Hearing to determine if Weathersfield well can reopen

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Oil and Gas Commission will have an appeal hearing at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to determine whether to allow a brine injection well in Weathersfield Township to reopen.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources continues its investigation into whether the well is responsible for two small earthquakes that occurred at or near the well this summer.

American Water Management, a subsidiary of Avalon Holdings Corp. of Howland, owns the well, which is among two that began commercial injection this spring on state Route 169 just north of the North Road intersection in Niles.

A 1.7-magnitude quake hit July 28, and one of 2.1 hit Aug. 30 while both wells were operating. The ODNR closed both wells Sept. 3 while ODNR investigated. ODNR allowed the shallower well — forcing brine 4,700 feet deep into the Newburg formation — to reopen in mid-September.

But the deeper well — injecting brine into the Mount Simon and Knox formations 9,100 feet deep — has remained closed as ODNR continues to investigate, Bethany McCorkle, ODNR spokesperson, said Tuesday. She said it’s not clear how much longer the investigation will take.

“We’re still analyzing and collecting data. It’s not something they are going to rush. They are going to make sure they have all the information before they make a decision,” she said.

There have been no more earthquakes since the one Aug. 30, she said.