From December 14 to 20, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 522  inspection entries and posted inspection reports from previous weeks.. 

Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring  between December 14 to 20--

Click Here for violations issued between December 14 to 20.

Click Here for inspection entries between December 14 to 20.

            Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week

So far this year, DEP took these actions as of December 13--

-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 27 conventional, 12 unconventional

-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 7,161 conventional and 1,071 unconventional

-- Enforcements 2024: 488 conventional and 129 unconventional (orders, agreements)

-- Inspections Last Week: 251 conventional and 272 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Inspections: 16,952 conventional and 23,194 unconventional

            2 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations

Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Well Abandoned (42 Months)

December 4, 2024 did a follow-up inspection of the Lynn 9 shale gas well [Permit issued in 2009] in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County and found the well continued to be unplugged and abandoned. The original violation for abandonment was issued on June 9, 2021 and continued on September 26, 2024 with no action taken to address the violations. Response requested by December 26. Diversified Prod holds 21,673 shale gas and conventional well permits.  DEP inspection report.  Read more here.

Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Well Abandoned (42 Months)

December 4, 2024 did a follow-up inspection of the Smith Unit 59H shale gas well [Permit issued in 2009] in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County and found the well continued to be unplugged and abandoned. The original violation for abandonment was issued on June 9, 2021 and continued on September 26, 2024 with no action taken to address the violation.  Response requested by December 26. Diversified Prod holds 21,673 shale gas and conventional well permits.   DEP inspection report.  Read more here.

Oil & Gas Mgmt, Inc. - Violations: Conventional Well Abandoned (13 Months)

December 4, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Detwiler Unit 1 conventional well in Springfield Township, Fayette County and found the well unplugged and abandoned.  Original violation issued November 14, 2023.  Response requested by December 30. Oil & Gas Mgmt., Inc. holds 163 conventional well permits. DEP inspection report.

Enervest OPR LLC - Violations: Failure To Restore Conventional Site After Plugging

December 16, 2024 bond release inspection of the Gen Refractories 1 conventional well in Addison Borough, Somerset County found the site and access road were not restored after the well was plugged and the bond release was denied. Original violations for failure to restore the site were issued on July 17, 2024 and the well owner failed to address them.  No requests were made of the well owner. Enervest holds 427 conventional well permits.  DEP inspection report.

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

So far in 2024, DEP issued 850 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, 44 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners [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.

            Spills & Releases

Apollo Resources LLC - Violations: Failed To Comply With Cleanup Order

On December 10, 2024 did a follow-up inspection of the Nelson 2 conventional well site in Dunbar Township, Fayette County and found the well owner continues to be in violation of a compliance order to cleanup a spill at the site.  The spill was originally discovered on May 11, 2023-- 19 months ago-- and DEP has been trying to get the owner to clean up the site ever since.  Evidence of a new spill was also discovered at the site and new violations were issued.  A response to the violations was requested by December 27.  Apollo Resources holds 1,894 conventional well permits. DEP inspection report.  Read more here.

Danken-Sammar LLC - Violations: Wastewater Tank Release

On December 13, 2024 did a routine inspection of the Green Glen 1 conventional well in Huston Township, Clearfield County and discovered a wastewater storage tank release. The inspector was accompanied by representatives of the well owner.  Multiple violations were issued.  A response was requested by January 3. Danken-Sammar holds 3 conventional well permits.  DEP inspection report.

EQT Chap LLC - Violations: Multiple Spills, Releases, Failure To Report

December 16, 2024 routine inspection of the Hambleton shale gas well pad in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County found spills and releases from wastewater containment areas and production tanks at multiple locations on the pad. Storage tanks removed without notification.  No evidence of any spill cleanup.  Multiple violations were issued related to the releases, including failure to report the incidents to DEP.  Response requested by January 6.  EQT Chap holds 431 well permits. DEP inspection report.

EQT Prod Co - Violations: Failure To Cleanup Waste, Spill

December 16, 2024 follow-up inspection of the CS Day 661 conventional well pad in Morris Township, Greene County found releases and waste discovered on December 10 have still not been cleaned up and violations were not addressed satisfactorily. Sheen found on flowing water.  A new violation for discharging waste into a stream was added.  No response requested from the well owner. EQT Prod holds 2,033 well permits.  DEP inspection report.

