After Fires, PA State Govt. Requests Gas Drillers To Follow Best Practices - Voluntarily, Of Course

[hatrack]

After finding that mismanagement led to recent flash fires at storage tanks on two Marcellus Shale gas well drilling sites, the state Department of Environmental Protection is asking drilling companies to "voluntarily" follow best practices to control the highly volatile vapors.

The request was made in a March 21 letter by DEP Secretary Michael Krancer sent to all shale gas drilling companies in the state. The two-page letter released Thursday cited a Feb. 23 flash fire that injured three workers at a Chesapeake Energy Marcellus Shale well drilling site west of Avella, Washington County, and another fire a year ago at an Atlas Energy well site in Hopewell, also in Washington County.

The fires took place at condensate storage tanks. Mr. Krancer's letter said the DEP's investigation of the Chesapeake well site fire was caused by "improper management of condensate." Condensate is a mixture of wet gases and oils that are highly volatile and flammable, with vapors that can be explosive. "Both events caused significant threats to public health, safety and the environment," he said in the letter.

Katy Gresh, a DEP spokeswoman, said Chesapeake has not been fined or paid any penalties. "We gathered the information for the investigation and are evaluating it now," she said. "That evaluation includes discussion of potential enforcement actions."

EDIT

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11092/1136526-503.stm

[Orrex]

1. Corbett has really taken the lead on this. If gas drillers refuse to comply...

they'll get another polite letter politely requesting that they do so. And then another. And another. And another...