PA Environment Digest

Share this:

PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 - Abandoned Shale Gas Wells Doubled From Last Year; Failure To Comply With Court Order To Plug Conventional Wells; Abandoned Waste Injection Well

From November 30 to December 6, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 656 inspection entries, and posted inspection reports from previous weeks.

Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 30 to December 6--

Click Here for violations issued between November 30 to December 6.

Click Here for inspection entries between November 30 to December 6

Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week

So far this year, DEP took these actions as of November 29--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 18 conventional, 2 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 7,059 conventional and 1,027 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 477 conventional and 124 unconventional (orders, agreements)

-- Inspections Last Week: 163 conventional and 210 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 16,434 conventional and 22,204 unconventional

9 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations

Horizontal Exploration LLC - Violations- Failed To Comply With Court Order

December 5, 2024 follow-up inspection of 6 conventional wells in Lafayette Township, McKean County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Well owner was ordered by Commonwealth Court on May 14, 2024 to plug the wells by November 22. The most recent violations were issued November 30, 2023, however, DEP issued violations for abandonment of these same wells in 2019 and in 2022. DEP found no evidence of any change in the well conditions since that date. No response requested of well owner. [Usually in cases like this, DEP goes back to Court to ask that the well owner be considered in contempt of court for failing to comply with the order.]

The wells included: Swamp Angel 3-2 [DEP inspection report], Swamp Angel 3-3 [DEP inspection report], Swamp Angel 3-4 [DEP inspection report], Swamp Angel 3-5 [DEP inspection report], Swamp Angel Pad A1 [DEP inspection report], and Swamp Angel PadA4 [DEP inspection report].

Horizontal Exploration holds 22 conventional oil and gas well permits, including seven in the Allegheny National Forest. Read more here.

Stonehaven Energy MGT Co LLC - Violations - Abandoned Waste Injection Well

November 27, 2024 routine inspection of the Latshaw 9 oil and gas wastewater injection well in Cranberry Township, Venango County found this conventional well abandoned and not plugged. DEP issued injection well permit for the well on June 10, 2014 and EPA issued an injection well permit on June 28, 2016. DEP said the well was not used for waste disposal since March 14, 2023 and its EPA Injection Well Permit expired on October 24, 2023. DEP inspected on March 11, 2024 and found no violations. Stonehaven Energy holds 558 conventional oil and gas well permits, including 7 abandoned wells. No response requested from well owner. DEP November 27 inspection report. Read more here.

Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. - Violations - Abandoned Well, Leaking Gas

November 27, 2024 follow-up inspection of the GE Kalyer 2 conventional gas well serving the North Summit Gas Storage Reservoir in North Union Township, Fayette County found the well continues to be abandoned and leaking gas. Temporary bridge plugs were installed in 2022, but failed to stop gas. Original violations issued October 3, 2024. The well owner “discussed intentions of servicing the well and returning the well to use.” Response requested by December 27. DEP inspection report

The Production Co. LLC - Violations - Abandoned Well, Leaking Gas

November 27, 2024 inspection of the Hillman Coal 1 conventional gas well in Luzerne Township, Fayette County found the well abandoned and leaking gas. Owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for five years. Original violations for abandonment and leaking gas issued August 8, 2023. Original violations for failing to submit annual reports issued on January 6, 2021. Notice of intent to plug the well was received by DEP, but expired on October 2. Response requested by December 16. DEP inspection report.

Orphan & Abandoned Well Evaluations

DEP inspected at least 23 abandoned and orphan conventional oil and gas wells to evaluate for well plugging program--

-- Allegheny County, Lincoln Boro: JB Pierce 1; [Greensboro Gas Co]

-- Fayette County, Washington Twp.: JM Hare 1; JH Wycoff; [Greensboro Gas Co]

-- Greene County, Franklin Twp.: John T. Kent 3478

-- McKean County, Foster Twp.: McGillivray 28, 29 & 30;

-- McKean County, Wetmore Twp.: Brown West 1, 6 & 11

-- Venango County, Clinton Twp.: Cross 1

-- Venango County, Clintonville Boro: Dunkle 2, 3, 5 & 6; Clintonville Area V8

-- Warren County, Glade Twp.: Booth 9

-- Warren County, Sheffield Twp.: Lot 396 Orphan 16 & 17

-- Washington County, North Strabane Twp.: Dorsey Woodruff 1

-- Washington County, Robinson Twp.: Valleyview 1

-- Westmoreland County, Salem Twp. Bernard Nellis 1; Milford R. Hoover 3 [New York Natural Gas Corp]

About a dozen or more other conventional well inspections were done involving Unknown owners, but the wells could not be located.

