A year-end workload report for 2016 by the Department of Environmental Protection shows conventional oil and gas drilling sites have 5 times the number of violations as Marcellus Shale drilling operations and 3.5 times the number of enforcement actions.

In 2016 DEP did 15,858 inspections of conventional oil and gas facilities and found 1,800 violations for a 11.35 percent violation rate or 88.65 percent compliance rate. 

DEP took 376 enforcement actions against the conventional drillers based on those violations.

In contrast, DEP did 14,894 inspections of unconventional or Marcellus Shale operations and found 354 violations-- in spite of the much more complex nature of those operations-- for a 2.37 percent violation rate or a 97.63 percent compliance rate. 

DEP took 108 enforcement actions against unconventional operators as a result of those violations.

New Wells

The number of new wells drilled during 2016 dropped significantly over 2015 and 2014.

In 2016 there were 499 new unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells drilled, 784 in 2015  and 1,371 in 2015

There were 94 conventional wells drilled in 2016, 286 in 2015 and 790 in 2014.

Permits Issued

In 2016, DEP issued 1,299 permits for unconventional drilling operations and 162 permits for conventional wells.  This is down from 2,081 unconventional permits in 2015 and 3,185 permits in 2014 and 439 conventional permits in 2015 and 1,268 permits in 2014.

A copy of DEP’s workload report for 2016 is available online.

See DEP’s 2015 Oil & Gas Program Annual Report for more historical information on compliance, permits issued and much more.

Starting Over On Conventional Regs

Last June the General Assembly passed and Gov. Wolf signed into law Act 52 killing updated conventional drilling regulations DEP had worked on for several years, forcing DEP to start the process over this year.

A new PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council also formed by Act 52 last June to help advise DEP on conventional regulations has not yet announced its first organizational meeting.

On Wednesday, Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango), the author of the bill that turned into Act 52 killing DEP’s conventional drilling regulations, circulated a co-sponsor memo to his colleagues saying he plans to introduce legislation to re-write the 1984 Oil and Gas Act and Act 13 of 2012 to “make it reflective of today’s conventional oil and gas industry.”

Sen. Hutchinson added, “... Act 13 also placed an unbearable burden on the much smaller conventional producers and over time has brought the conventional industry to near collapse.”

“To help alleviate this,” Sen. Hutchinson said, “I am introducing a redraft of the Oil and Gas Act with new language designed to update or clarify old provisions where needed. This will help to provide a legislative framework for regulations specific to conventional oil and gas drillers in a way that protects the environment while preserving this valuable industry.”

NewsClips:

Judge: PA State Senators Cannot Enter Delaware Watershed Drilling Lawsuit

Swift: PA’s Natural Gas Impact Fee Draws Scrutiny

Editorial: Municipalities Must Be More Accountable For Impact Fees

Fire Erupts At Marcellus Drilling Pad In Washington County

Homeowner Near Washington County Gas Well Fire: We’re Stuck

Pump Failure Caused Fire At Washington County Gas Well

DEP Revising Erosion Control Permits For Drilling Operations

DEP Review Reveals Flaws In Oil & Gas Erosion Permit Applications

Editorial: Not The Time To Hit Drilling Industry With New Tax

North Franklin Twp Amends Oil & Gas Drilling Ordinance

Elk County Community Drops Lawsuit, Repeals Drilling Bill Of Rights

Study: Economic Benefits Of  Living Near Shale Drilling Sites Outweighs Costs

UPI: Oil & Gas Lobby Calls On Washington To Release The Reins Of Regulation

Natural Gas Production To Make U.S. Net Energy Exporter

Related Stories:

Author Of Bill Killing Conventional Drilling Regs Wants To Rewrite Oil & Gas Act

DEP Review Of Drilling Erosion Permits Finds 60% Of Applications Deficient

[Posted Jan. 5, 2017]

1/9/2017