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The state Department of Environmental Protection recently 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 offsite and impacted private wells serving homes and hunting clubs,” DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder said.

The penalties included:

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: $193,135 for the Rockwell Road migration in Leroy Township, Bradford County. The state determined that, on May 19, 2012, four private water wells were impacted. There were surface expressions of methane in 14 locations within the Towanda Creek Watershed caused by casing issues at Chesapeake’s Morse gas well.

XTO Energy Inc.: $95,753 for the German Run migration in Franklin and Moreland townships, Lycoming County. After an initial citizen complaint on May 17, 2011, the state determined that seven private water wells were impacted. There were 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: $85,593 for the French Lick Run migration in Union Township in Tioga County. The state determined that two hunting club water wells were impacted. There were surface expressions of methane in French Lick Run and 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.

Three gas companies fined almost $400K for violations

By the Rocket-Courier