Washington County

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    PA Gas Compressor Facility Causing Grief for Some Neighbors

    In states where drilling is now happening, particularly Pennsylvania, there appears to be issues with some (not all) compressor stations used to pump gas from local wells to nearby processing facilities. One such station is located in Mount Pleasant Township in Washington County, PA. Mount Pleasant is the location of the very first horizontal gas well drilled in the Marcellus.

    The compressor station in Mount Pleasant is operated by MarkWest Energy, a company that operates more than 100 other such facilities in the U.S. MarkWest has made application to add a fifth compressor to the facility to meet increasing demand, and some of the nearby neighbors are objecting to the noise, lights and odors that come from the facility. An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, although taking an anti-drilling tone, exposes the tensions that occur in some locations between compressor operators and the people that live close by. It also highlights the debate over where regulation of these facilities lies—with local municipalities? Or with the state?

    Read the article for more details:
    Pittsburg Post-Gazette (Mar 14) – Neighbors take a stand on noise, odor of gas drilling

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    PA DEP Staffs Up with More Gas Well Inspectors

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is hiring more inspectors for gas and oil wells. Right now there are 125 inspectors statewide. By the summer, an additional 68 will be on board bringing the total to 193 inspectors. Which is a good thing according to the York (PA) Dispatch, which notes:

    In the last year, to cite two examples, inspectors noted that a brine pipeline operated by Range Resources Corp. was spilling production fluids into the ground at Cross Creek Park near Avella, resulting in a $23,500 penalty for the Texas-based company; and Atlas Resources was fined for violations at 13 of its wells in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.*

    MDN agrees. More inspectors are a good thing. It keeps everyone honest, and reassures the general public that drilling can be done safely.

    *York Dispatch (Mar 10) – Marcellus Shale: Drilling inspectors welcome

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    Chesapeake Given Green Light to Drill 5 Wells in Washington County, PA

    Chesapeake Appalachia, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy, has received clearance from two townships in Washington County, Pennsylvania, to move forward with plans to drill five gas wells. Three of the wells will be drilled in Robinson Township, and two in North Fayette Township. Supervisors in both townships voted unanimously (3-0) to allow drilling to begin. The PA Department of Environmental Protection will still need to approve permits, but all systems appear to be “go” for drilling to begin.

    Each well will take approximately three weeks to drill with drilling activity scheduled seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The approvals were granted contingent on certain guarantees and conditions about safety.

    For full details, see: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Mar 4) – Officials OK plan to drill Marcellus shale for natural gas