HARRISBURG — State environmental authorities said today they were investigating a minor blowout at a Marcellus Shale natural-gas well in a public forest in northern Pennsylvania that sent polluted drilling wastewater and sand shooting into the air but caused no injuries.

The state Department of Environmental Protection said specialists regained control over the Talisman Energy well in rural Tioga County after several hours on Jan. 17.

There was no fire or explosion, and no significant amount of natural gas was released, the agency said.

It cited a Talisman subsidiary for violating state laws governing clean streams, solid waste management and gas drilling. Spilled fluids appear to have been limited to the lined well pad, DEP said.

Soil samples were still being evaluated, the agency said. The well remains shut down.

A DEP notice of violation sent to Talisman on Monday cited the company as saying that a needle valve on a casing wing valve failed at 12:10 p.m.

A spokesman for Calgary-based Talisman had no immediate comment today.