Pennsylvania to Vote on Regulation Establishing Cement Type for Marcellus Shale Wells

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will vote on an important regulation that will require Marcellus Shale drillers to use a stronger type of cement inside the casing of the wellbores.  The regulation will be part of the well construction rule that currently regulates the time the cement must be allowed to settle as well as setting limits on how much pressure can be applied to a well.

According to Range Resources, one of the Marcellus Shale drilling companies, the process to fully isolate the wellbore involves inserting multiple heavy steel casings extending from the ground surface to deep into the ground, and fully cemented into the wellbore.  Once the initial wellbore cement has set, the wellbore setting is continued “from the bottom of the previously cemented steel casing to the next depth. This process is repeated using smaller diameter steel casings until the oil and gas bearing rock is reached. […]

DEP Makes Marcellus Shale Production Data Available to Public

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has made production data for Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in the state available on their website.  Under Act 15 of 2010, Marcellus operators are required to report their well production totals from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.  This act overturned previous provisions in the Oil and Gas Act that required production data to be kept confidential for five years.

John Hanger, secretary of DEP, says that by making this information available to the public “a much-criticized layer of secrecy” is removed and the public and government now have “unprecedented access to this information.”

Even though the companies were required to submit the data to the state by August 15, 2010, 18 of the state’s 74 Marcellus Shale operators have not yet complied. Hanger said the department will pursue “whatever enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with the law.” […]

Some Pennsylvania Parks Could Become Marcellus Shale Drilling Sites

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) manages and maintains close to 120 state parks.  However, Pennsylvania does not own the mineral rights to 80 percent of the land underlying the parks, opening it up to the possibility of the private owners entering into Marcellus Shale lease agreements with gas companies.

Oil and gas companies have already drilled a limited number of wells in some of the state park land in western Pennsylvania.  DCNR cannot impose surface-use agreements on the drilling companies to govern their impact on the surface of the parks, due to a 2009 ruling by the Supreme Court,  and some fear the increased interest in Marcellus Shale in the parks could result in damage to the landscape.

DCNR Secretary John Quigley says that while the threat to the parks is not immediate, “there are a dozen or fewer parks where drillers or seismic testing firms have expressed interest in accessing the surface to get to the Marcellus Shale.” […]

Emergency Services Secured for Marcellus Shale Region

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has secured the services of CUDD Well Control to provide emergency response services in Pennsylvania in case an emergency arises from any of the Marcellus Shale wells.  DEP has taken this step in response to recent high-profile accidents at natural gas wells in Pennsylvania.

The company will establish a new facility in Canton Township, Bradford County, allowing Cudd’s highly specialized, well-equipped emergency response crew to respond to any natural gas well in Pennsylvania within five hours.

The state will only employ CUDD’s services when needed through emergency contracts on a case-by-case basis.  This process will limit costs to taxpayers to events when CUDD personnel are mobilized.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are experienced in worksite accident lawsuits and will evaluate your case and explore all possible sources of recovery. We fight to protect the rights of workers. […]

Marcellus Shale Drilling Goes International

As companies discover how lucrative the Marcellus Shale region has become, more and more are trying to buy a stake to the rights of the mineral-rich property.  Reliance Industries Ltd., India’s largest private-sector company, has just acquired a 60 percent stake in 104,400 Marcellus acres in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Reliance, which has already invested $3 billion in the purchase of shale-gas assets in Pennsylvania, believes they could yield close to 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas.   They also anticipate drilling 1,000 wells in the area over the next decade.

Other international investors include companies from France, Norway and Japan.

If you are a property owner whose property has been harmed by natural gas exploration, talk to an attorney who is experienced in Marcellus Gas drilling issues.  The attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright represent victims who have been injured through no fault of their own, […]

Hazelton City Authority Investigates Drilling Rights

The chairman of the Hazelton City Authority (HCA), Phil Andras, is investigating the process of the Marcellus Shale drilling that could soon be moving into the area.   Andras wants to ensure that they have the mineral rights for the 7,000 acres that the town currently owns, understand the steps needed to preserve the watershed and “spend some time learning more about the process and about the protections with the state and federal (environmental agencies).”

Andras has proposed enforcing a moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling on HCA land until the drilling companies can prove “with a very high degree of certainty” that their operations are safe and would have no adverse environmental impact.

Another authority member, Dick Ammon agrees with Andras saying, “we want to make sure whatever’s done, we won’t pay a price down the road.”  HCA members have said they are not against drilling, but they do want to ensure their watershed is protected. […]

Over 1,400 Marcellus Shale Drilling Violations in PA

According to a report released by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, drillers in the Marcellus Shale region of the Keystone state have amassed 1,435 violations.  The information, based on data between 1/1/2008 and 7/25/2010 from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, identifies 952 of the violations which were judged as having the most potential for direct impact on the environment.

