Fraccidents Map

In summer of 2009, an accident occurred in McNett Township, Lycoming County, PA involving one or more wells which affected local water wells. There was a brief mention in the local paper but no followup reporting was ever done and I have never seen anything in the wider media.

CANTON INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Problem Develops At Three Gas Wells In McNett Township

Thursday July 30, 2009 East Resources recently became aware of an issue involving three natural gas wells located in McNett Township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. State and local authorities were notified immediately and East personnel have maintained an ongoing process of communicating with those authorities. Unfortunately, the problem, which is believed to have been caused by a failure of a string of casing in one of the wells, resulted in the release of natural gas into the subsurface around the wells. Upon learning of the problem, East Resources mobilized a group of companies and individuals that possess the expertise to resolve the issues.

The situation is being actively and aggressively managed and monitored and East is bringing all necessary and available resources to bear on the situation. East is preparing an investigation and remedial plan to submit to the PA DEP for approval. The plan will include all necessary monitoring of environmental conditions in the area of the wells and continuous monitoring will be performed until it is determined, in consultation with the DEP, that the monitoring is no longer necessary.

It is critical that members of the public avoid the area and East is working with the Pennsylvania State Police and local authorities to restrict public access to affected areas.

East Resources personnel, along with consultants and contractors, worked through the night of July 28-29 to reduce the flow of natural gas in subsurface of the area around the Del Ciotto #2 well in McNett Township. Reconnaissance of the area early this morning (July 29) indicated that initial remedial measures have had the intended effect of significantly reducing the migration of natural gas in the subsurface in the vicinity of the well. In close coordination with state and county emergency and environmental authorities, one resident was evacuated from a residence on Leonards Road.

East’s consultants, Penn E&R, will send two teams into the area this morning to continue to monitor the area surrounding the well. Although the situation is stable and conditions have improved significantly, access roads in the area of the well have been closed to the public by the Pennsylvania State Police as a precaution. Senior management of East is on site and will continue to manage the situation in continued close cooperation with state and local authorities, including representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) and Departments of Public Safety for Lycoming, Bradford, and Tioga Counties. As planned, East Resources will be submitting a monitoring and investigation plan to the DEP for its input and approval this morning (July 29)

Please add this incident to your database. Thank you.