WATERVILLE - Volunteer fire companies rushed to an Anadarko Co. gas well site off of Dam Run Road early Friday afternoon when a production unit exploded, according to investigators.
The explosion was caused by an apparent equipment malfunction, forcing the company to shut down production at the site, company spokewoman Mary B. Wolf said.
The explosion occurred about 12:20 p.m. on property in Cummings Township that the gas company leases from the Larry's Creek Hunting and Fishing Club.
"We're not selling gas to market at this time. We have to determine the cause of the equipment malfunction. I don't know how long that will take," Wolf said.
Wolf said the malfunction caused no danger to the public and no injuries.
Paramedics examined one worker who was "shaken up," but otherwise not injured, one emergency responder told the Sun-Gazette.
"Safety is our No. 1 concern and protecting our environment," Wolf said. "There was no danger to the public. It was just an equipment malfunction and we shut the wells down."
Air monitors were used to check the quality of the air near the well pad following the explosion, and no hazards were found, according emergency responders.
Dan Spadoni, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, said the department still was looking into the environmental impact.
"We have staff up there now, but based on the information that was provided to us by Anadarko, it doesn't appear that there was much environmental impact," he said. "We just need to confirm that."
Spadoni said a production unit exploded, but both the DEP and Anadarko are investigating why it happened.
Investigators described the size of the production unit for WNEP as something similar to "a backyard shed."
"The site is secure," Spadoni said. "The wells on the pad that had been producing gas were shut down, as well as the pipeline."
Philip A. Holmes, Sun-Gazette staff, contributed to this story
