DEP Issues Statement On Bradford County Methane Migration Investigation | StateImpact Pennsylvania Skip Navigation

DEP Issues Statement On Bradford County Methane Migration Investigation

The Department of Environmental Protection has sent StateImpact Pennsylvania a statement about its methane migration investigation in Leroy Township, Bradford County:

The Department of Environmental Protection and Chesapeake Energy are continuing to investigate the source or sources of methane gas that has been detected in the headspace of three private wells in Leroy Township, Bradford County. All three wells have been vented and the homes have had methane monitoring alarms installed by Chesapeake.Ā  A mobile water treatment unit has been installed at one residence, a temporary water supply tank has been provided at another residence and bottled water is being provided to two additional residences.
Chesapeakeā€™s Morse well pad contains two wells and is about one-half mile from the impacted private wells.
On May 22, DEP Oil and Gas Program staff collected isotopic gas samples at both of these wells. Gas bubbling continues in a wetland and two small tributaries to Towanda Creek.
On May 23, DEP staff monitored the methane-impacted wells and checked the homes for the presence of methane gas. Chesapeakeā€™s consultant continues to assess other private wells in close proximity to the Morse well pad and the methane-impacted private wells. The investigation is on-going.

Leroy Township, is, of course, the site of Chesapeake’s high-profile April 2011 blowout. The company was fined $250,000 for the incident.
 

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