Greylock Prod LLC - Violations: Continuing Wastewater Spills During Fracking

December 17, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Ron shale gas well pad in Hector Township, Potter County in response to another notification of a spill found standing wastewater and evidence of spills in multiple locations. This inspection follows notification of spills at the well pad on December 3 [DEP inspection report] and December 9 [DEP inspection report]. The spills were occurring during fracking operations at the well pad. Multiple violations were continued from December 3 and 9.  DEP recommended remediation of spills and continued removal of fluids in secondary containment areas. Greylock Prod holds 57 well permits.  DEP inspection report.

Seneca Resources Co LLC - Violations: Wastewater Pipeline Spill

December 17, 2024 inspection at the Clermont Pad D wastewater pipeline pump in Jones Township, Elk County in response to a spill notification on December 16 found over 400 gallons of wastewater had “projected out of the pipeline” at a pump station because the flow of production wastewater had not been turned off before maintenance began. Removal of the wastewater and remediation of the area had already begun. Multiple violations were issued. Response was requested by January 10. Seneca Resources holds 1,420 well permits.  DEP inspection report.

Bear Lake Properties, LLC - Violations: Wastewater Injection Well Cleanup

December 19, 2024 follow-up inspection of the Bittinger 4 oil and gas wastewater injection well site spill in Columbus Township, Warren County found cleanup of a spill discovered on October 25 by DEP continues under the Act 2 Land Recycling Program standards.  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, and went unreported for 109 days, according to the company.  No mention of progress on constructing a secondary containment area and spill monitoring the company promised on November 11.  No mention of additional wastewater pipeline spill area discovered by DEP on November 8.  Bittinger 4 well was continuing to operate as of December 12.  DEP Dec. 19 inspection report.

            2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 271 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups.  Read more here.

            Gas Pipeline Right Of Way Land Slump

ETC Northeast Pipeline, LLC (Revolution Gas Pipeline) - Violations - Soil Movement

December 13, 2024 inspection of the Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline in Center Township, Beaver County in response to a notification by the owner found a land slump approximately 20 feet away “from the pipeline centerline”  The owner and DEP monitor soil movement along the Revolution Pipeline closely after a 2018 explosion caused by a land slump shortly after the pipeline was completed.  The explosion resulted in a $30.6 million penalty against the company.  Slumps like this continue to happen along the pipeline route.  DEP requested a Temporary Stabilization Plan for the site from the owner.  DEP inspection report.

            Erosion & Sedimentation, Encroachment

Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC - Violations: Encroachment, Leaking Gas

December 18, 2024 follow-up inspection of the WS Main 4757 conventional gas well serving the Donegal Gas Storage Reservoir in Donegal Township, Washington County found the well piping leaking gas and continuing violations for erosion and sedimentation and failure to obtain an encroachment permit for emergency access to well site.  The original violations for erosion and encroachment were issued in 2021, 2022 and on October 8, 2024.  The well owner failed to address the violations. No actions requested of the well owner.  DEP inspection report.

            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-- Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC gas leaking from gas storage reservoir conventional well piping; EQT Chap LLC multiple spills at shale gas well pad; EQT Prod Co  failure to cleanup waste, spill area at conventional well;  Row 2-- Seneca Resources Co LLC shale gas well pad spill site; Bear Lake Properties, LLC wastewater injection well spill continues with field sampling; Danken-Sammar LLC leaking conventional well wastewater tank;  Row 3-- ETC Northeast Pipeline, LLC (Revolution Gas Pipeline) land slump along pipeline route; Diversified Prod LLC shale gas well abandoned for 3+ years; Oil & Gas MGMT, Inc. abandoned conventional 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 - Dec. 14 to 20 -- Shale Gas Wells Abandoned For 42 Months; Failure To Cleanup Conventional Well Spill For 19 Months; Gas Pipeline Land Slump  [PaEN]

