DEP Set To Investigate After Gas Well Fire In Avella

February 23, 2011 11:55 PM

NewsChopper 2 flew over the scene of the large fire in Washington County. (Photo Credit: KDKA)

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AVELLA (KDKA) — Smoke billowed and flames burned for about three hours Wednesday night following the sounds of a large explosion at the site of a natural gas well in Washington County.

It was around 6:20 p.m. when people in the Avella area of Washington County in Independence Township were startled. First by what sounded like a large explosion, and then flames and smoke shooting high into the night sky.

“I was in the house eating dinner and I just heard a big explosion, the whole house rattled and I had no idea what it was,” said Katie Leeper, a neighbor. “[I] came outside and saw the fire over there.”

The explosion and fire involved natural gas liquid storage tanks situated on private property used in the extraction of natural gas from beneath the earth’s surface.

“It was natural gas liquids in a storage tank. It’s a natural substance that comes up out of the ground. It’s collected in the tanks, separated from the gas stream, but I don’t have any addition information in regards to that,” said Stacey Brodak, of Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC.

A spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Protection says the three contractors who were injured were in the final phase of their particular operation.

There is no word on their conditions, but it is believed that they were taken to Pittsburgh-area hospitals for treatment of burns.

Neighbors say the sound was unmistakable.

“All you heard was an explosion. I knew something happened because after you heard the explosion, you heard the noise from the flairs,” said Paul Kanish, another neighbor. “So when I walked around the other side of my house, I seen the flairs were going down, and then all you seen was this big ball of fire burning up there on the hill.”

Because of the remote location of the gas well, firefighters used tankers to bring in water to help extinguish the flames. It took about three hours to put the fire out.

Officials say volunteers from as many as two dozen departments from Washington County as well as from West Virginia were at the scene.

Authorities say no evacuations were necessary for the nearby area.

The state Department of Environmental Protection is set to open an investigation into what caused the fire on Thursday.

Fire crews remained on scene late Wednesday, putting water on the tanks to keep them cool.

DEP Set To Investigate After Gas Well Fire In Avella

mother nature

…and they want to put one of these things 50 feet from my front door, in an R-1 neighborhood, on a dead end street? Is that what our country’s founding fathers intended with the Bill of Rights? There are too many corrupt judges and politicians making self serving decisions in favor of greedy gas drillers and the kickbacks they produce. Let them all experience one in their own front yard and pray it doesn’t explode and kill THEIR family or destroy THEIR property. I pray no one was hurt or killed in this most recent random gas well explosion.

s walters

i don’t think he’s hating any one accountability, the polltician’s and money have none. Just hope you don’t live near one of the 20 plus inch main and it go off.
TIM

Maybe we will find out that what caused that explosion out there was a faulty set of brakes on a Pickup Truck that was bought new 2 years ago at Washington Ford, does not have a PA Plate, or a PA Weight Class Sticker, or ever had a PA State Inspection, or at least have an Apportioned Decal of some kind on it, and it has never been to TEXAS!

We have to wake up folks!
We need our elected officials to buck up, and quit accepting Super Bowl Tickets from Console, and start making decision that protect the interest off all Pennsylvania RESIDENTS!!

We need a Gas Well Zoning created by the state, and a law that forces any and every pickup truck or larger that enter/exit that well site, to be Inspected/Registered/Wt.Class Stickers/Apportioned/ to a business entity here in Pennsylvania. After all, People from Texas don’t know a thing about driving in the snow, rusting cars, damage from pot holes, or how to buy snow tires and safety equipment needed to survive here (Arguing that is why we have those things in place)

Wait until on of these COWBOYS wrecks the truck, that is 3-4 years old, never been inspected, never been home to TEXAS, etc. Then we will find out that they are “self insured” claiming that since they own 25 ragged out Diesel Trucks that they are worth alot of money in Texas (again something that if they had Pennsylvania Plates) would not be permitted here as we dont allow unbonded self insured to exist here in PA.

adam kauffman

first of all tim. i work in the oilfield and the company trucks we drive have texas plates on them and do get regulary maintenced here in pa. at all the local shops, so tell me how is that not helping out economy. and if u knew anything about the trucks we drive pay attention man look at the tires 99% of the trucks have some type of off-road-tire on them, as well as every company vehicle up here is insured. and most of the guys here havent just came from texas they have worked all over and many states that it snows in. so before you open your mouth and say none of us can drive in the snow know what the F your talking. and yes i do live in pa born and raised.
Tim

ADAM
I own 2 3/4 Ton or Larger trucks… I pay $56 for plates on both! I pay additional money for Weight Class Stickers! My trucks are immaculate, serviced daily, and are insured here. Between tires, brakes, stickers, insurance, inspections, registrations, it probably costs me $3000-$6000/yr to keep my truck on the road/safe/legal.

