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DEP Issues One Conventional Well Owner 36 Violations For Abandoning Their Conventional Wells; 7 More Violations Issued To Shale Gas Drillers For Abandoning Wells

Over the last two weeks, the Department of Environmental Protection issued Bialy Gas Production LLC 36 violations for abandoning conventional oil and gas wells they own, bringing the total of violations for conventional well abandonment to 96 for this year covering 36 different well owners.

Five more conventional oil and gas well owners also received six other violations-- Leechburg Gas Co., 3D Resources LLC, Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig, Charles E. Myers and PBS Coals, Inc.

DEP also issued seven more notices of violations to two more shale gas drillers-- Blackhill Energy LLC and EQT ARO LLC-- for abandoning wells they own, bringing the total for 2025 to 39-- closing in on as many violations as were issued in all of 2024-- 47.

The shale gas wells were drilled from 2009 to 2013 in the earlier days of the shale gas revolution and never produced.

Their inactive status expired without being renewed between 2019 and 2022, which means they should have been plugged three to six years ago.

This continues an emphasis DEP apparently has to inspect the thousands of shale gas wells drilled in the early days to see what their status is.

Eight other shale gas drillers also received abandonment violations this year-- Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; Rice Drilling B LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC.

Here are this week’s details.

Abandoned Conventional Wells

-- Bialy Gas Production LLC - Violations: 26 Abandoned Conventional Wells (16 Months)

March 10-13, 2025 inspections of 26 conventional wells in Baden and Economy Boroughs, Beaver County found them all abandoned and not plugged. Other violations include leaking gas and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Most of the original violations were issued in November 2023. Violations continued. Response requested by March 25. DEP inspection report [+examples below] The wells include--

-- Beaver County, Economy Boro: Mykola Stefkiwsky 1; Mykola Stefkiwsky 2; Mykola Stefkiwsky 3; Mykola Stefkiwsky 4 [leaking gas]; Mykola Stefkiwsky 13 [leaking gas]; Fred & Annie Scheel 1 [leaking gas]; Fred & Annie Scheel 2 [leaking gas]; Mary Krkanich 2; Mary Krkanich 5 [leaking gas]; Mary Krkanich 7; Krkanich 8 [leaking gas]; Mary Krkanich 13; Mary Krkanich 14 [leaking gas]; Mary Krkanich 18 [leaking gas]; Stefkiwsky 2; Stefkiwsky 3; Ara Britton 1; Krkanick 20 [leaking gas]; Farrow 13; J. Edward Turnour 2; Koletich 1; Koletich 6; Koletich 8; Thomas Throckmorton 1 [leaking gas]; Krancih 8 [leaking gas]

-- Beaver County, Baden Boro: John E. Turnour 2

-- Bialy Gas Production LLC - Violations: 10 Abandoned Conventional Wells, Leaking Gas (16 Months)

March 17 & 20 2025 inspections of 10 conventional gas wells in Allegheny and Beaver counties found them abandoned and not plugged. Many were leaking gas and failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued November 2023. Violations continued. Response requested by April 1. The wells include

-- Allegheny County, Moon Twp.: J. Kerr HRS JKH2

-- Beaver County, Baden Boro: Fisher 1A

-- Beaver County, Economy Boro: Koletch 2, Koletch 3 [leaking gas], Koletch 4 [leaking gas], Koletch 5 [leaking gas], Mary Krkanich 17, Krkanich 19, Roy Musgrave 4 [leaking gas], Alan C. Martin 1 [leaking gas]

Bialy Gas holds 36 conventional oil and gas well permits.

-- Leechburg Gas Co. - Violations: 2 Abandoned Conventional Wells, Leaking Gas

March 18, 2025 inspection of the Metcalf 1 [DEP inspection report] and Metcalf 2 [DEP inspection report] conventional wells in Plum Borough, Allegheny County found the wells abandoned and not plugged and were leaking gas. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. The landowner put fences around both wells for the safety of others. Violations issued. Response requested by April 1. Leechburg Gas holds 16 permits.

-- Charles E. Myers - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well

March 18, 2025 inspection of the WM T. Baum 1 conventional well in Clinton Township, Venango County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Owner submitted a notice of intention to plug the well which is scheduled to start on March 19. Violations issued. No response requested. DEP inspection report. Charles Myers holds 4 permits.

