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State allows drilling again at 2 gas wells

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania regulators gave the go-ahead today for drilling to resume at two natural gas wells owned by the company that had a blowout at a third, nearby well last week.

Houston-based EOG Resources was authorized to resume work at two wells that were determined by inspectors to have no environmental or operational violations, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Neil Weaver said.

State officials ordered EOG Resources to stop operations at all its sites after the June 3 accident at a well near Penfield, on the forested grounds of a Clearfield County hunting club. The two wells at which drilling is resuming are also Punxsutawney Hunt Club wells.

Work will not resume at the blown-out well while an investigation continues, and dozens of the company's other wells remain idle.

No one was injured and there was no fire during the 16-hour accident in which highly pressurized gas and polluted water were sent streaming into the air before the well was successfully capped June 4.

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