Report coming out today in Pa. gas well blowout

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A consultant hired by the state is set to release a report on what caused a gas well blowout in central Pennsylvania last month.

The consultant will release the report at noon in Harrisburg, alongside Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.

Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. is drilling wells throughout the region and wants to break up mile-deep shale using a hydraulic fracturing process known as fracking.

The blowout happened June 4 during finishing work when rig workers were removing plugs from the well.

Explosive gas and toxic wastewater unexpectedly blasted out, and remained out of control for 16 hours before specialists capped the well.

No one was injured and the gas did not ignite.