Having “MUD TIRES” does not mean the thing is safe! Where all these trucks get parked at the local park and ride up the street from my house… the inside tire on the dual rear wheels are both worn out, not even touching the road on some truck (THIS IS A SOUTHERN THING WHERE THEY DONT HAVE INSPECTION, logic behind it is that when the truck is loaded the tires touch the ground displacing the weight) TOTALLY NOT SAFE!!

The reason they wont bring the trucks here, is because it is cheaper to register them elsewhere, and never take them home for inspection… and hope that when they throw the truck away in 48 months that it did not blow a break line or a tire in the meantime.

JUST WAIT a CRACKDOWN is coming!!
adam kauffman

i understand what your saying, but your looking at the trucks that arent owned by a company, whenver maintance is needed the company provides it without a problem. once a month we take our company vehicles to the shop and have them completly maintance some of our trucks have texas plates but most of our trucks have PA plates as well. I cant speak for other companys just the one i work for. i understand your concerns and am glad that your not just one of the people who only see bad from anything the oil field is doing.
Tim

And if those trucks are so safe and maintained…

REGISTER THEM HERE!!
GET ANNUAL PA INSPECTIONS!!
GET WT CLASS STICKERS
GET Apportioned plates/decals
GET INSURANCE BONDING RECOGNIZED BY PA

GIVE PA RESIDENTS THE easy ability of dealing with the truck/driver/company w/ legal actions after an accident occurs by having a “BUSINESS” entity present in that state!!

WE CAN DO THAT!!

My wife works in health care and her company has an office on one side off the Ohio River… West Virginia required her to have an office on the other side of the Ohio River to be licensed to do business in the state of West Virginia, the vehicles used to make deliveries in West Virginia had to be registered in WV or be DOT Apportioned (HUGE HUGE HUGE COSTS) so then West Virginia Insurance/Plates/Inspection were all required!

Vehicle Operations and Costs are a huge indicator to profit being made… hiding that stuff in an OFFICE 17 states away is a good way to hide how much money is being made!!

Sylvan

How about this solution? If you don’t want people/companies drilling for energy… stop using it. If you don’t want companies drilling natural gas wells, have your gas company remove your meter and disconnect. If you don’t want companies drilling for oil… stop buying anything that requires oil distiaite products, not just gasoline. If you don’t know what is created from oil distilate, then your comments could be considered to be made out of ignorance.

Careful what you wish for.. you most likely will not like the result.

TIM

Sylvan
I burn firewood!
I’ll admit I must buy gasoline and I have natural gas for my stove/backup heat, but honestly it’s not about you or me reducing our energy consumption (I have $3000 worth of LED light bulbs in my home/office) My comments are not made out of ignorance. Energy Traders are MAKING MILLIONS, while the rest of us are getting burnt to a crisp!! (sadly in this case the burning happened) I feel so sorry for those guys who are out busting their ass to make $15/hr. The well owners/investors are sipping drinks on a beach some place making $15,000,000 an hour! Just wait till the middle east totally goes to hell and the SUEZ CANAL gets attacked! Gas will goto $7.50/gallon over night!

Careful what I wish for?? Can I wish for the demise of the energy trading that is driving up the cost?? RAPE ME so you can live as you wish?? I DONT THINK SO!
John Moyer

the solution is to stop drilling until we can do it safely, like they did in New York state.

Work for oil? GO TO HELL

If you’re from pa and you are in the oil industry you are a sell out…. Ever see or read Grapes of Wrath? Thats you! I hope you go to hell!

Sylvan

Tim… you bring another aspect of the business to the table. Let me ask you something; how stable would be the price of corn if there were no corn futures traders? Futures traders do two things, first they remove price risk from the farmer and second, they create price discovery. Why is this important? because the farmer sells his corn (via a futures contract) BEFORE he even fuels the tractor to plant the first seed.

With contract in hand, the farmer can now secure a loan with the bank to buy the seed and other things needed to create the harvest. When the farmer completes his harvest, he gets paid per the contract price. What happens to that contract after the farmer sells the contract to the Futures trader has no impact on the farmer… isolating the farmer from price risk… which ensures he will plant and produce.

