Marcellus Shale: Another Leak in PA Forces Evacuation At Campground

A well rupture in Clearfield County, PA, spewed drilling fluids for 16 hours before emergency officials could stop it.  EOG Resources runs the well.  They capped the well.  The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction in the immediate area which remains in effect until further notice, according to ThePittsburghChannel.com report. According to a PEMA news release, the well which was in the frack process ruptured, spilling water and unignited wet gas.  [The water referred to here would typically contain toxic chemicals.  It is NOT "just water."]   No one was injured.

Readers, if you have a few minutes, be sure to watch the video from Pittsburgh Channel 4 Action News here.  I think the usually compliant media is beginning to report more negative news about gas drilling.  This video includes how actual people view the gas drilling industry.  Highly recommended.

The PA DEP report from today is here.

Here is an update on the accident.

A one-mile radius of Moshannon State Forest was evacuated Friday morning after a gas well ruptured near the Punxsutawney Hunting Club. The leak happened at a Marcellus drilling operation on McGeorge Road in the forest. The gas well is owned by EOG Resources Inc., officials said.

Around 10:30 a.m., officials were checking camps to make sure all campers were evacuated around the site of the leak. Officials said they were dealing with gas leaking into the air.

According to state Rep. Bud George's office, initial reports from Process Equipment Manufacturers' Association said three of four wells were secured. The other well was releasing frack water and unignited wet gas, which caused the evacuation. Officials said an estimated 1 million gallons of frack water was uncontrolled as of 11 a.m. in the area of exit 111 on Interstate 80.

Amy Mall of Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) offers even more vital information about this disaster here. Check this out!  It is really important in regard to the chemicals that were released in this state forest. For example, Amy explains what wet gas is, and it is probably not what you think.