PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has initiated an emergency project to seal two leaking abandoned natural gas wells in Scott Township, Allegheny County. Governor Josh Shapiro is leading the effort to plug leaking oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania using state and federal funds. This proactive measure prioritizes public health, safety, and the environment.
The DEP’s contractor started the operation on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, focusing on two specific wells, Nixon 501-1 and Nixon 501-3. These wells were identified as sources of leakage and are being addressed using emergency plugging funds. The project involves tree removal and potential flaring, which is a controlled burning process used to safely evacuate gas from the well before it can be plugged. The overall goal is to permanently eliminate these wells’ potential to leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change.
The urgency of this project has been underscored by rising levels of methane around these wells. Without swift action, the deteriorating wells could continue to leak methane into nearby sewer lines through the soil. This scenario raises the risk of gas accumulation reaching potentially unsafe levels, particularly during adverse weather conditions, which can prevent the gas from dissipating naturally.
The DEP has had to take similar emergency actions in the past. In 2019, the department carried out a project to address stray soil gas in the area. However, recent spikes in methane levels and a growing number of odor complaints around the Kane Woods Nature Area have necessitated this new intervention.
“Orphaned and abandoned gas wells are scattered throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, in both rural and populated areas, posing potential threats to human health, safety, and the environment,” said Dan Counahan, Director of District Oil and Gas Operations. “Our emergency crews are working swiftly to mitigate this hazard.”
The DEP has allocated unprecedented resources to plug orphaned and abandoned wells, which has allowed Pennsylvania to leverage millions in federal funding. Two additional wells in the area, Nixon 501-4 and Charter 502-1, are set to be plugged later this year using funds from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“We’re mobilizing emergency crews to mitigate this hazard as quickly as possible,” says Counahan. Pennsylvania faces a significant challenge with its inventory of over 30,000 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells. It is believed that there could be hundreds of thousands of additional legacy wells that are yet to be identified. This poses not only a substantial financial liability but also a considerable risk to the environment, public health, and safety.
Nevertheless, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has made commendable strides in tackling this matter, successfully plugging a total of 169 wells.
For more detailed information on this important matter, visit the official website of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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