BUTLER — Butler County Judge Michael Yeager has issued a stay on work at the controversial Geyer well pad in Middlesex Township, and ordered the well’s challengers to post a hefty bond.

Yeager ruled that work at the five-well site on Denny Road must cease at least until July 26, by which time those bringing the appeal — the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Clean Air Council and two Middlesex residents — must provide a $250,000 bond to continue the stay.

The bond is to guard against any financial damages Rex Energy would incur as a result of the work stoppage.

The environmental groups and two residents challenged a zoning ordinance amendment approved in August by Middlesex supervisors that would permit the Geyer wells.

The township zoning hearing board upheld the ordinance, and the challengers appealed the decision in county court.

Yeager’s order also stayed the effect of the township ordinance pending the outcome of the appeal.

Attorney Mike Gallagher, the solicitor for the zoning board, said Rex Energy had requested a $1 million bond from the challengers, but Yeager chose to reduce it to $250,000.

Gallagher said if the challengers do not provide the bond, the stay will not be in effect and work could continue at the Geyer well.

Alex Bomstein of the Clean Air Council said this morning that attorneys are reviewing the ruling, and that he had no comment on the stay or whether the challengers could raise the $250,000.

“We’ve received the judge’s order, and we appreciate him quickly issuing an order,” Bomstein said, “and we’re figuring this one out.”

Rex Energy spokesman Pat Creighton this morning also would not expound on the order.

“Rex Energy will comply with the judge’s order,” Creighton said via e-mail. “We have no further comment at this time.”

Creighton did say that Rex Energy has not performed any work at the Geyer site since receiving the judge’s order. He said trucks will be entering and exiting the well site today to remove a few pieces of equipment, but no work will be taking place per the judge’s order.