The MarkWest Pipeline Fluid Loss

A Quiet Contamination

While the surface of Mount Pleasant Township remained calm this December, a massive and silent environmental struggle was unfolding beneath the earth. Between December 19 and 22, 2025, the construction of the shale gas-related Chiarelli to Imperial pipeline took a damaging turn, pumping tens of thousands of gallons of industrial fluids into the forgotten voids of the earth.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was notified that horizontal drilling operations had resulted in significant "losses of circulation"—a technical term that masks a stark reality: 45,000 gallons of drilling fluid vanished into abandoned coal mine voids in just a few days.

The Cumulative Toll

This was not an isolated event. It was the latest in a worrying sequence of failures. Since the project began, MarkWest has reported at least 10 incidents, bringing the total volume of lost fluid to a staggering 521,600 gallons since October 27.

The specifics of the recent days are troubling:

• On December 19, an incident swallowed 16,000 gallons of fluid.

• On December 22, the situation escalated. A loss of 20,000 gallons occurred at 11:30 AM. Despite this warning sign, drilling continued, resulting in another 9,000 gallons being lost to the subterranean depths.

Into the Voids

Although a December 22 inspection reportedly found no surface returns along the pipeline path, the sheer volume of fluid injected into the mine voids raises profound questions about long-term groundwater safety and structural stability. The DEP's Oil and Gas Program, alongside the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, has begun taking water samples along the drilling route, searching for the invisible footprint of this contamination.

A Call for Accountability

At EntirelySAFE, we highlight these incidents to remind the industry that what happens underground does not stay there forever. The decision to continue drilling after a massive fluid loss speaks to a culture that may prioritize speed over environmental integrity.
We stand with the residents of Washington County and call for:

• Immediate suspension of drilling when fluid loss is detected.

• Transparent mapping of abandoned mine interactions.

• Strict accountability for cumulative environmental impact.

The earth beneath our feet is not a disposal site; it is the foundation of our communities. We must protect it with the same vigor with which we extract its resources.