The same game is played with all commodities including energy. Thjis however was not my poinit. If you reduce demand, you will reduce production and also increase the efficiency of production, transportation and distribution. The electric energy world is trying to build a “smart grid” to address the very issue of utilizing existing capacity rather than build new primary energy burning facilities.

Mr. Work for Oil… I have no idea what you are talking about.

wags

hahahaha 50 feet? Ms. CLOWN, that is absolutley impossible. a drilling site for Marsellus takes over 5 acres.

Donald

It shook my house. I thought my water tank blew.

TIM!

JUST FYI FOLKS!!

CBS HAS A SENSOR DELETING POSTS

BASH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL NAMED TIM SOLOBAY for taking SUPERBOWL TICKETS from CONSOL ENERGY and the post gets deleted!!
Tammie Hampe-Hall

I live right in Avella, and felt the shake, of what the top officials say was not an EXPLOSION. This morning, in Mt.. Pleasant,, (Hickory), another well had trouble, but they said it was not on fire, nor did it EXPLODE, if this is the case, then, why did my uncle who lives right on 18 across from Caldwell Road, think his house was being overtaken by a BIG RIG… This is a SIGN, people TO STOP THE DAMN DRILLING. But as long as the RICH ARE GETTING RICHER, this won’t happen. What are these wells doing to our water, and what are they putting in our air??? I guess the SHAKES we felt, are just figments of our IMAGINATION, WELL THAT IS WHAT THE GAS DRILLER OFFICIALS WANT US TO BELIEVE….. WAKE UP! THESE ARE SIGNS DRILLING SHOULD BE STOPPED.

sctt

wow what a comment have a heart dude i understand what there doing to our land all but that was un called for
TTBB

@ Richard…thats horrible that you could think like that! Lives may hav been lost, and u should b ashamed of yourself for even wishing something like that…dont b jealous cause u did not get to profit from the gas wells!!! i cant believe some ppl could b so inconsiderate Idiots!!!
Jed

It shook my house also. I’m directly below it and knew exactly what it was. Knew it was a terrible idea to let these vultures drill. They really have no clue what they are doing. If I’m not killed by one of their careless tanker truck driver I guess it will by in a fiery explosion.

http://americanbadass607.wordpress.com/ americanbadass607

It shook my house and I went right out with my camera, I knew what it was. I have had a bad feeling about this site since they started.

Let’s Just Never Advance

I am saddened to hear that this happened. It is a shame that all of our energy resources are obtained in ways that are not able to be made 100% safe. I think it is wonderful how many jobs and how much tax revenue these wells are bringing to an area with pratically no industry and business left. Many people are benefitting from these wells who aren’t part of the gas industry. Let’s continue our dependence on foreign oil. Let’s all hug trees after we pay $5/gallon at the pump and pay $500 heating bills. Isn’t ironic that we have evidence of ancient man at Meadowcroft and many people in Avella haven’t advanced their thinking beyond Neanderthals on this and many other issues. So sad.

Kathleen

We have had years to advance and become energy dependent But for whatever reason the oil companies and the U.s. government choose to prop up dictators in the Middle East, now the chickens are coming home to roost.
don’t blame the “tree huggers”
Marshalleis Shale going to be an enviromental disaster for the poor people in the area if they sell out to the highest bidder &Pa. politciians don’t insist on EPA regulations.
J

So it stands to say you want to be 100 percent safe. Tell me even one thing that is 100 percent safe.

There is far more auto accidents than there is these gas well explosions…do wed all quit driving?

how bout motorcylces…better get rid of them!

uh oh better not take any baths way to easy to drown especially little kids.

TIM

Advance your self Kathleen
Walk to and from your job in Hemp Sandals, once you get there ride an exercise bike/generator all day to power your computer, and spend every last penny you have on buying ENERGY CREDITS to be carbon neutral…

If you still have a Ford Explorer after reading the above… you are part of the problem… We are all part of the problem! As long as we keep spending on Energy and using it like we do… We are OWNED by these people!

(Just Fyi I drive a Jeep and I’m owned by them too) What other choice do I have? If I drove a Prius what are they gonna do when the battery in it goes bad or leaks?

