Talisman Energy well blowout

The Associated Press reports today that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection cited Talisman Energy, Inc. for a well blowout in the Tioga State Forest. The incident occurred on Monday January 17th at 12:10 pm. DEP says "that a needle valve on a casing wing valve failed" during the fracking process. The well sent "sent polluted drilling wastewater and sand shooting into the air but caused no injuries."

AP reports,

[DEP] cited a Talisman subsidiary for violating state laws governing clean streams, solid waste management and gas drilling. Spilled fluids appear to have been limited to the lined well pad, DEP said.

Soil samples were still being evaluated, the agency said. The well, about five miles east of Blossburg in Tioga State Forest, remains shut down, as are the other three wells on the same pad, DEP spokesman Dan Spadoni said.

A DEP press release quotes North-central Regional Director Nels Taber as saying, “This was a serious incident that could have caused significant environmental harm had it not been brought under control." Talisman is also conducting an investigation and promises to correct any errors.

This is the second well blowout in Pennsylvania in the last year. The other was EOG Resources blowout in Clearfield County, allegedly caused by an improper pressure control system. EOG was fined $400,000.