The violations were issued to 43 different drilling companies and included violations such as: Violations of Pennsylvania’s Clean Stream Law, Discharge of Industrial Waste, Improper Construction of Waste Water Impoundments, Inadequate Blowout Prevention, and Improper Construction of Waste Water Impoundments.

Most of the violations, 277 of them, were cited for Improper Erosion & Sediment Plans Developed / Implemented. The report states that Marcellus Shale natural gas well construction requires careful adherence to the implementation of erosion and sediment plans to minimize erosion that could cause harm to the streams and rivers. […]

Pooling May be Forced on Marcellus Shale Area Residents

The Marcellus Shale natural gas industry is lobbying for legislation that would force property owners in the Marcellus Shale region to allow drilling for natural gas on their land if other property owners approve the request but they refuse.  Referred to as “forced pooling,” the pooling order would set forth the terms and conditions of the forced lease, such as compensation for the reluctant property owner.

The purpose of pooling is to group adjoining mineral rights leases to form a larger drilling unit, and according to the industry, results in more economical drilling.  Property owners with mineral rights would lease his or her interest in exchange for a royalty share. In Pennsylvania, the industry wants to add the statute to the severance tax to be adopted by the state.

If you are a property owner and you are opposed to drilling on your property, […]

Pennsylvania DEP Launches the Marcellus Shale Examiner

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched the “Marcellus Shale Examiner,” a weekly e-newsletter to chronicle the latest news on Marcellus Shale activities.  The DEP states, “In the past three years, Pennsylvania has become the epicenter of natural gas exploration with dozens of companies seeking to capitalize on the abundant natural resources in the Marcellus Shale formation. The consequences of this rapidly growing industry affect us all.”

The DEP will use the Examiner to follow the work related to drilling in Pennsylvania the policy makers will be focusing on in the coming months.  The policies will range from enacting a severance tax so large drilling firms pay their fair share, to writing laws that could affect landowners’ rights when it comes to drilling on or under their property.

If you are a property owner whose property has been harmed by natural gas exploration, […]

Natural Gas Company Boosts Production

With the help of the Marcellus Shale natural gas wells, Range Resources boosted their second quarter natural gas production by close to 10 percent.  The gas company based in Fort Worth, Texas, produced an average of 472 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, largely driven by production from the Marcellus shale region.

Range Resources focuses their drilling on “unconventional resource plays targeting shales, coal bed methane and tight oil and gas reservoirs.”  The company began drilling in the Marcellus Shale region, which covers parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Virginia, in 2004, and by mid-2009, Range Resources completed their  50thhorizontal well in the Marcellus Shale.  To date, there are 146 wells drilled in the region.

Range Resources estimates that the Marcellus wells are as good as, and potentially better than the production in the North Texas Barnett Shale. […]

Hearings to Focus on Marcellus Shale Drilling Moratorium

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold public hearings in northeast Pennsylvania to determine whether or not to strengthen its moratorium on drilling for natural gas in the river basin.  The debate centers on landowners that say they should be able to lease the mineral rights to their land, versus the environmentalists that say the process of drilling for natural gas could pollute groundwater.

The vast Marcellus Shale formation and its lucrative natural gas deposits underlie much of the covered region of the Delaware River basin areas of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  The agency has legal authority over water quality and quantity issues in the basin.

The drilling moratorium is in effect until the commission adopts gas drilling regulations.

If you are a property owner whose property has been harmed by natural gas exploration, talk to an attorney who is experienced in Marcellus Gas drilling issues.  […]

Gas Drilling in Williamsport Featured in New York Times

The gas industry has brought big changes to some of the small towns in our area. One such town is Williamsport, PA, the subject of a recent New York Times story about how the drilling industry has affected the people who live there. Many residents are experiencing immediate economic benefits, but are concerned about the long-term effects.

Williamsport and several neighboring communities have attracted gas companies interested in drilling into Marcellus Shale, a geographic region rich with natural gas that stretches through West Virginia, eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania and into southern New York. The shale contains enough natural gas to meet much of the energy needs of the entire Northeast region.

Drilling could bring much-needed money and jobs into the region, but the industrial process of extracting natural gas has raised concerns about the environmental impact, the New York Times reports, as well as questions about the need for greater regulation of the drilling operations in the area. […]

Uneasiness Persists About Marcellus Shale Operations

Some Pennsylvania property owners don’t like the idea of living next to a drilling rig and want their local governments to use zoning regulations to prevent the development of natural gas wells.

But local government leaders’ hands are tied to a great extent by a state law called the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act. The state law preempts local regulation of gas wells and extraction and gives the regulatory authority to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Local regulations may not apply to the location of a well, well site safety or even protection of  the water supply.

The pressing questions of  which local municipal regulations still apply and which are preempted are still being sorted out by the courts.

Natural gas drilling and extraction from the Marcellus Shale poses rewards and hazards for Pennsylvania communities. While there is the potential for significant economic benefit, […]

$2.6M Medical Malpractice Verdict In Bethlehem

Doctor at fault for cancer misdiagnosis

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the United States, and failure to properly diagnose this disease can be devastating – even fatal – to the patient.  When this happens, it may result in a medical malpractice charge against the healthcare givers.

A ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ended a two-and-a-half year journey through the state courts for a $2.6 million medical malpractice verdict against St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network and one of its gynecologists.

The case was filed in Lehigh County; the plaintiff alleged that her doctor breached the standard of care when he did not advise her to have a biopsy on what turned out to be a cancerous lump in one of her breasts.

Our attorneys have decades of experience handling complex medical malpractice cases.   […]

$82.5 Million Awarded To Blast Victim’s Family

Company found grossly negligent in wrongful death case

As wrongful death attorneys, we deal with the grief and confusion a family feels following the unexpected and unnecessary death of a loved one.  It is difficult for family to maneuver through the maze of legalities while mourning the loss of their loved one, especially when the death is that of a young father and husband.

The Star-Telegram reports the family of a 27-year-old man who died of injuries suffered in an explosion at a natural gas processing plant has been awarded $82.5 million by a Harris County (Texas) jury.

In May, 2007, the young man was injured when a hot-oil treater exploded and he died at the hospital the next day.  The award will go to his widow and the couple’s three young children, including a son born shortly after his father died.

Exterran Energy Solutions L.P of Houston – […]

$1.7 Million For Nerve Damage Following Baby’s Birth

Hospital responsible for mother’s nerve damage due to negligent anti-nausea injection

The Post-Standard reports a New York state Supreme Court jury has awarded a home-care nurse almost $1.7 million for permanent nerve damage following her baby’s birth three years ago.

The lawsuit was filed against Community General Hospital after the hospital administered an intramuscular injection in an attempt to stop the woman’s vomiting following the birth of her third child. The suit claimed the injection was given too low causing damage to the woman’s sciatic nerve.

The 34-year-old mother now suffers from lower back pain and is unable to sit or stand for any length of time and has other physical problems as a result of the nerve damage.  Although she still works as a home health care nurse, her doctors believe her condition will become worse.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley, […]

Luzerne County Prepares for Drilling Disaster

In preparation for Encana Oil & Gas USA’s plan to begin drilling a well at a site in Fairmount Township, the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency has begun an emergency response plan in case of a drilling disaster. Town officials are working closely with the energy company to identify the protocol to handle any local natural gas drilling-related catastrophe that might occur.

According to an Encana spokesperson, the local firefighters and emergency responders are not responsible for containing or fighting a gas well fire or gas release at a well site, however, they will be asked to provide support to Enanca’s specially trained teams.

Encana admits that “risks are inherent in the oil and natural gas industry,” but that safety is their top priority. They will look to local emergency responders to secure and evacuate the immediate area, in an emergency, while the designated well-control company representatives are en route to the disaster site. […]

$3.5 Million Awarded In Lawsuit Over Botched Surgery

The Baltimore Sun reports a 53-year-old woman has won $3.5 million in her medical malpractice suit against Vascular Surgery Associates and two of its surgeons following a botched surgery.

In 2007 the woman’s surgery for blocked arteries ended in devastating injuries including damage to her spinal cord which left her a paraplegic. The lawsuit claimed the doctor used an improper grafting technique which led to various injuries including blood loss, and paralysis.

The award included $1.3 million in noneconomic damages, $2 million for future medical bills, and more than $200,000 for prior medical bills.

Our medical malpractice lawyers have decades of experience handling complex cases involving medical errors, misdiagnoses, and hospital infections. We will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of recovery – we fight to protect the rights of patients.  If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, […]

Family Accepts $5.2 Million After Caesarean Section Death

The family of a 32-year-old woman who died following childbirth in 2007 has accepted $5.2 million from two doctors and the Albany Medical Center Hospital, reports the Albany Times Union. The settlement also includes mandated changes in procedures at the hospital.

After a normal and healthy pregnancy, the mother bled to death following a Caesarean section despite several calls to her primary obstetrician stating she was bleeding internally. After the third call, the doctor came to operate on the patient, but by then she had lost too much blood, the newspaper reported.

Instead of going to trial in August, the family accepted the settlement because they could not have won the non-monetary stipulations in a trial. These stipulations require the hospital to take specific steps to enhance patient safety.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright are experienced in medical malpractice lawsuits and will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of recovery – we fight to protect the rights of patients. […]

$1.6 Million Awarded In College Basketball Player’s Death

According to the Associated Press, a jury has awarded parents $1.6 million in their medical malpractice lawsuit filed following their son’s death on an Eastern Connecticut State University basketball court.

The 22-year-old senior collapsed during a basketball game in 2005. The parents alleged the doctor who examined him in 2001 should have found the congenital heart defect known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The doctor found him to be in excellent health and signed his college medical form.

The doctor scheduled an echocardiogram for the young man after the examination, but he did not show up for the test.

Our attorneys at Munley Law are experienced in medical malpractice lawsuits and will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of recovery – we fight to protect the rights of patients. If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, […]