Pa. regulators halt gas drilling by company whose well went dangerously haywire last week

Pa. halts drilling by company after gas accident

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania regulators are halting work at dozens of unfinished natural gas wells being drilled by the company whose well spewed out explosive gas and polluted water for 16 hours last week.

Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday the order against EOG Resources Inc. will remain in place until the Department of Environmental Protection can finish its investigation and until after the company implements whatever changes may be needed.

The order stops EOG from drilling and fracking operations. It affects about 70 EOG unfinished wells into the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation.

A blow-out of an EOG well in north-central Pennsylvania on Thursday sent gas and at least 35,000 gallons of wastewater into the environment.

The state says the company is cooperating and is supportive of the order.