On March 4, the Oil and Gas and Air Quality Programs of DEP did a joint inspection of a Diversified Production LLC cryptocurrency mining facility in Horton Township, Elk County and found it and two shale gas wells had been abandoned.

Three generators used to power the cryptocurrency mining operation at the Langhorn shale gas pad had been removed.

DEP said in its inspection reports the well abandonment violates an August 3, 2023 consent order and agreement with Diversified.

DEP requested Diversified to respond to the violations by March 18.

Diversified has a total of 13 violations for abandoning and not plugging 13 shale gas wells in 2025.  Read more here.

DEP also issued notices of violation to three EQT-related companies for abandoning and not plugging seven other shale gas wells in Greene and Washington counties.

This week DEP issued 9 violations for shale gas well abandonment bringing the total issued in 2025 to 31.

All of the shale gas wells found in violation were drilled in the earlier days of shale gas development-- 2010 to 2014

In all of 2024, DEP issued 47 violations for abandoned shale gas wells and 20 in 2024.

Here are the details--

Diversified Production LLC - Violations: 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells, Failed To Comply With Consent Order

March 4, 2025 joint inspection by Oil & Gas and Air Quality Programs of the Longhorn A 590830 [DEP inspection report] and Longhorn A 590835 [DEP inspection report] shale gas wells in Horton Township, Elk County found them abandoned and not plugged.  Three generators used to power cryptocurrency mining operations have been removed as well as production equipment. Wells drilled in 2011.  DEP noted the well abandonments violate an August 3, 2023 consent order and agreement between Diversified Production LLC and DEP.  Violations were issued for abandonment and failure to comply with the order.  Requested the owner to respond to the violations by March 18.

EQT Chap LLC - Violations: 3 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells  (11 Months)

March 3, 2025 inspection of the 3 shale gas wells on the Brunazzi Unit well pad (9H, 10H 11H)   in Deemston Borough, Washington County found the wells abandoned and not plugged. Wells drilled in 2013. Original violations issued on April 17, 2024. EQT had promised to plug the wells in a response to the original violations. Violations continued.  Response requested by March 19. DEP inspection report.

EQT Production Co. - Violations: 3 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

March 4, 2025 inspection of the 3 shale gas wells on the Pin Oaks 627027 well pad (6H, 8H, 10H) in Carroll Township, Washington County found them abandoned and not plugged. Wells drilled in 2010 and have not produced gas since 2016. Well integrity reports have not been submitted. Inactive status expired in May 2023. Violations issued. Response requested by March 25. [DEP inspection report - 6H; DEP inspection report - 8H; DEP inspection report - 10H;]

Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] - Violations: Abandoned Shale Gas Well

March 4, 2025 inspection of the Roger Parry 7H shale gas well in Aleppo Township, Greene  County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Well drilled in 2014. There are five shale gas wells on this pad, 3 are listed as active (3H, 5H, 8HA) and one as plugged (9H) Response requested by March 26. DEP Inspection report.

So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 31 violations to 7 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Diversified Production LLC (2); Diversified Production LLC (11), EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; Rice Drilling B LLC;  Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC].

In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. 

In 2023, DEP issued or continued 20 violations to 10 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.  Read more here.

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.

[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.]

(Photos: Top- Diversified Production LLC abandons 2 shale gas wells and cryptocurrency mining operation in Elk County; Bottom-- EQT Chap LLC abandoned 3 shale gas wells nearly 11 months ago; EQT Production LLC 3 abandoned shale gas wells;  Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] abandoned shale gas well.)

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 1 to 7:  Cryptocurrency Facility, 9 More Shale Gas Wells Abandoned; Attorney General Investigates Conventional Wastewater Spill; Pipeline Ordered To Provide Clean Water  [PaEN]

-- DEP:  Diversified Production LLC Abandons Shale Gas Powered Cryptocurrency Facility In Elk County; 9 More Violations For Abandoned Shale Gas Wells This Week  [PaEN]

-- DEP Orders Energy Transfer/Sunoco To Install Water Treatment Systems In Over 200 Homes Impacted By Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak In Bucks County  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - March 8 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 92 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In March 8 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Shale Gas & Public Health Conference:

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Dr. Pouné Saberi, MD Speaks On How Healthcare Providers Can Better Serve Individuals Exposed To Health Threats From Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Alison Steele, Environmental Health Project - The Science Is In, Shale Gas Development Harming Public Health - Arming People To Prevent, Reduce Harm  [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Lois Bower-Bjornson - What Its Like Living In Frackland - Residents Talk About Dealing With The Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas  [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Bob Donnan - 15 Years Of Shale Gas Development Through Aerial Photos - Hiding In Plain Sight  [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Gillian Graber, Protect PT -- We Need To Work Together, Pool Our Knowledge To Push Back Against This Industry That's Harming Our Communities [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- The Derrick: State Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill That Contaminated Venango Water Company Spring  [PaEN]

-- Oil & Gas Advisory Board To Hear DEP Update On Water, Wastewater Shale Gas Well Development Pipelines; Methane Migration; Guidance On Dewatering Impoundments March 20  [PaEN]

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: Proposed Bipartisan Abandoned Well Remediation Act Reintroduced In Congress To Identify, Plug Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- PUC House Budget Hearing: We Aren’t Going To Build Our Way Out Of Electric Generation Shortfalls On PJM Grid; We Need To Diversify Our Generation Sources  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- The Center Square: Chester, Delaware County Leads The Fight For Environmental Justice [LNG Gas Export Facility] 

-- TribLive: Plum Boro, Allegheny County Residents Raise Objections To 2nd Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well

-- Observer-Reporter: EQT Production Co., EQM Gathering OPCO LLC Sue Union Twp., Washington County Over Permitting Fees For Pipelines  [PDF of Article]

-- River Reporter: Local Congressmen, EPA Reopen  Fracking Conversation In Delaware River Basin In NE PA

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Ordered To Supply Homes With Bottled Water, Filtration Systems In Wake Of Pipeline Spill

-- Courier Times: PA DEP Says Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak In Bucks County Violated State Law

-- Courier Times: Bucks County Residents Demand Answers On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Inspection Report For 2023 Flash Flood

-- AP - Marc Levy: In A Reversal, Plans For US Natural Gas Power Grow, Complicating Progress On Climate [PA Natural Gas]

-- AP - Marc Levy: Facing Competition From Big Tech, States Dangle Incentives, Loosen Laws To Attract Power Plants  [PA Highlighted]

-- Guest Essay: Significant Electricity Load Growth Can Be Accommodated Without A Stampede To New Natural Gas Generation Just By Increasing Efficiency At Existing Power Plants - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center For Energy Policy  [PaEN] 

-- NextPittsburgh: FracTracker Alliance Mapping Oil & Gas Impacts In Pennsylvania And Beyond

-- TribLive: Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Could Be Sold As Shell Looks To Offload Chemical Assets 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Considers Selling US, European Petrochemical Plants, Including Beaver County Facility

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Jump 8% On Record LNG Gas Flows To US Export Plants 

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: 27 Appalachian Groups Call On DOE To Assess Full Impact Of Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Proposal, Suspend ARCH2 Funding

[Posted: March 7, 2025]

3/10/2025