Cabot Oil & Gas’s Marcellus Drilling to Slow After PA Environment Officials Order Wells Closed

In its 2009 annual report, Cabot Oil and Gas named a field in Texas and  another in Dimock, Pa., as its two largest fields of production. But yesterday the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ordered Cabot to plug at least three of its gas wells in Dimock and pay hefty fines after contaminating local drinking water.

More than 15 months after natural gas drilling contaminated drinking water in Dimock, Pa., state officials are ordering the company responsible -- Houston-based Cabot Oil and Gas -- to permanently shut down some of its wells, pay nearly a quarter million dollars in fines, and permanently provide drinking water to 14 affected families.

The order is among the most punitive in Pennsylvania's history and reflects officials' frustrations over a string of drilling-related accidents. The record of spills, leaks and water contamination in Pennsylvania -- several of which are tied to Cabot -- has spotlighted the environmental risks of drilling for natural gas across the country, jeopardized development of the massive Marcellus Shale resource deposit, and contributed significantly to actions by both Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to bolster federal oversight of drilling.

"The events at Dimock have been the black eye for the industry and have also been a black eye for Pennsylvania," the state's chief environment official, John Hanger, told ProPublica. "It's been an enormous headache. If Cabot doesn't get this message, the company has got an amazing hearing problem."...

To read the full article - including links to related articles - click here:http://www.propublica.org/feature/cabot-oil-and-gas-ordered-to-shut-down-problem-wells-and-pay-massive-fine-a

To read the April 2010 modification of the November 2009 Consent Order and Agreement between PA DEP and Cabot Oil&Gas, click here:
http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1688/pennsylvanias-dep-orders-cabot-to-plug-three-gas-wells.pdf

To go directly to related articles with links below:

Pennsylvania Tells Drilling Company to Clean Up Its Act
http://www.propublica.org/feature/pennsylvania-tells-drilling-company-to-clean-up-its-act-1106

Pa. Residents Sue Gas Driller for Contamination, Health Concerns
http://www.propublica.org/feature/pa-residents-sue-gas-driller-for-contamination-health-concerns-1120

Water Problems From Drilling Are More Frequent Than PA Officials Said
http://www.propublica.org/feature/water-problems-from-drilling-are-more-frequent-than-officials-said-731

Officials in Three States Pin Water Woes on Gas Drilling
http://www.propublica.org/feature/officials-in-three-states-pin-water-woes-on-gas-drilling-426

Congress Launches Investigation Into Gas Drilling Practices
http://www.propublica.org/feature/congress-launches-investigation-into-gas-drilling-practices-219

Broad Scope of EPA’s Fracturing Study Raises Ire of Gas Industry
http://www.propublica.org/feature/broad-scope-of-epas-fracturing-study-raises-ire-of-gas-industry

Frack Fluid Spill in Dimock Contaminates Stream, Killing Fish
http://www.propublica.org/feature/frack-fluid-spill-in-dimock-contaminates-stream-killing-fish-921#photo_correx