Please email photos and the GPS coordinates to;
scavengerhuntpa@google.com Subject ; "abandoned well"
Click here to view the photos
Click here to view the map
The hunt will end when every abandoned well is properly plugged in Pennsylvania!
Join us to help locate and photograph these wells!
Save Our Streams PA's mission is:
To promote awareness by photographing these wells and matching the photos with the GPS locations on a Google map that will be easily accessible for online viewing.
Map Link Here
To call upon our state government to recognize the hazards posed by these wells and provide the resources to plug them adequately.
Pennsylvania is home to thousands of orphan, abandoned, and un-plugged oil and gas wells. Over the years thousands have been left behind, abandoned by the oil and gas industry. Many have been left unplugged. Some wells were inadequately plugged years ago with pine trees or cement that has deteriorated or cracked over time.
Orphan, abandoned, unplugged, or improperly-plugged wells may and often do act as a conduit, or pathway, allowing methane or other fluids to travel to the surface. These wells have the potential to significantly contaminate and harm the environment. Many abandoned wells have not been located. The DEP has records on just over 140,500 wells.
Some experts estimate that more than 325,000 wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania since 1859.
FOR THE HUNT:
You will need a digital camera and a GPS device (or a GPS-enabled mobile phone) so that you can record the GPS coordinates of the well. You will also need to consult the following link to Pennsylvania's DEP map of
these orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells.
(Note: many of these wells have the GPS coordinates listed.) http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/AbandedOrphanWells-2-17-11.xls
You can also view the location of the known Orphan and Abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania by visiting the Fractracker,org map here.
To view the GPS coordinates on the Fractracker map, click on the "i" next to the magnifying glass and then click on a marker.
Visit this link to: Join Save Our Streams PA .org and help us raise awareness and hunt for abandoned wells!
How to begin your hunt:
There is a spreadsheet of the known orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells and their locations (by county) on the right hand side of this page to assist you.
An abandoned well can pose a health and safety hazard if it is improperly sealed.
Some wells may be unplugged. Wells may be camouflaged with leaves and ground cover. Some wells have been buried over time,or they may be located under homes, buildings, driveways, roads, etc.
Please keep your safety in mind at all times and be cautious while searching in wooded areas.
We recommend that you wear at least 250 square inches of hunter orange material on the head, chest and back combined at all times while you are participating in the scavenger hunt.
Please respect private property owners’ rights by asking permission before you hunt for wells on their land.
When you approach the landowner for permission, keep in mind that your request to search may be the first time a landowner becomes aware that there may be an orphan well on their land.
Many private landowners may not know of such wells and often are not responsible for the plugging of the wells.
If you find a well that is discharging fluid or gas
please report the incident to The National Response Center.
A link for the (NRC) online reporting form is at the top right of this page.
scavengerhuntpa@gmail.com
Click here to keep track of Scavenger Hunt PA’s progress on our Google Map!
Our heartfelt thanks for volunteering your time and effort to contribute to this scavenger hunt and for helping to protect Pennsylvania’s precious natural resources for generations to come.
New Release 11/29/2011