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Gulfport Energy Well Explodes in Guernsey County, OH – No Injuries

Gulfport Goh pad fire (credit: Antrim Volunteer Fire Department)

Around 5:37 p.m. last Thursday, an explosion and fire at a well pad in Guernsey County, Ohio, resulted in a half-mile evacuation around the site. No extensive damage and no injuries were reported according to a local fire official. According to a statement issued by Gulfport Energy, a storage tank ignited that was located at the Groh pad, a pad drilled in 2012 (14 years ago). The local Antrim fire department (that responded) is located about 1.5 miles from the pad. Salt Fork State Park is 5.7 miles away, which local antis are having a hay day with. Read More “Gulfport Energy Well Explodes in Guernsey County, OH – No Injuries”

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NW Pa. Injection Well Leak Went Undiscovered for 109 Days

MDN is going to eat some crow with this story. In 2016, we called attention to efforts by neighbors (and anti-fossil fuelers) in Warren County, PA, in testing water sources near a wastewater injection well that had been operating since 2013 (see Concerned Citizens Test Water Near NWPA Injection Well, No Leaks). There had been no leaks from the Bear Lake Properties Bittinger #4 oil and gas wastewater injection well site in Columbus Township for (at that time) three years. We pointed out that injection well leaks are rare. However, there has been a leak at the Bittinger #4 well, and it was a doozy, traveling approximately 1,770 feet from the well site. That’s a full one-third of a mile. Not good. Even worse is that the company (due to an errant employee) failed to report the leak to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) for 109 days. Read More “NW Pa. Injection Well Leak Went Undiscovered for 109 Days”

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Extra Context re Philly Refinery Fire, Closure, and EPA Fine

Earlier this week, MDN told you about the final chapter in the tragedy of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refining Complex (see Sad Final Chapter to 2019 Philly Oil Refinery Fire: $4.2M Fine). Anti-fossil fuelers are dancing on the grave of the now defunct refinery, celebrating in the final humiliation of a $4.2 million fine by the federal EPA. MDN friend Garland Thompson, a gifted reporter/writer who covers energy and technology issues for US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, wrote to us to point out missing facts in recent media coverage of the plant fire and subsequent closure. He provides some much-needed/missing context. Read More “Extra Context re Philly Refinery Fire, Closure, and EPA Fine”

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Sad Final Chapter to 2019 Philly Oil Refinery Fire: $4.2M Fine

In June 2019, a series of explosions and a massive fire occurred at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refining Complex (see Massive Explosion, Fire at Philadelphia Refinery). It took firefighters a full day to extinguish the blaze. The fire caused the oil refinery complex to close and lay off over 1,000 workers (see Philly Refinery to Close Following Massive Fire – 1,020 Jobs Lost). The owners put the facility, which had already been through a previous bankruptcy, up for auction. We (and many others) hoped that whoever purchased it would reopen the refinery. Those dreams vanished into thin air when it was announced the site would be converted into warehouses, complete with an increase in truck traffic, diesel fumes, and all sorts of headaches that come from a massive warehouse complex located in an urban area (see Philly Refinery Sold – To Become Huge, Polluting Truck Terminal). Sad. Read More “Sad Final Chapter to 2019 Philly Oil Refinery Fire: $4.2M Fine”

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Wastewater Spill at EQT Well Pad in Greene County, PA

We spotted a report about an aboveground pipeline that flows shale wastewater that sprung a leak and released an estimated 12,600 gallons of brine (salty water from deep below the surface) on the ground in Gilmore Township, Greene County, PA. The pipeline is owned by EQM Gathering, another name for Equitrans Midstream, which is now owned by EQT. The leaking pipeline connects to the Trust Well Site owned by EQT. It sure sounds like a serious spill (12,600 gallons) with the potential to contaminate local water supplies—until you dig into the state Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) report on the incident. Read More “Wastewater Spill at EQT Well Pad in Greene County, PA”

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New Freeport Residents Sue EQT for Contaminated Water in Greene Co.

In July 2022, MDN brought you news of a possible frac-out, or “inadvertent return” that happens when drilling mud pops out of places where it’s not supposed to — places outside the borehole being drilled (see Possible Frac-Out Reported at EQT Well Site in Greene County, PA). A landowner who lives near a well being drilled and fracked by EQT in Greene County, PA, complained her water well was fouled by EQT’s drilling and that a nearby abandoned well was releasing fluids and natural gas. According to the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), EQT confirmed some of its fluids were “communicating” with the abandoned well. Three area landowners who are not happy with EQT’s response to the situation two years later have launched a class action lawsuit. Read More “New Freeport Residents Sue EQT for Contaminated Water in Greene Co.”

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MVP Water Pressure Test Rupture Mystery Solved: Defective Weld

On May 1, a section of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) ruptured during final pressure testing in Roanoke County, Virginia (see Section of MVP Ruptures Near Roanoke Under Water Pressure Test). An independent metallurgical test identified a defective weld in an elbow joint as a cause of the failure. No internal or external corrosion was detected on the section, which was installed in 2018.
Read More “MVP Water Pressure Test Rupture Mystery Solved: Defective Weld”

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Range Water Line Burst and Sent a PIG Flying Through the Air

We bet you never thought that old idiom about pigs flying was true. In this case, it is! Range Resources operates a temporary above-ground water pipeline in Mount Pleasant Township (Washington County), PA. The pipeline (essentially a giant water hose) flows Ohio River water to Range’s fracking sites. Range sent a PIG (pipeline inspection gauge) down the pipeline, and it got caught. The water pressure built up and exploded the pipe, sending the PIG flying through the air. Yes, Virginia, pigs can fly! OK, OK. After we got done laughing out loud about a flying pig, we settled down to read and better understand the situation. The pipeline explosion resulted in damage to a local farmer’s property, which was no laughing matter for the farmer.

Read More “Range Water Line Burst and Sent a PIG Flying Through the Air”

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Jay-Bee Active Well Pad Fire in Tyler County, WV – No Injuries

Tyler County, WV

Local media reports a fire at a Jay-Bee Oil & Gas well pad near Big Run in Tyler County, WV, which began last night around 5 p.m. and is still ongoing this morning. There were no injuries. Two different news agencies report that every fire department in the county, plus some from other countries, is involved in the response. While the media has very few details, an MDN source has provided extra details not found anywhere else.
Read More “Jay-Bee Active Well Pad Fire in Tyler County, WV – No Injuries”

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Section of MVP Ruptures Near Roanoke Under Water Pressure Test

We have to admit we’re disappointed. A section of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) ruptured during pressure testing last Wednesday in Roanoke County, Virginia, according to a report from the state’s environmental agency. A landowner observed sediment-laden water in her pasture on Wednesday morning and reported it to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). “The origin of the sediment-laden water reported in the complaint was from the rupture of a section of pipe during hydrostatic testing the morning of 5/1/2024,” wrote the DEQ expert, John McCutcheon.
Read More “Section of MVP Ruptures Near Roanoke Under Water Pressure Test”

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PA Slaps Equitrans with $1.1M Fine for 2022 Rager Mountain Gas Leak

In November 2022, one of the ten natural gas storage wells at the Equitrans Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County (in Pennsylvania), began to leak. Equitrans is the owner/operator of Rager Mountain. The well leaked roughly 100 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas into the atmosphere (see Equitrans Gas Storage Well in Cambria County, PA is Leaking). It took two weeks for the leak to get fixed after it had leaked an estimated 1.4 billion cubic feet into the air (see Storage Well Leak Fix in Cambria County Failed, Leaked 1.4 Bcf). It turned out to be less — around 1.1 Bcf of leaked methane in total. Now, a year and a half later, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) is fining Equitrans $1.1 million for the accidental leak.
Read More “PA Slaps Equitrans with $1.1M Fine for 2022 Rager Mountain Gas Leak”

