Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between May 3 to 9--
Click Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of May 2--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 45 conventional, 16 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 1,657 conventional and 428 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 164 conventional and 54 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 290 conventional and 245 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 6,999 conventional and 8.998 unconventional
171 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells Since 2010
On May 6, the Ohio River Valley Institute released a pair of reports on the growing cost of plugging shale gas and conventional oil and gas wells in the Appalachian Basin and who will pay those costs-- the well owners or taxpayers. Read more here.
The best estimates available show Pennsylvania now only has 0.2% of the funds needed to plug shale gas and conventional wells to cover the estimated $20.1 billion cost of having taxpayers plug those wells, if their owners abandoned them.
Since 2010, the Department of Environmental Protection has issued shale gas drillers in Pennsylvania 396 violations for abandoning 171 wells, according to the report.
After repeated citations, 47 have returned to production, and 66 have been plugged, the report said.
Last year showed the highest number of citations, the highest number of unique wells, and the highest number of shale companies cited by DEP.
The report estimates shale gas drillers can drill at least another 8,400 wells to develop gas from both proven and non-proven reserves in Pennsylvania-- an increase of nearly 58% over the 14,791 unconventional wells drilled so far in the state. Read more here.
7 Year Effort To Clean Up Conventional Well Continues
On May 2, 2025 DEP inspected the Buhle Farm 1 conventional well owned by Edward W. Benko in Economy Borough, Beaver County and found no action had been taken to clean up multiple spills on the site.
The spills were first discovered by DEP on July 18, 2018 and the agency has been working ever since to get the well owner to clean them up. [Read more here].
DEP issued a compliance order to the owner on April 4, 2025 and none of the deadlines included in the order had been complied with, according to DEP’s inspection report.
In a telephone conversation with the owner, DEP was told Miller Environmental would be retained to remediate the site and an on-site meeting was arranged for May 22.
The meeting could not be held sooner because the Miller representative would be going on vacation for two weeks, according to DEP.
DEP issued a new violation on May 2 for failure to comply with the order. DEP inspection report.
This is the only conventional well Benko owns under this name.
11 Abandoned Conventional Wells
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
May 6, 2025 inspection of the Whiteko 6 conventional well in Luzerne Township, Fayette County as a result of a complaint found the well abandoned and not plugged. Well had no production since 2021. Response requested by June 6. DEP inspection report.
FM Sloan Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well (20 Months)
May 8, 2025 inspection of the William Yant 1 conventional well in Murrysville Borough, Westmoreland County found it abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Original violations issued on August 9, 2023 for these infractions. Violations continued. Response requested by May 23. DEP inspection report. Sloan holds 2 permits.
Raymond J. Patten - Violations: 2 Abandoned Conventional Wells
May 8, 2025 inspection of the Virginia Fry 3 and Dalsinger 1 conventional wells in Concord Township, Butler County found them abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Response requested by May 23.
Virginia Fry 2 and Virginia Fry 4 were also inspected and violations issued for failure to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Response requested by May 23.
These wells were never inspected by DEP before. Patten holds five permits.
Andrew F. Suchko - Violations: 3 Abandoned Conventional Wells
May 8, 2025 inspection of the William Neil Anto 1, Andrew Suchko Tract 1, Andrew Sucko Tract 2 conventional wells in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County found them abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to maintain adequate plugging bond and did not submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Tract 2 had gas leaking and was issued violations on January 2, 2025. Response requested by May 23. Suchko holds 4 permits
Harry L. King - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
May 1, 2025 inspection of the Clark King 1 conventional well in Washington Township, Butler County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Response requested by May 16. DEP inspection report. King holds 17 permits.
Prosperity Oil Co. Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
April 29, 2025 inspection of the Bubbitt 6 conventional well in Hanover Township, Washington County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. No response requested. DEP inspection report. Prosperity Oil holds 62 permits.
Apex Energy (PA), LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
April 17, 2025 inspection of the Scales 2 conventional well in Penn Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Response requested by May 23. DEP inspection report. Apex holds 98 permits.
Developed Resources, Inc. - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
April 17, 2025 inspection of the Dana J. Leisure 1 conventional well in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Response requested by May 8. DEP inspection report. Developed Resources holds 47 permits.
179 Abandoned Conventional, 39 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations 2025
Abandoned Conventional: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 179 violations to 55 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; Baird Oil Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Chris E. Burke; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Paul H. Deeter; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Keystone Crude LLC; Harry L. King; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Niche Energy LLC; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; 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].
Abandoned Shale Gas: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 41 violations to 11 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.; LPR Energy LLC; Rice Drilling B LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
Spills And Releases
Chesapeake Appalachia, Inc. - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater Release
May 9, 2025 administrative inspection of water sample results from the Them shale gas well pad in Wysox Township, Bradford County confirmed a wastewater release on the pad originally discovered on April 17, 2025. Multiple violations issued. Referred for Act 2 Land Recycling cleanup. Response requested by June 2. DEP inspection report.
Seneca Resources Co LLC - Violations: Shale Gas Wastewater Release
May 5, 2025 inspection of the Taft shale gas well pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County found continuing violations of wastewater releases on the pad, running into a ditch leading to a sediment basin. The owner was in the middle of drilling a new shale gas well during the inspection. Original violations issued on April 3, 2025. Violations continued. No response requested of owner. DEP inspection report.
