DILLINER, Pa. —A coroner says he and a team of anthropology students have recovered what they believe to be more fragmented remains of a worker who was killed when a southwestern Pennsylvania natural gas well exploded last month.

Chevron spokesman Trip Oliver says the fire was reported at about 6:45 a.m. at the Lanco 7H well in Dunkard Township, near Bobtown.

Greene County Coroner Greg Rohanna tells the (Washington) Observer-Reporter (http://bit.ly/1fmAcSP) the remains are believed to be those of 27-year-old Ian Robert McKee, of Morgantown, W.Va.

Rohanna has been assisted by Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat and students from Mercyhurst University. Other remains found previously at the Chevron well pad in Dunkard Township were also believed to be McKee’s.

McKee was a contract technician working on the well when it exploded into fire Feb. 11. A second well head nearby caught fire three days later due to flames from the first blast.

The well heads have since been secured.

Read more: http://www.wtae.com/news/local/fire-out-at-chevron-natural-gas-well-blast-in-greene-county/24525378#ixzz2wbvJ1ryD

March 3, 2014, 6:00 p.m. EST – Over the last few days, Wild Well Control and Chevron conducted tests to assess the integrity of the Lanco 8H well, after previously capping the 7H and 6H wells. The testing included inspecting the seals on the well head and testing the integrity of the valves and ports. We then successfully installed a valve that shuts off the gas flow and replaced the wellhead on the Lanco 8H well. With the actions taken this weekend, all three wells on the Lanco pad are now secure.

Over the next several weeks, we will be installing plugs about 8000 feet below the surface in all three wells as an extra layer of protection to relieve any pressure on the wellheads. We are continuing to conduct our investigation into the cause of the incident in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and all appropriate regulatory authorities. 
 
Neighbors may call a Chevron toll-fee line with any questions: 1-877-847-8408.

Feb. 25, 2014, 4:00 p.m. EST – Today at approximately 4:00 p.m., Wild Well Control successfully capped the second Lanco well, the 6H. At this time both wells are capped, stopping gas flow from the wells. These are significant milestones in our response efforts.

The next step is for Wild Well Control to assess the integrity of the 8H well. The integrity testing involves inspecting the seals on the well head as well as testing the integrity of the valves and ports. Once we have diagnostics from the testing, we will begin planning the path forward and complete any repairs, if necessary, to secure this final well.

The continuing well intervention efforts involve many steps and must be executed in a precise, controlled, and methodical manner. We are working to be efficient in our efforts; and the safety of the workers and operations will determine the appropriate pace.

Once it is determined that the 8H well is also secure, a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident will begin.

Air samples were also taken and were consistent with readings at a Pennsylvania DEP air quality station in Washington, PA. Air sampling will continue during the duration of the response activities.

Neighbors may call a Chevron toll-free line with any questions: 1-877-847-8408.

Wild Well Control (WWC) is completing preparations to safely secure the wells. They have performed diagnostics to test the integrity of existing lower well head sections of the 7H and 6H wells. The tests were positive, which means the new capping stack can be bolted securely to the existing lower section.
 
The next step will be for WWC to cut the well heads and seal the wells with a capping stack beginning with the 7H well. The cutting operation on the upper portion of the well head will allow the capping stacks to have clear connection points. To do this, WWC will use specialized equipment that creates a high-powered stream of water and sand to cut through the upper assembly of the wellheads.
 
WWC will connect the new capping stacks to the lower section of the wellheads while the wells are flowing. This is a critical step in the operation in the effort to secure the well.
 
The cutting and capping operations are planned to occur during daylight hours because of the potential noise impact, but it is possible that operations may continue into the night. We expect cutting and capping to last one day for each well.
 
The section of the 7H wellhead where the leak occurred will be transported offsite for further analysis by an independent third party as part of the ongoing root-cause investigation.
 
Following the capping of the 7H and 6H wells, WWC will assess the integrity of the 8H well and complete any necessary repairs to secure the well head equipment. This work should be completed in one day.  Once this occurs, the well head equipment of all three wells on the Lanco “A” pad will be secured and all gas flow will be stopped.
 
WWC will install plugs as protective barriers approximately 8,000 feet below the surface in all three wells to prevent gas pressure from reaching the well head. This down-hole intervention involves several steps and should take approximately four days per well to complete.
 
Portions of these processes may involve flaring of gas.
 
These well intervention efforts involve many steps and will be executed in a precise, controlled, and methodical manner. We are striving to be efficient in our efforts to minimize the duration of the operations, however, the safety of the workers and operations will determine the appropriate pace.
 
Wild Well Control has a 38-year history of providing well control and emergency response, providing firefighting, well control, engineering and training services to the oil and gas industry worldwide. Based in Houston, Wild Well is the primary responder to more than 80 percent of all well incidents globally. WWC employs more than 350 staff in 18 locations worldwide serving independent, multi-national and state-owned oil and gas companies who operate wells onshore, in inland waters, offshore and in deep-water locations.
 
Neighbors may call a Chevron toll-free line with any questions: 1-877-847-8408.

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