This is a report on our examination of a number of gas wells in Putnam and Kanawha counties. The wells in this section were viewed in 2008 and 2009 and are operated by several different companies.

The Home Page for the Study

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

47-039-02026

For 2009 we are including an environmental assessment of some wells that we examine. Assessment includes a wider examination of the site -- beyond the pad -- and, in this case, soil tests for chlorides. This site was first examined in 2008 and is part of the 2008 Gas Well Study.

Beyond the pad we found cast off pipe, a large iron or steel object and remains of another steel drum. We also found what we call the "notch" on the edge of the level pad in an overgrown area. The notch is a rectangular shaped cut in the hillside with pieces of black plastic embedded in the sides of the notch. There is an iron or steel object and a piece of lumber along with other trash in the notch which seems to remain wet most of the time. There are a large number of deer tracks here and on the pad by the wellhead at the separator.

There is also, what looks to be the remains of an open pit to the west, beyond and below the pad.

We made chlorides tests at four locations: off the pad, in a cut wall which seems otherwise to be undisturbed soil; in the notch; in what looks to be an open pit; and by the separator. We found elevated chlorides in the notch and by the separator -- 136 mg/l.

A copy of the Environmental Assessment for 47-039-02026 can be downloaded. The document is being hosted by another site and there are problems downloading it, contact us.

		The separator is where brine is separated from natural gas. The brine outlet is at the bottom of the separator and goes to the tank. The sample bottle's purple cover is barely visible in the foreground.
		This area had a large number of deer tracks, unlike the rest of the well site. After the new dike for the tank was constructed in September 2008 the crew seeded and mulched the area. Seed hasn't germinated here. The soil tested at 136 mg/l chlorides.
		This is a photograph of the "notch" taken in February 2009. The bank for the hillside drops off to the left in the photograph. The wellhead is about 87 feet to the right.
		The notch during sampling in April 2009. The purple lid for the sample bottle indicates the location which is being recorded on a GPS. Soil here also tested at 136 mg/l chlorides. The other two locations tested had no or just trace chlorides.
		This is the southern edge of the notch. Black plastic is visible to the left in the photograph. There is a round scrap piece of metal to the right of the plastic.
		This is a large scrap item which we believe might have been used either in drilling or working over the well. We've seen a similarly shaped item in photographs of wells being drilled.
		The large scrap item is in what we think might have been a drill pit. The hillside up to the pad is to the left. To the right, not plainly visible in the photograph is an earthen bank that is several feet high.
		Remains of a 55 gallon steel drum were also in the area of the supposed pit. A soil sample taken from this area showed a trace of chlorides.
		At another area, on the slope below the pad, are several cast off items, including a length of steel cable.
		In this area there were several lengths of pipe with fittings.
		Some of the pipe had been painted green like here and other pieces were unpainted.
		Closer examination of the wellhead showed severe corrosion to the main pipe. It looks like corrosion has eroded at least half the pipe's thickness.