Well drilled in 1955, drilled deeper in 1957
Producing formation(s): Big Lime, Oriskany
Geographic location: latitude 38.463343, longitude -81.79001
Amongst the gas wells along North and South Pocatalico River Roads is this well on South River Road.
This well is in a large open space on a bank above the Pocatalico river. Blacktop road is right to the well.
The well's metalwork should be painted, the trap door should be locked, and a valve at the Christmas tree was leaking gas. There was a sign at the site warning of leaking gas but we believe this was here because the site is at a public area.
The 50-barrel tank has a wholly inadequate dike. Because of its location by the river, this is a federal SPCC violation.
The tank trap door has a lock that has been left open.
The well's pipework needs to be painted.
This photograph was taken a day after a rain. The water in the valve end was fizzing because of a leak.
The well had a sign nearby warning about gas leaks.
This tank has a wholly inadequate secondary containment dike. Because the site is on the river (in the background), this is a federal SPCC violation.
The inadequate dike on the river side of the tank.
We visited the well site again to review issues we found in 2008.
The inadequate secondary containment is no more than 8 inches high on the river side. Any spill or overflow would go directly into the River.
This well is sited between Poca River Road and the Pocatalico River. The River is 47 feet downslope from the well's condensate storage tank.
Since the site is next to the road there should be evidence of security. We saw no locks on valves (including the drainage valve for the tank). The single lock on the tank's trap door was not fastened shut.
The well's API number had fallen off. Rust on well head and pipes and fittings is evident.
The issues we had seen in 2008 and 2009 were still present in 2010, lack of secondary containment for the storage tank, maintenance issues such as rusty metal work, and a small leak at the wellhead.
Parts of the site were overgrown this visit, contrasted with prior visits. Still no secondary containment for the storage tank sitting on the bank above a river.
Most of the metal at the wellhead was rusty.
There appeared to be a small leak at this valve. The API number tag was again on the wellhead.
We visited the site, and two other nearby sites, in 2011 to create a YouTube video describing the deficient secondary containment.
Gas Well Site Visits
Examining Well Sites
How We Examined Well Sites
Environmental Assessment
Table with Links to Wells Visited
47-039-05714 Environmental Assessment
47-079-01492 Environmental Assessment
47-039-02026 Environmental Assessment
Gas Well Study is the examination of natural gas wells in West Virginia.
Underground Injection Control Class 2 Wells
These wells are used either for the disposal of oil and gas liquid waste or for the enhanced recovery of oil or natural gas.
Gas Well Study Site Visits
Annual reports, environmental assessments, and individual well information.
YouTube Videos
Select videos from the Gas Well Study YouTube channel.
What Happened at Fernow
An investigation into what caused the vegetation death in the land application area after landspraying hydraulic fracture flowback waste.
The Spill at Buckeye Creek
An investigation into a spill from a Marcellus well site into Buckeye Creek in Doddridge county.
The Details
Plunger Lift Technology on Gas Wells
Fluids Brought to the Surface during Production
Plugging a Well
How To Read a Lab Report
Information the Completion Report Provides
Casing and Cementing