BRADFORD COUNTY, PA — Several private water wells, in addition to a wetland and two tributaries are the subject of an investigation currently underway in Bradford County.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Chesapeake Energy are continuing to investigate the source or sources of methane gas that has been detected in the headspace of three private wells in Leroy Township.

All three wells have been vented and the homes have had methane monitoring alarms installed by Chesapeake. A mobile water treatment unit has been installed at one residence, a temporary water supply tank has been provided at another residence and bottled water is being provided to two additional residences.

Chesapeake’s Morse well pad contains two wells and is about one-half mile from the impacted private wells.

On May 22, DEP Oil and Gas Program staff collected isotopic gas samples at both of these wells. Gas bubbling continues in a wetland and two small tributaries to Towanda Creek.

On May 23, DEP staff monitored the methane-impacted wells and checked the homes for the presence of methane gas.

Chesapeake’s consultant continues to assess other private wells in close proximity to the Morse well pad and the methane-impacted private wells.

UPDATED:

DEP provided the following update on June 5:

Chesapeake’s consultant has screened 33 residences in the area.

DEP Oil and Gas program staff continues to monitor the impacted wells and the gas bubbling in a wetland, which has decreased considerably. The milky appearance in a small tributary stream reported last week by local residents has been investigated and was the result of methane gas moving fine sediment through the bottom of the stream. DEP has previously confirmed the presence of methane in this area, and believes the condition in the stream was related to the methane gas migration.