Fourteen test wells in Wayne

Erosion and sediment permits begin the process

By TOM KANE

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The Hess Corporation is seeking 14 erosion and sediment (E&S) control permits in Northern Wayne County. The permits are the first steps in drilling a gas well to reach the Marcellus Shale play some 5,000 or more feet below the surface.

A company called URS Drilling Company with headquarters in Honolulu, HI is processing the permits for Hess.

One of the sites is on Slocum Hill Road in Scott Township. Also four more will be sited in Scott Township. The four wells are identified as Baker 1V, Hammond 1V, Davidson 1V and a well identified as 1H Well Site.

URS is also processing a permit on Doyle Road near Orson in Preston Township. Other sites are two gas well facilities in Starrucca Borough and another permit for a gas facility in Preston Township.

In addition, Stephen Campbell of Newfield Exploration Company, an independent crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company partnering with the Hess Corporation in Northern Wayne County, said that they are seeking five E&S permits in Damascus and one in Manchester.

After E&S approvals are given, the next step is preparation for the well drilling pad and erection of the drilling tower.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has said that test wells do not require a permit from the commission. Among the reasons the DRBC made this determination are that New York and Pennsylvania have permitting programs that regulate exploratory wells, hydraulic fracturing of shale formations cannot be conducted on exploratory wells, and exploratory wells cannot be used or converted to production wells until the project sponsor has obtained DRBC approval.