas Pipeline Project  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette: Beaver County Styrene Plastics Plant To Shut Down In January Citing Aging Plant

-- TribLive: Pennsylvanians See Utility Bills Climb Despite Living In One Of America’s Most Productive Natural Gas States 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: EQT CEO Says Shale Gas Needs To Get Back To Building Pipelines To Export Gas, For AI Boom  [PDF of Article]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Appalachian Natural Gas Execs Say Demand Likely To Grow In Next Decade Thanks To Rise In LNG Gas Exports, Demand For Data Center Power

-- Utility Dive: FERC Rejects Interconnection Pact For Amazon Data Center At Talen Nuclear Power Plant In Luzerne County

-- Utility Dive: FERC’s Amazon, Talen Energy Ruling ‘Not The Final Word’ On Nuclear, Data Center Colocation: Constellation CEO

-- Reuters: FERC OKs Introduction Of Natural Gas To New LNG Gas Export Facility In Louisiana

-- Politico: European Union’s Opening Bid To Avoid Republican Tariffs: Buy More American LNG Gas

[Posted: November 9, 2024]

11/11/2024