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More Drilling Mud Surfaces Near Marsh Creek State Park in PA

While drilling in Chester County, PA, in August 2020 in the Marsh Creek State Park area, Energy Transfer’s (ET) Mariner East 2X pipeline experienced an “inadvertent return” — nontoxic drilling mud coming up out of the ground where it’s not supposed to (see Mariner East 2X Construction Causes Another Drilling Mud Spill). It took more than $8 million in fines and cleanup costs to make it right (see PA Charges Mariner East Pipeline $8M+ to Fix Marsh Creek Lake). The cleanup work was finally done in 2022 (see ET Makes Significant Progress Cleaning Up Marsh Creek Lake). And, wouldn’t you know it? Another small area of drilling mud has just poked up through the ground once again.
Read More “More Drilling Mud Surfaces Near Marsh Creek State Park in PA”

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XNG CNG Tractor Trailer Crashes, Closes Section of I-295 in Maine

An unfortunate incident to report. Yesterday morning, a compressed natural gas (CNG) tractor trailer registered to and owned by Xpress Natural Gas (XNG), based in Montrose, Pennsylvania, hit a patch of snow, lost control, struck a barrier, bounced off, and struck the median barrier, causing the trailer to detach. The trailer landed on the rear of a 2016 Hyundai Sonata in the northbound passing lane, which caused both to flip and come to rest facing south. This all happened on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth, Maine, closing that section of the interstate.

1/19/24 UPDATE: The driver of the XNG truck has been ticketed by Maine State Police for drifting out of his lane in a construction zone. See below.

Read More “XNG CNG Tractor Trailer Crashes, Closes Section of I-295 in Maine”

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CNG Truck Crash in Upstate NY Near Albany – This One Exploded

Here’s a story we became aware of several weeks ago but have not shared until now because we could not (still cannot) confirm some of the details. A tractor trailer hauling compressed natural gas (CNG) “from Pennsylvania” crashed into a low bridge in Glenville (Schenectady County), NY, near Albany, on Thursday, Dec. 21. The driver said he did not see the height warning signs and the top of the trailer hit a railroad bridge, exploding. The resulting fireball was some 200 feet high. The driver was seriously injured with third-degree burns and airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for treatment.
Read More “CNG Truck Crash in Upstate NY Near Albany – This One Exploded”

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Equitrans Still Needs to Tidy Up at Rager Mountain Gas Leak Site

In November 2022, one of the ten natural gas storage wells at the Equitrans Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County (in Pennsylvania), began to leak. Equitrans is the owner/operator of Rager Mountain. The well leaked roughly 100 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas into the atmosphere (see Equitrans Gas Storage Well in Cambria County, PA is Leaking). It took two weeks for the leak to get fixed after it had leaked an estimated 1.4 billion cubic feet into the air (see Storage Well Leak Fix in Cambria County Failed, Leaked 1.4 Bcf). It turned out to be less — around 1.1 Bcf of leaked methane in total.
Read More “Equitrans Still Needs to Tidy Up at Rager Mountain Gas Leak Site”

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Freeport Fined $163K by EPA for June 2022 LNG Plant Explosion

Freeport LNG’s export terminal with three liquefaction “trains” shut down in June 2022 after an explosion and fire (see Explosion Rocks Freeport LNG Export Plant – Offline for 3 Weeks). What was initially thought to be a three-week outage lasted for ten months. The plant finally returned online in March of this year (see Freeport LNG Plant Back to Full Capacity Using 2.1 Bcf/d of NatGas). However, the plant was not been back to 100% operational status until just a few weeks ago when a second dock came back online (see Freeport LNG Second Loading Dock Gets Final FERC OK to Restart Ops). The all-knowing, all-seeing Biden EPA has brokered a shakedown of Freeport, fining the company $163,054 for the explosion and fire at the plant.
Read More “Freeport Fined $163K by EPA for June 2022 LNG Plant Explosion”