-- 3D Resources LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well

March 12, 2025 inspection of the WIANT 001 conventional well in Redbank Township, Clarion County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by April 10. DEP inspection report. 3D Resources holds 7 permits.

-- PBS Coals Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well

March 14, 2025 inspection of the Victor Sinemus 1 conventional well in Green Township, Indiana County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. DEP notes PBS filed for bankruptcy on January 6, 2025. Violations issued. No response requested. DEP inspection report.

-- Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig: - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well, No Reports

March 17 & 18, 2025 inspection of the Helen Jameson 4 conventional well in Fairview Township, Butler County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste general and well integrity reports. DEP inspection report.

Inspections of other wells by the same owner in the same area on the same days found failure to submit annual production, waste general and well integrity reports and other violations: John Jameson 1, John Jameson 3, JE Knoll 7, JE Knoll 8, Ruben Holt III 5.

The Craig’s hold 8 permits.

2025 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations

So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 96 violations to 36 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; WB Anderson; Apollo Resources LLC; Baird Oil Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC, PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Thomas Thurma Jean; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring].

In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.

In 2023, DEP issued 512 violations to conventional well owners for abandonment.

Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

-- Blackhill Energy LLC - Violations: 4 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

March 4, 2025 inspections of four shale gas wells in Bradford County found them all abandoned and not plugged. Violations issued. Response requested by April 11 to 18.

-- Springfield Twp.: Lee 1H was also leaking gas. Inactive status expired on February 7, 2019. Drilled in 2011 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

-- Springfield Twp.: Kline 11H. Inactive status expired on April 22, 2019. Drilled in 2013 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

-- Ridgebury Twp.: Fay 1H. Inactive status expired on February 21, 2020. Drilled in 2011 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

-- Ridgebury Twp.: Reiter 1H. Inactive status expired on February 21, 2020. Drilled in 2010 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

Blackhill Energy holds 90 permits.

-- EQT ARO LLC - Violations: 3 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

March 4-6, 2025 inspections of three shale gas wells in Centre and Lycoming counties found them abandoned and not plugged. Response requested by April 11.

-- Centre County, Snow Shoe Twp.: DCNR COP Tract 231 A-1000H. Inactive status expired November 7, 2020. Drilled in 2009 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

-- Lycoming County, Campbell Twp.: Clearview Hunting Club Pad A 4H. Inactive status expired July 1, 2021. Drilled in 2011 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

-- Lycoming County, Cummings Twp.: Larrys Creek F&G A 6H. Inactive status expired on July 1, 2022. Drilled in 2011 but not produced. [DEP inspection report]

2025 Shale Gas Abandoned Wells

So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 39 violations to 10 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; 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.

(Photos: top row- Abandoned Blackhill Energy LLC wells; bottom- Abandoned EQT ARO LLC wells from this week.)

[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 Compliance/Notice Dashboard:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 15 to 21: 42 More Conventional, 7 More Shale Gas Abandoned Wells; Mine Subsidence Under Compressor Station; Conventional Gas Well Explosion; 2 Shale Gas Companies Fail To Report Shale Gas Waste Generation, Production In 12 Counties [PaEN]

-- Mine Subsidence Found Under Olympus Energy/Hyperion Natural Gas Compressor Station Construction Site In Penn Twp., Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- Volunteer Firefighters, DEP Respond To Conventional Gas Well Explosion, Fire In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues One Conventional Well Owner 36 Violations For Abandoning Their Conventional Wells; 7 More Violations Issued To Shale Gas Drillers For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]

-- DEP Issued Violations To Range Resources, LPR Energy For Not Filing Shale Gas Production And Waste Generation Reports In 12 Counties [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - March 22 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments At April 30 Hearing On RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For Tennessee Gas Pipeline Compressor Station 307 In Howe Twp., Forest County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 115 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In March 22 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP To Host April 1 Webinar On New Program To Reduce Methane Pollution From Oil And Gas Operations [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project To Hold April 1 Webinar On What The Shapiro Administration Can Do To Better Protect Public Health From The Impacts Of Shale Gas Development [PaEN]