Senator Casey wants Federal help with Pennsylvania gas explosions

Explosions rocked Bradford Township in Northwestern Pennsylvania on December 12, 2010 and again on February 28, 2011.  Homes were lost to what is believed could be migrating methane gas from the extensive unconventional natural gas drilling occurring in the region.

Firefighters battling a Bradford Township house explosion that is potentially linked to natural gas drilling in the area December 2010. Two elderly residents sustained burn injuries in the fire. (Source: Jay Bradish)

“U.S. Sen. Bob Casey wants the federal Department of Energy to help local, county and state emergency and environmental officials investigate.   ‘The belief that the source of the explosions is some type of thermogenic gas migration caused by extensive drilling appears to be widespread,’ Casey said.”

“While investigations are ongoing, the initial determinations are that these harrowing incidents were not caused by any gas utility issue,” Casey wrote. “Rather, it appears that the gas may have migrated from deep underground during periods of high barometric pressure coupled with seismic activity and extensive new deep drilling activities.”

“Casey also noted in his letter that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has already held Schreiner Oil & Gas Co. of Massillon, Ohio, responsible for methane gas contamination of residential well water in the same area and said, ‘The explosion of the two houses in close proximity of this troubled area certainly appears to be more than coincidence … ‘.”