Next phase of Titan fracking well pad headed to Murrysville planning commission

The next phase of the first fracking well pad in Murrysville will be in front of the municipality’s planning commission next month.

Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison briefed council members Wednesday on a proposed conditional use and development application for the road and utility work associated with the Titan well pad proposed off Bollinger Road and built by Canonsburg-based Olympus Energy.

“They’re requesting us to sign off on the highway occupancy permits and DEP permitting for some culvert work that needs to be done on the roads,” Morrison said.

Several sections of road leading to the site will be widened to better accommodate truck convoy traffic bringing materials to the site during its most impactful phase: construction and the actual unconventional drilling process.

“It’s anticipated that road work will start in late summer or early fall, if it’s approved,” Morrison said.

Both applications also are related to the gas-gathering line and the water line that Olympus will bring to the pad site.

“The water line will come across from Washington Township and supply water as we required in the (original) conditional-use approval,” Morrison said. “I believe it’s a 14-inch water line above-ground. The gathering line will follow the water line.”

The well pad project’s original conditional use was approved in December 2019 with a list of 25 conditions, including a time frame for completion. Olympus officials agreed to time limits on the various project stages of 120 days (construction), 180 days (drilling) and 180 days (completion).

Both applications likely will come before the Murrysville Planning Commission in June, Morrison said.