DEP Reaches Agreement with Cabot to Prevent Gas Migration, Restore
Water Supplies in Dimock Township
Agreement Requires DEP Approval for Well Casing, Cementing
PA-DEP Press Release
4 November 2009
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Northcentral Regional Office
208 West Third Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, PA 17701
News Release
1 November 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meadville – The Department of Environmental Protection and Cabot Oil
and Gas Corp. have executed a consent order and agreement that will
provide a long-term solution for migrating gas that has affected 13
water supplies in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County.
The affected area covers nine square miles around Carter Road.
The consent order and agreement outlines a process that will give DEP
more oversight of Cabot’s new well construction work in the affected
area. Prior to drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or hydro fracking,
the company will submit well casing and cementing plans to DEP. Once
DEP provides written approval, Cabot may proceed.
“The goal of the consent order and agreement is to ensure a long-term
resolution to issues that have emerged in Dimock,” said DEP Northwest
Regional Director
Kelly Burch. “The company will focus on the integrity of the wells in
the affected area in an attempt to determine the source of the
migrating gas.”
This past week, Cabot has provided an interim solution for all of the
homes where water supplies have been affected. Cabot must develop a
plan by March 31 to restore or replace the affected water supplies
permanently.
Under the consent order and agreement, Cabot must additionally submit
to DEP:
• Information on all parties who have contacted the company about water
quantity or quality issues; and
• A plan that specifically identifies how the company intends to prove
the integrity of the casing and cementing on existing wells and fix
defective casing and cementing by March 31.
If Cabot fails to fix the defective casing and cementing by the March
deadline, the company must plug defective wells or implement another
alternative as approved by DEP.
In addition, Cabot paid a $120,000 civil penalty for violations of the
Oil and Gas Act, the Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Streams
Law.
The consent order and agreement caps a DEP investigation that began
early this year when numerous Dimock area residents reported evidence
of natural gas in their water supplies. DEP inspectors discovered that
the well casings on some of Cabot’s natural gas wells were cemented
improperly or insufficiently, allowing natural gas to migrate to
groundwater.
On Sept. 25, following a series of wastewater spills, DEP ordered Cabot
to cease hydro fracking natural gas wells throughout Susquehanna
County. The prohibition was removed after the company completed a
number of important engineering and safety tasks.
Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. is a Delaware-based company with a mailing
address in Pittsburgh.
CONTACT:
Freda Tarbell
Phone: (814) 332-6816
For more information on oil and gas wells, visit
www.depweb@state.pa.usHREF="/redirector?varURL=http://www.depweb@state.pa.us">www.depweb@state.pa.us>,
keyword: Oil and gas.