10 Violations For Abandoning Shale Gas Wells

Big Dog Energy LLC - Violations - 5 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

November 18-22, 2024 inspections of five shale gas wells in Clearfield County with representatives of Big Dog Energy found they continued to be abandoned and not plugged. The abandonment violations are more than a year old and the owner failed to take any action to address them. Wells were all drilled in 2011 and 2012. The wells included--

-- Beccaria Twp.: HegartyA 1H, Original violation June 26, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Covington Twp.: Gerhart(CK19) 1H, Original violation May 23, 2023, Inactive status expired on March 27, 2021 [DEP inspection report]

-- Gulich Twp.: CowferB 1H, Original violation June 26, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Karthaus Twp.: RHPA 5H, Original violation May 23, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Woodward Twp.: EricksonA 1H, Original violation June 26, 2023, Inactive status expired on April 22, 2021 [DEP inspection report]

No requests were made of the well owner in the inspection reports.

PA Environment Digest reported in September DEP issued an administrative order to Big Dog Energy to bring these wells into compliance on August 20, 2024.

No action was taken by the well owner in response to the order. Read more here.

Big Dog Energy was issued violations in 2022 by DEP for installing 30 gas-fired generators with a capacity of 10 MW at the HegartyA shale gas well without permits to support its cryptocurrency mining operations. Read more here.

Diversified Prod LLC - Violations - 5 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

November 18, 2024 inspections of five shale gas wells in Fayette and Westmoreland counties found them to be abandoned and not plugged. Original violations were issued between 19 months ago and one month prior to this inspection. The wells include--

-- Fayette County, Lower Tyrone Twp.: Pritts Unit 1, Original violation April 5, 2023 [DEP inspection report]

-- Fayette County, Washington Twp.: ORR 33, Original violation September 25, 2024 [DEP inspection report]

-- Westmoreland County, Salem Twp.: Kepple 4H [DEP inspection report]

-- Westmoreland County, Salem Twp.: Kepple 5, Original violation October 3, 2024, Diversified said this well has been sold, but it is now producing. [DEP inspection report]

-- Westmoreland County, Salem Twp.: Smith 21, Original violation October 3, 2024 [DEP inspection report]

All the wells were drilled in 2009.

DEP requested a response to the violations from the well owner by between December 9 and 18.

847 Abandoned Conventional Well, 42 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2024

So far in 2024, DEP issued 847 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells, more than in all of 2023.

So far in 2024, 42 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners [Big Dog Energy LLC + Diversified Prod LLC; Diversified Prod LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Hilcorp Energy Co; Hilcorp Energy Co (3); Hilcorp Energy Co (3); T & F Exploration LP; EQT Production Co. follow-up; 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.

Wastewater Spills & Releases

Greylock Production LLC - Violations - Release Of Shale Gas Wastewater

December 3, 2024 inspection of the Ron Shale Gas Well Pad in Hector Township, Potter County in response to a well owner notification of a spill found an estimated 840 gallons of production wastewater was released into secondary containment with some escaping onto the pad surface during fracking operations. The well owner was using an alternative water handling system that included an open, temporary MASS wastewater storage facility using wastewater off-loaded from trucks that appeared to be working as designed. [DEP inspection report] Cleanup was underway at the time of the inspection with fluids recovered and contaminated soil being excavated. Fluids draining into an infiltration basin were also being screened to determine if they are contaminated. Response requested from the well owner by December 19. DEP inspection report.

CNX Gas Co LLC - Violations - Release Of Shale Gas Wastewater

November 26, 2024 inspection of the Mamont 16 Shale Gas Well Pad in Bell Township, Westmoreland County in response to a referral by other DEP staff found a spill of wastewater and other fluids outside of secondary containment. Violations were issued for the spill. No estimate was made on how much fluid spilled. Response requested by December 17. DEP inspection report.

Coterra Energy Inc. - Violations - Release Of Shale Gas Wastewater

November 21, 2024 inspection report documents the discovery of a wastewater spill of unknown volume at multiple locations at the Diaz Family Shale Gas Well Pad 2 in Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County. During inspections on September 26 [DEP inspection report] and September 30 [DEP inspection report] DEP documented spills at multiple locations on the well pad. An Interim Remediation Summary Report submitted by the well owner said the secondary containment for frac tanks storing wastewater “had been compromised” and impacted adjacent soils. No requests are made of the well owner. DEP inspection report.

Apollo Resources LLC - Violations - Wastewater Release From Conventional Well

November 26, 2024 inspection of the Whyel 1 conventional well in Nicholson Township, Fayette County found the well leaking wastewater on the ground. Response requested by December 9. DEP inspection report.

