ALERT ~ Frack Gas Well Blowing After Accident in Eastern Ohio ~ 450 Residents Evacuated

Gas released from well in Ohio Valley; 450 people evacuated

From a News Flash by John Lynch, WTRF News 7, Wheeling, on July 11, 2023

(WTRF) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Tuesday the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management is responding to a natural gas release from a well in Columbiana County.

The incident happened on the Tarka Pad on Fairfield School Road near Columbiana. ODNR is coordinating with local first responders, the operator of the well (Hilcorp Energy Company), Ohio EPA and oil and gas emergency contractors to mitigate the situation.

Hilcorp Energy Company reported that a third-party contractor struck a wellhead on the pad around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday. Emergency shut-down devices for the remaining 12 wells on the pad were activated and all remaining wells and pipelines are shut-in. Hilcorp has secured the services of a well control specialist who is anticipated on site Tuesday evening to begin operations to regain control of the well.

Local emergency management officials instituted a one-mile evacuation zone shortly after the incident occurred and more than 450 people have been safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported.

Ohio EPA is on-scene providing incident support. Officials say baseline air monitoring is occurring and will continue until the situation is under control. Any updates regarding evacuations will be made by local emergency management officials.

ODNR says they will continue to work with all state and local authorities to monitor the situation until the operator regains control of the well. Unless you are ordered to evacuate, stay in your home with the doors and windows closed. If you can close the fresh-air intake of your air conditioning system, do so, according to officials.

>>> If you are experiencing unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, or clumsiness that you believe may be related to this contact a healthcare provider. A claims hotline has been established for those who have been affected by the incident. The number is (877) 872-1288.

Tagged as: air pollution, gas well heads, natural gas, ODNR, public evacuation, public safety