Joseph Furbee

These past few months have seen a rising number of these explosions/fires. They will continue to rise with the more wells that are drilled. Sooner or later, one of these so called compressor stations is going to blow, only then will the state take a real look at the regulations or should I say the lack of regulations that are really meaningful. These companies cut corners everyday, to them the risks are worth the enormous profits the are reaping. Besides that, our so called legistrators and elected officals do not listen to the people, they are to busy taking trips that are paid for by these drilling companies.
Brooke

This explosion happened on the hillside along my house. My whole house shook. It felt like an earthquake. Ran outside to see black smoke everywhere.
I love the drillers

The best thing that ever happend to this area was the gas industry or we all would have sank by now end of comment.

http://americanbadass607.wordpress.com/ americanbadass607

really, you would sell your soul and the health of others. that is sad.
Kathleen

I think you have a lot of prisons in your area maybe some of the people destroying the land and water will end up there.
Andy

would have sunk, I believe.

local

I work in the oil field and this is really sad to hear. But im also a local. Born and raised. I also have almost 300 acres of farm land and I am all for the oil field. Jobs, poor farmers becoming rich farmers, there’s countless pros to having the oil field here. And ppl talk about safety… I used to be a union worker till the economy fell through and I can tell you that most of these gas wells have more safety protocalls than a union construction job. And if you’re worried about the compressor stations blowing up you should do some research to know what your talking about because there’s only a hand full of compressors up and running in the area.
valerie/sarek checco

my son is on that call he is in with AVELLA FIRE COMPANY 35
Lisa Davis Kauffman

wow I cant believe people in this town can be so selfish and self serving. There was men on that site that are seriously hurt or possibllity die and all your worried about is your property damage. First off the property owners allowed them on their land to drill and got paid big money for it. Its clear the people who comment nothing but hate for the drill rigs on here are mad because they couldnt cash in themselves. Maybe if it was your husband or family member on these rigs you would be more understanding. My heart goes out to the men and their families. And for those who commented hate may god forgive you

bus

Think you misunderstand. There was only one landowner that benefited from the location of the explosion. Other people in the neighborhood were offered $125 or nothing at all. But really the money is irrelevant when your talking about the safety of your family. Fracking hasn’t been around for too long and it’s poorly regulated. But the almighty dollar prevails. In the end everyone loses except the corporate slime.

Think first!

Undeniable ignorance by the commenters that post negativity about the companies and the infrastructure and politicians that support them. The benefits of these companies severely outweighs the drawbacks. Furthermore, the person who said “50 feet from doors”. The oil and gas act cites a minimum of a 200 foot setback from structures. Get your facts first, then talk. Think first, open mouth second.

This is a tragedy, but tell me what industry is without the possibility of danger. You will find none.

Bob

What benefit outweighs the health & safety of your family?

Nancy

Now they want to put a compressor station on Rt. 980! Just say NO Cecil Twp residents!!
Marianne Hunnell

Thank you Lisa….God Bless the ones that were hurt & the ones that are on the call.
skelly

I understand we need natural gas and generally it is a good thing. My prayers go out to the people hurt in the accident. this is a big time heavy industrial process. It should not be done near others property. I also feel that the drillers infringe on the clean air water and safety of nearby neighbors. Setbacks from neighbors should be measured in miles not feet.
Karen

Lord, I just lift up those that were injured and in danger in this and ask for Your hand of peace, protection and healing. I ask you to bless the families and pray that they would seek You for their loved ones. Please bless the firefighters of which one is very close to my heart. We ask you to bless them back a hundredfold for their efforts to keep people safe. Give people your heart for what is right and true Lord and let them love each other with your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tony Islamorada

GREED GREED GREED GREED
THE RICH GET RICHER THE POOR GET ZIPPO IN THE END…

THE OIL COMPANIES DID NOT CARE ONE BIT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
AND TO THIS VERY SECOND..PEOPLES LIVES ARE STILL IMPACTED
AND MANY HAVE NOT GOTTEN ONE RED CENT FOR THEIR CLAIMS…

AND YOU CAN BE SURE THE WHOLE STATE OF PA. WILL BE
DRILLED LIKE SWISS CHEESE, THE RICH WILL GET RICHER
THE POOR WILL GET ZIPPO

GAS AND OIL COMPANIES DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT LIFE…THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT
SAFE DRILLING…DO IT AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE …
THE RICH GET RICHER THE POOR GET NOTHING IN THE END…

MORE AND MORE AND MORE LIVES WILL BE LOST
AND IT IS A SHAME…GREED GREED GREED..
PROFIT MARGINS BEFORE HEALTH SAFETY & LIVES
GREED GREED GREED THE RICH GET RICHER
THE POOR GET NOTHING IN THE END…

Oilfield employee supervisor

People think they know bout drilling. Well here is the think they take so many precautions and do not do anything cheap. You all who think that need to see it and what and how they set the sites. I am a pa oilfield employee.

