DEP reaches penalty agreements with three natural gas exploration companies
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
From the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced it has finalized penalty agreements with three natural gas exploration companies for methane gas migration violations that impacted private drinking water wells in Bradford, Lycoming, and Tioga counties.
“These were complex and lengthy investigations that took a considerable amount of time to resolve, but the department was able to conclusively determine that methane gas from natural gas wells had migrated off-site and impacted private wells serving homes and hunting clubs,” said DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder.
Penalties
The penalties included Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, $193,135 for the Rockwell Road migration in Leroy Township, Bradford County; XTO Energy Inc., $95,753 for the German Run migration in Franklin and Moreland townships, Lycoming County; and SWEPI LP, $85,593 for the French Lick Run migration in Union Township, Tioga County.
Chesapeake details:
- Initial notification from Chesapeake on May 19, 2012
- Four private water wells impacted
- Surface expressions of methane in 14 locations within the Towanda Creek watershed
- Caused by casing issues at Chesapeake’s Morse gas well
XTO Energy details:
- Initial citizen complaint on May 17, 2011
- Seven private water wells impacted
- Surface expressions of methane in Little Muncy Creek and German Run
- Caused by casing and cementing issues at XTO’s Moser and Tome gas wells
SWEPI LP details:
- Initial notification from SWEPI on June 17, 2012
- Two hunting club water wells impacted
- Surface expressions of methane in French Lick Run
- Pressurized surface expression discharging water 40 feet into the air through a shallow conduit
- Caused by communication between an old abandoned gas well and one or more of SWEPI’s gas wells on its Cochran, Guindon, and/or Yaggie well pads
All of the impacted water wells were permanently replaced, had treatment systems installed by the responsible company, or have returned to background conditions. In addition, remedial work on the defective wells was properly completed as required by the department’s regulations
All three cases included violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act, Clean Streams Law, and DEP’s Chapter 78 regulations. The penalties have been paid.
For additional information about DEP’s Oil and Gas Program, click here, or visit DEP’s website, www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: oil and gas.
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.