APNewsBreak: Pa. officials OK drilling of 2 gas wells near site of 16-hour blowout

Pa. regulators OK drilling at 2 wells near blowout

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania regulators have given the go-ahead for drilling to resume at two natural gas wells owned by the company that had a blowout last week at a third well nearby.

Pennsylvania environmental department spokesman Neil Weaver says Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. was authorized Friday to resume work at two wells that inspectors determined have no environmental or operational violations.

State officials ordered EOG Resources to stop operations at all its sites after the June 3 accident at a well near Penfield.

Work will not resume at the blown-out well while an investigation continues. Dozens of the company’s other wells remain idle.

No one was injured and there was no fire during the 16-hour accident in which highly pressurized gas and polluted water streamed into the air. The well was successfully capped June 4.