Yankee Pride

You lost me at YOU ALL.
Tim

You also cant type or spell or use grammer for sh!T
Lisa Davis Kauffman

I agree with you the people complaining have never been to a drill rig or know what goes on they only hear about it. So unless you have worked or have direct knowledge then keep your rude comments to yourself. The Families Don’t need your Hate they Need your Prayers.
Brittany

Why is it that the only arguments against what the employee says consist of insults? What he’s saying doesn’t warrant trash-talking. Why would you insult a person who has first-hand knowledge of the subject that you so passionately argue about?

GAS DUDE

sOUNDS LIKE SOUR GRAPES THAT YOU DIDN’T GET A WELL ON YOUR PROPERTY. aNYONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY KNOWS THAT THE IMSTALLATION PROCESS OF WELLS AND PIPELINES ARE SUBJECT TO STRINGENT PROCEDURAL CODES. AS IN ALL FACETS OF INDUSTRY, THERE ARE OCCASIONALLY ACCIDENTS. NEW EXTRACTION METHODS OF METHANE FROM MARCELLAS SHALE.MAKE IT ECONOMICALLY WORTHWHILE. THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY DEPENDS ON NATURAL GAS.

Andy

if that is true, then why did the explosion occur?

jon

you people have no idea what gas wells are about except what you hear from news casts and hear say. i have been part of numerous well sites. safety is a huge priority, but god forbid accidents do happen. there are risks in everything. for the people that are against drilling are obviously not benefiting for them weather its owning the land, having a job with a company that moves the dirt, a company that drills, a company that supplies the materials or the company that rehabs the site. stop and think about all the jobs it has created. and pray for those injured.

Concerned American

To Jon – FYI – The biased news is the last place we get our information. There is a very informed, intellectual population that have researched and continues to monitor this industry who are quietly observing this situation.
Andy

jon, I really want to lend credibility to your argument but your spelling and grammar are so substandard that it’s hard fir me to take you seriously. You seem illiterate to me..

Holly Hall

Please leave your rude and ignorant comments elsewhere. Oilfield is just as dangerous as Military so PLEASE give a little respect for these HARD WORKING MEN.
Lord I ask you to touch each and every hand out on that site.

jon

amen maam.
Local Vet

Please think before posting. Just as dangerous as the military? Get a clue.
Lisa Davis Kauffman

the vet that posted really??? why don’t you get a clue and have some respect for the families.

Alexandria George

There is seriously something wrong with you
dave

Who’s gas well is it? Atlas, Range?

pray for the injured

It is a Chesapeake Site

RICO

You ain’t seen nothing yet. Just wait until these roaches have 2,000 more wells, with pipes 2 to 3 thousand feet down and the earth begins to shake when a 7.2 earth quake hits the region. The area is beginning to be over populated with southern boys who could care less about the value system that existed before their arrival. Get ready folks, the hell house for all is not to far into the future. By the way, all important jobs are being given to out of town boys and girls. Very few for local people. Thanks governor Swindell and all the other phoney politicans for providing a gateway to hell.

http://americanbadass607.wordpress.com/ americanbadass607

Rico, you are right about all the jobs and the earth quakes, It is starting in Texas in regions that have had lots of drilling.
Brittany

I’m sorry, but this seems a bit ignorant. “Southern boys who could care less about the value system that existed before their arrival?” Really? Have you spoken to any of these people? How do you know what they care about?

And I find it funny that you think that all important jobs are being given to “out of town boys and girls.” In fact, many employees from other areas were brought here because the vast majority of locals hired for positions usually lasted less than a month. With that turnover, I suppose it is hard to promote locals who didn’t realize what a tough job it is.

Please get your facts straight. Although, judging by your language and name-calling, I’d say you lack many of those, as you seem to resort to the ruder forms of communication. I think we’ve made it clear that name-calling and calling out does not get a point across, but actually deters from the point you’re trying to make.

And please, show a little compassion for the injured guys.

Aaron schoenfeldt

You guys that are bigering need to think about the men that go out there in the oil field to get the gas for your cars and your heaters and all the others things that need gas really need to stop and think because you wouldn’t have the things that you do now that need gas to run them you wouldn’t get to go all around the world on airplanes because THEY NEED GAS !!!!!!!!
Concerned American

Keep these away from schools and residential areas especially all of those that are undermined by the Coal Barons of years gone by. Not sure how natrual gas gets us free of the Middle Easy oil. I don’t see a lot of natrual gas cars (bombs). Where are the electric cars? Let’s get the car manufactrurers out from under the thumbs of the oil companies. Libya……………..

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DEP Set To Investigate After Gas Well Fire In Avella

February 23, 2011 11:55 PM

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