Faulty gas well prompts evacuation
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TUNKHANNOCK (AP) — A malfunctioning natural gas well in northeastern Pennsylvania has prompted evacuations.
The well is spilling hundreds of gallons of wastewater a minute. Colleen Connolly of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says about 5,400 barrels of the fluid have been captured in tanks.
Officials say the well began malfunctioning around 6 p.m. Wednesday and worsened overnight. Some of the wastewater is running off the well pad, but a temporary catch basin has been set up to contain it.
Officials are also concerned about a potential buildup of natural gas underground. Connolly says four families near the well site were asked to evacuate overnight. Three left to stay in a hotel.
The well is in Washington Township, Wyoming County. It’s operated by Houston-based Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc