Letter to the editor: Plum injection well problems

The EPA held a virtual hearing June 28 for the proposed Penneco Environmental Solutions Sedat 4A injection well in Plum Borough for storing fracking waste, which contains poisonous chemicals and radioactivity. An existing gas well would be converted into this injection well.

This existing gas well was not originally designed to be an injection well. This is a poor engineering practice. The objectors are quite correct about the fact that an injection well will have high-pressure cyclic stress (fatigue). Those pressure cycles could very well lead to waste leaks from steel casing failure. My materials science class manual from circa 1990 states that “A metal subjected to repetitive or fluctuating stress (fatigue) will fail at a stress much lower than that required to cause fracture on a single application of load.”

Complaints from nearby residents about tainted well and spring water since the sister Sedat 3A injection well (former gas well) began operating in late spring 2021 were reported in the article “2nd injection well project in Plum faces opposition from residents, borough officials” (Dec. 10, TribLIVE). Leaking injection wells in Plum could contaminate the Allegheny River and harm water supplies.

Larry Irr

Trafford