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Gas Well Study, 2008    

This is a report on our examination of a number of gas wells in Putnam and Kanawha counties all operated by the same company.

The Home Page for the 2011 Study

Four Wells in the Kanawha State Forest

Three Wells with Surface Contamination

Three Well with Inadequate Secondary Containment

A Vertical Marcellus Well

Condensate Tank Overflow

The Home Page for the 2010 Study

The Home Page for the 2009 Study

Putnam County
Poca River Road
583
731
1492
595
615
743
775
746
739

Spanish Oak Road
232
Putnam B-85

Long Road
298

Kanawha County
Dry Branch

5999
1266

Harmon's Creek
2026
5714

Environmental Assessment
Putnam County
1492 & 731

Kanawha County
2026

5714

The Home Page for the 2008 Study

Putnam County
Long Road Group
1288
1215
1178
1299
702
No API #1
No API #2
No API #3
1155
No API #4
No API #5

River Road Group
735
601
570

King Cemetery Group
1200
274
404

Kanawha County
2026
5714

47-079-00702

This is the oldest well in the series of wells off the long well access road.

Off all the wells we visited for some reason this is the most depressing. It looks decrepit.

Unlike the previous wells, this site abuts the main access road. Several pipelines cross nearby, connecting with a 6 inch pipeline that follows the main road.

The well pad is bare of vegetation west of the wellhead. ATVs have damaged the cut slope to the south. At the wellhead, the surface level was lower than the rest of the site and timbers were embedded in the soil. The timbers should be removed and the surface brought to level or slightly higher to prevent ponding.

Scrap metal in the form of a well fitting and large, unused, steel tank should be hauled away.

The large plastic tank doesn't have the required secondary containment dike.

The main access road just north of the well is in poor maintenance. There are deep ruts and areas of poor drainage. This is typical of the entire length of the main access road.

Additionally, this well seems to have problems with emissions. A special vent pipe exists below the Christmas tree. A post on our blog was written about this well.

   

Deep ruts in the road holding water because of poor drainage. The road to the north consists of a very steep slope (seems to be 20% plus) that serves as a catchment area for this "pond".

   
  This is the same area as the above photo, looking north, taken in drier weather. The road goes up a very steep rise. What looks like a road to the right in the background is a cleared 6 inch pipeline right-of-way.
   
  The bottom of the steep rise to the north of the well.
   
 

The well pad west of the well was entirely bare of vegetation.

A cleared pipeline right-of-way is in the background, heading west. Another pipeline is on the ridge above.

     
  ATVs running up the cut slope have created deep runnels. Their tracks go up to the other pipeline.
   
  The ground at the wellhead is lower than the surrounding surface. The old timbers (foreground) should be removed and the surface brought to level to prevent ponding.
   
  This shows the ponding at the wellhead.
   
  Scrap metal that almost looks like it is part of the well pipe-work.
     
  Old 100-barrel tank that should be hauled away.
     
 

Plastic tank without required secondary containment.

The special vent pipe is visible in this photo -- the blue-green pipe that angles to the right.

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