2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 263 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.

Conventional Wells Leaking Gas

Columbia Gas Trans LLC - Violations - Storage Area Wells Continue To Leak Gas

November 26, 2024 inspections of three conventional wells serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County found they are continuing to leak gas.

Original violations were issued between September 26 and October 8, 2024 and no action was taken to address the leaks. Wells include Martin L3702 [DEP inspection report]; Steven J. Grcich ET UX 0 [DEP inspection report] and Beulah DeFrance L4074 [DEP inspection report] Response requested by December 26.

Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. - Violations - Storage Area Wells Leaking Gas

November 27, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Piedmont Coal 2 conventional gas well serving the North Summit Gas Storage Reservoir in South Union Township, Fayette County found the well still leaking gas. Original violations issued on October 3, 2024 and no action was taken to address the leaks. Response requested by December 27. DEP inspection report.

November 27, 2024 routine inspection of the RE Eberly Trust ET AL 2 conventional gas well serving the North Summit Gas Storage Reservoir in Wharton Township, Fayette County found the well leaking gas. Violations were issued. Response requested by December 27. DEP inspection report.

Diversified Prod LLC - Violations - Conventional Wells Leaking Gas

November 25, 2024 inspections of the M&H Nobel 670918 [DEP inspection report] and Genovese 5 [DEP inspection report] conventional gas wells in German Township, Fayette County found them continuing to leak gas. Original violations issued on August 20, 2024 and September 23, 2024 and no action was taken to address the leaks. Response requested by December 20.

Water Supply Complaint Investigations

Investigation - Pinegrove Twp., Venango County

December 4, 2024 inspection of the Martz M6 conventional gas well owned by Gerald B. & John C. Whittling as part of an ongoing investigation of a private water well contamination complaint was found not to be leaking gas. DEP inspection report

Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool and the location of this well to find out if it is near you: Latitude: 41.345613, Longitude: -79.601196. Report well water problems to DEP.

December 3, 2024 inspection of the Martz M8 conventional gas well owned by Missing Moon Oil, Inc. as part of this same investigation was found not to be leaking gas. DEP inspection report. Latitude: 41.344827, Longitude: -79.602463

December 4, 2024 inspection of the Martz M5 conventional gas well owned by Missing Moon Oil, Inc. as part of this same investigation was found not to be leaking gas. DEP inspection report. Latitude: 41.345614, Longitude: -79.602421

December 4, 2024 inspection of the Lowers 4 conventional gas well owned by Petro Tech Inc. as part of this same investigation was found not to be leaking as. DEP inspection report Latitude: 41.345510, Longitude: -79.600614

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-- Stonehaven Energy MGT Co LLC unpermitted, abandoned wastewater injection well; Greylock Production LLC shale gas wastewater release and temporary MASS wastewater storage facility; Row 2-- Apollo Resources LLC conventional well wastewater leak; CNX Gas Co LLC shale gas wastewater spill outside containment; Columbia Gas Trans LLC gas storage well leaking gas; Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc. gas storage area wells leaking gas; Abandoned shale gas wells owned by Big Dog Energy LLC and Diversified Production LLC; Row 3-- Horizontal Exploration LLC failed to comply with court order to plug six abandoned conventional wells.)

[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. 30 to Dec. 6 - Abandoned Shale Gas Wells Doubled From Last Year; Failure To Comply With Court Order To Plug Conventional Wells; Abandoned Waste Injection Well [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 7 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 91 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 7 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Sees ‘Very Significant Budget Gap’ In Funding Oil & Gas Regulation Program Due To Reduced Permit Fee Revenue [PaEN]

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Up 1 To 16 From Last Week; 21 On Aug. 23

-- DCED PA Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council Meets Dec. 12 To Discuss Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater; New EPA Methane Emissions Reduction Program; Other Updates [PaEN]

-- What Will Shale Gas Leave Behind? DEP Issues 10 Violations To Big Dog Energy, LLC, Diversified Production LLC For Abandoning Shale Gas Wells; Violations For Shale Gas Abandonments More Than Doubled In 2024 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Horizontal Exploration LLC Failed To Comply With State Court Order To Plug 6 Conventional Wells In McKean County [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Abandoned Well Violation To Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well With Nearly Full Storage Tanks, Expired EPA Permit In Venango County [PaEN]

-- Apply Now! DEP Conventional Oil & Gas Methane Reduction Well Plugging Grant Applications Due Dec. 16; $44.4 Million Available - Only 10 Applicants Applied For 77 Wells So Far [PaEN]