DEP Plans Thorough Investigation in to Marcellus Shale Well Blowout
in Clearfield County
EOG Resources Well Released Fracking Fluid, Natural Gas for 16 Hours
PA-DEP News Release
4 June 2010
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Neil Weaver, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323
HARRISBURG -- Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John
Hanger said today that his agency intends to investigate aggressively
the circumstances surrounding a blowout at a Marcellus Shale natural
gas well in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, and take the
appropriate enforcement action.
At approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, the operators of the well,
which is owned by EOG Resources, Inc., lost control of it while
preparing to extract gas after hydrofracturing the shale. As a result,
the well released natural gas and flowback frack fluid onto the ground
and 75 feet into the air. The well was eventually capped around noon on
June 4.
“The event at the well site could have been a catastrophic incident
that endangered life and property,” said Hanger. “This was not a minor
accident, but a serious incident that will be fully investigated by
this agency with the appropriate and necessary actions taken quickly.
“When we arrived on scene, natural gas and frack fluid was flowing off
the well pad and heading toward tributaries to Little Laurel Run and
gas was shooting into the sky, creating a significant fire hazard.
That’s why emergency responders acted quickly to cut off electric
service to the area.
“Right now, we’re focused on limiting any further environmental damage,
but once that work is complete, we plan to aggressively look at this
situation and see where things went wrong and what enforcement action
is necessary. If mistakes were made, we will be certain to take steps
to prevent similar errors from happening again.”
DEP learned of the leak at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Friday after it
was informed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. DEP
immediately dispatched its Emergency Response and Oil and Gas program
staff to the site.
PEMA, which elevated its activation level to coordinate resources among
multiple state agencies, also worked with PennDOT to initiate an
airspace restriction above the well, which the Federal Aviation
Administration authorized on a temporary basis earlier today. The
restriction prohibits flights at and below 1,000 feet of ground level
within a three nautical mile radius of the well site. The restriction
is in effect until further notice.
The EOG well pad is located in a rural area near the Penfield/Route 153
exit of Interstate 80 in northwestern Clearfield County. Three other
wells on the same pad that have been drilled and fractured remain
plugged and are not in danger.
EOG Resources, formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Co., operates
approximately 265 active wells in Pennsylvania, 117 of which are in the
Marcellus Shale formation.
For more information, call visit www.depweb.state.pa.us