Pennsylvania fines gas driller for losing control of well

State environmental regulators have fined a gas drilling company for allowing natural gas to escape a well in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Tuesday it fined Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. more than $76,000 for losing control of a well at its Huston pad in Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County.

Regulators say the well released natural gas for about 27 hours before it was brought under control on Jan. 6.

DEP says a Cabot subcontractor who was replacing equipment at the wellhead didn't follow procedures for working on equipment in cold weather, leading to a damaged valve that released the gas.

The DEP says the gas dissipated and there was no significant environmental impact.