Range Resources Appalachia LLC - Violations: Glycol Spill
May 1, 2025 inspection of the Malinky 2H shale gas well in Smith Township, Washington County in response to a notification of a 200 gallon spill of diethylene glycol. Remediation was underway at the time of the inspection. Multiple violations issued. Response requested by May 22. DEP inspection report.
Diversified Prod LLC - Violations: Conventional Wastewater Release
May 6, 2025 inspection of the Doverspike Tract F28 1 conventional well in Redbank Township, Clarion County found a release from a wastewater storage tank with no secondary containment. Multiple violations issued. Response requested by May 30. DEP inspection report.
Joanne R. Tudor - Violations: Conventional Fluids Release
May 7, 2025 inspection of the Thomas Carroll 1 conventional well in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County found a release of fluids at the site. The owner also failed to submit annual production and waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by May 23. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 65 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Defective Casing/Cement
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC
May 1, 2025 inspection of the Amburke 21 HC and 22 HC shale gas wells in Auburn Township, Susquehanna is part of regular monitoring for gas leaks due to defective casing/cement found in 22HC in November 2022 and in 21HC in June 2024. Both wells were still leaking gas. Monitoring will continue. Violations continued.
Coterra Energy Inc.
May 2, 2025 inspections of the Jeffers Farms 7, Jeffers Farms 8, Jeffers Farms 9, Jeffers Farms 10 and Jeffers Farms 14 shale gas wells in Harford Township, Susquehanna County are part of regular monitoring for gas leaks due to defective casing/cement discovered on August 17, 2017. No new violations found during this inspection. Violations continued. Monitoring will continue.
Failure To Submit Annual Reports
Fawnwood Energy, Inc. - Violations: Failure To Submit Annual Reports
May 5, 2025 inspections of 5 conventional wells in Parker Township, Butler County found the owner had failed to submit production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. DEP noted this was the first time these wells had ever been inspected. The wells include Bear Creek 3, Bear Creek 4, Graham 1, Graham 2, and Graham 3. Response requested by May 22. DEP inspection report (example).
Mid East Oil Co. - Violations: Failure To Submit Annual Reports
May 8, 2025 follow-up inspection of YMCA Green 1 conventional well in Unity Township, Westmoreland County found the owner failed to submit production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports. Original violation issued November 1, 2024. Response requested by May 23. 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-- Chesapeake Appalachia, Inc. shale gas well pad spill confirmed; Diversified Prod LLC conventional wastewater tank release; Fawnwood Energy, Inc. failed to submit annual reports on 5 conventional wells; Joanne R. Tudor conventional well fluids release;
Row 2-- Edward W. Benko failed to clean up conventional spills for 7 years; Abandoned shale gas wells - 3 photos.)
[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 - May 3 to 9 - 171 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; 7 Year Effort To Clean Up Conventional Well Continues; Defective Casing, Cementing [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 10 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 75 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 10 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PA Senate Republicans Vote To Punish Communities Taking Steps To Protect Their Residents From Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Drilling [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: 34 Organizations Sign Letter Urging Pennsylvania To Adopt Measures To Better Protect Public Health, Environment From The Impacts Of Shale Gas Drilling [PaEN]
-- New Report: Shale Gas Industry Expected To Drill 8,400 More Wells In PA; 171 Shale Wells Abandoned So Far; Shale Well Plugging Expected To Cost Up To $8.5 Billion [PaEN]
-- House Energy Committee Hears Testimony On How PA Has Enough Geothermal Energy To Meet 100% Of Pennsylvania’s Electricity, Heating Energy Needs [PaEN]
-- PA Senate Committees To Hold May 12 Hearing On PJM Grid Reliability Initiative, Electric Generation Markets Update [PaEN]
-- PJM Releases List Of 51 Fast Tracked Power Projects To Provide 9.3 GW Of Power-- 7 In PA With Power Potential Of 1.2 GW [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Observer-Reporter Letter: PA Needs To Close The Loophole On Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater - By Center for Coalfield Justice
-- Erie Times/Capital & Main: Suddenly Abandoned Natural Gas Wells-Turned Cryptocurrency Operation In Elk County Leaves Behind Uncertainty
-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News: Scientists Map Where Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Pose Threats To Aquifers [Parts Of PA Look Like ‘Swiss Cheese’]
-- Inside Climate News: Nighttime Gas Flaring Caused By A Malfunction At The Shell Petrochemical Plant Lit Up Beaver County ‘Like Dawn’
-- PublicSource.org: $10 Billion Natural Gas Power Plant Would Transform Homer City, Indiana County, But Into What?
-- Scranton Times: Throop Boro Approves Landfill Gas Plant Expansion At Keystone Landfill
-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio Commission Opens More State Land For Shale Gas Drilling, Then Police Officer Physically Prevents A Reporter From Asking Questions
-- Financial Times: Sunoco Strikes $9 Billion Deal To Buy Canadian Rival Parkland To Form North American Fuel Distributor Giant
-- Reuters: US Energy Companies Seek Exemption From President’s Plan To Move LNG Gas On US-Built Ships
-- Reuters: Exclusive: US, Russia Explore Ways To Restore Russian Natural Gas Flows To Europe, Sources Say
-- Financial Times: US Oil Output Has Peaked Amid Price Fall, Top Shale Producer Warns
[Posted: May 10, 2025] PA Environment Digest
