DEP Secretary Praises Unanimous Vote for Stronger Well Construction
Standards to Prevent Gas Migration, Protect Public and Environment
Regulations Move to Attorney General for Approval
PA-DEP Release
17 November 2010
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: John Repetz, Department of Environmental Protection,
717-787-1323
HARRISBURG -- A set of new standards that will make natural gas wells
safer were approved unanimously today on a vote of 5-0 by the state’s
Independent Regulatory Review Commission, Environmental Protection
Secretary John Hanger said today.
Hanger praised the IRRC vote, saying the new regulations will, among
other things, impose more stringent construction standards on gas
wells, making them less likely to allow natural gas to escape and
contaminate water supplies or cause safety concerns.
The final-form regulations now go to the state Office of Attorney
General for final review and approval. The regulations were deemed
approved by the House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
committees.
“When gas migrates from a poorly constructed gas well through the
ground, it can contaminate water supplies or build up to explosive
levels in water wells or even homes,” said Hanger. “These strong rules
will eliminate or significantly reduce the problem of gas migration
from poorly designed or constructed gas wells, as long as the rules are
followed or enforced.”
Hanger added that the new rules also will require drillers to report
production and waste volumes electronically and to submit a detailed
report of the chemicals they use in the hydraulic fracturing – or
fracking – process. In addition to these important provisions,
operators will be required to keep a list of emergency contact phone
numbers at the well site and follow a new set of instructions on what
steps to take in the event of a gas migration incident.
The regulations also include provisions clarifying how and when
blow-out prevention equipment is to be installed and operated.
The Environmental Quality Board approved the regulations on a final
vote of 15-1 in October, after receiving nearly 2,000 public comments
during the comment period and a series of five public hearings. A
majority of the comments supported the new regulations.
In drafting the regulations, DEP also met with numerous oil and gas
operators, industry groups and environmental groups to discuss the
regulations in detail.
The department used the public’s input to make several important
changes to the regulations, which further improved the well-design
requirements to prevent gas migration incidents, including:
· A provision that requires operators to have a pressure barrier
plan to minimize well control events;
· A provision that requires operators to condition the wellbore
to ensure an adequate bond between the cement, casing and the formation;
· Provisions that require the use of centralizers to ensure
casings are properly positioned in the wellbore; and
· A provision that improves the quality of the cement placed in
the casing that protects fresh groundwater.
Once all reviews and approvals are obtained, the regulations will go
into effect upon publication in the PA Bulletin.
For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa,us, and select “Public
Participation."