Crews work to plug leaking gas well in Charleston neighborhood

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A contractor is currently conducting plugging operations on a natural gas well that is leaking in a Charleston neighborhood, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed Thursday.

The leak was reported near Crouch Hollow, and DEP officials say it is expected to be stopped within the next two weeks. Their initial projection was within 24 hours, but they emphasized the project will take some time.

According to DEP acting Communications Director Terry Fletcher, the entire project is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.

Local David Bentley said this is what he and others who live in the area have been waiting for.

“It is a good relief for me to put initiative forward to get the leak stopped because, at the end of the day, none of this going to go away until we get these stopped.”

Fletcher tells WSAZ.com state funds are being used to plug the natural gas well, which he says is considered orphaned.

The original complaint to the WVDEP that was reported on in 2021 also mentioned a HS2 well. According to the DEP, a gas analysis from Jan. 13, 2022, provided by the well owner, Diversified, showed that there is no longer H2S in the well.

The WVDEP reports that no new complaints or reports have been submitted to the department.

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