Three energy companies have been ordered to cap 1,058 abandoned wells across the state. The Department of Environmental Protection yesterday notified Alliance Petroleum, CNX Gas Company, and XTO Energy that they must plug the wells because they have not been used to produce, extract, or inject any gas, petroleum, or other liquid in the last twelve months.
A large number of the abandoned wells are in Indiana County. Alliance Petroleum has 163 abandoned wells on the DEP list, XTO has 60, and CNX has 30.
DEP says each of the three companies has failed to plug their abandoned wells and failed to provide a schedule for doing so. They do have the right to appeal the order within thirty days.
The number of wells (by township) that must be plugged in Indiana County:
Center Township – 27
Young Township – 22
West Mahoning – 17
East Mahoning – 16
Green – 16
Grant – 14
White – 14
Cherryhill – 13
Armstrong – 11
Brush Valley – 11
Conemaugh – 11
North Mahoning – 11
Montgomery – 10
Washington – 10
Rayne – 9
Black Lick – 8
Pine – 7
Burrell – 5
Canoe – 5
South Mahoning – 5
Buffington – 4
Banks – 2