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind:  DEP: Diversified Production LLC Failed To Plug 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells For 42 Months + At Least 9 Other Shale Gas Wells Abandoned  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Apollo Resources, LLC Failed To Comply With Order To Cleanup Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill 19 Months After It Was Discovered In Fayette County  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 21 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles:

-- PUC Urges Natural Gas Customers To Explore Ways To Reduce Heating Costs; All But One Major Gas Utility Has Increased Cost Of Gas In PA  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Feb. 27 - Shale Gas And Public Health Conference, Duquesne University  [PaEN] 

-- EarthWorks Blog: Common Sense Needed In The Commonwealth - How To Protect Pennsylvanians From The Environmental, Health Impacts Of The Oil & Gas Industry - By Melissa Ostroff & Charlie Palladino, EarthWorks  [PaEN]

-- PUBLIC NOTICE: Proposed Oil & Gas Well Plugging Settlement With Diversified Energy, EQT May Affect Pennsylvania Surface Landowner Rights; Apply To Have A Well Plugged  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Review Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Under Environmental Justice Policy Enhanced Public Participation Process  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Revised Application, Instructions Available For Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares Air Quality General Permit  [PaEN]

-- PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank Appointed Chair Of National Assn. Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee On Natural Gas  [PaEN]

-- EPA, DOE Award $850 Million To Support Oil & Gas Sector Methane Pollution Reduction, Including $10 Million Grant To Penn State  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Revised Application, Instructions Available For Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares Air Quality General Permit  [PaEN]

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: AI Poses Threat To North American Electricity Grid  [PaEN]

-- US DOE Releases LNG Gas Export Study: Facilities Already Approved Will Meet Global Demand For Decades; Unfettered Exports Would Increase Domestic Natural Gas Prices; Electricity Prices; Costs To Manufacturers  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- TribLive: Additional Hearing Required For Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Borough, Allegheny County That Doesn’t Meet Setbacks

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak, et al: Expanding Natural Gas Exports Will Increase Prices, Pollution, Report Says

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Calls For Immediate Lift Of LNG Export Facility Permit Review Ban  [EQT, PA Shale Gas Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Sell More Gas To China Our Economic, Military Competitor]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Energy & Business Groups Respond To US DOE LNG Gas Export Study  [PDF of Article]

-- Reuters: Demand For US LNG Gas Exports Head For First Decline In 8 Years; Europe Bracing For New Price Shock As Weather Depletes Storage

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Markets Brace For ‘Volatility’ With Expiration Of Gas Transit Deal Between Russia And Ukraine Jan. 1

-- Bloomberg: Republican Administration Threatens Tariffs If EU Doesn’t Buy More US Oil, Natural Gas

-- Bloomberg: Oil/Gas Sector Lobbies Republican Administration To Spare It From Tariffs, Regulation

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Talk Of Requiring Natural Gas Detectors In Buildings After Explosion That Killed 7 In Reading

-- TribLive: Residents Of Mt. Peasant Personal Care Homes Start Returning Hours After Natural Gas Leak In Westmoreland

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Aqua PA Cites Existing Problems At Rhodes Utilities Water Companies  [PDF of Article]  [Water Companies Related To Venango County Conventional Well Spill Incident]  

-- The Guardian: DOE Warns ‘Unfettered’ Natural Gas Expansion Would Drive Up Domestic Costs

-- Utility Dive: US LNG Gas Exports Raise Electricity Bills, Gas Prices And Emissions, DOE Report Concludes

-- Financial Times: LNG Gas Export Boost Would Increase Prices, Hurt Climate, US Study Says

-- Reuters: US DOE Releases LNG Gas Export Facility Study Urging Caution On New Permits

-- Bloomberg: Biden’s LNG Gas Export Study Presents ‘Speed Bump’ For New Republican Administration

-- S&P Global: Major New US Industry At A Crossroads - A US LNG Impact Study - Phase I

-- Reuters: US Keeps LNG Gas Exports Crown Even With Facility Outages, Delays In Projects Under Construction, Slowing Demand

[Posted: December 21, 2024]

12/23/2024