CHARLESTON, W.Va.—State regulators have ordered Antero Resources to cease operations at a north-central West Virginia gas well pad where five workers were burned in an explosion.
The Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Oil and Gas said Friday the cause of Sunday’s fire at the Hinterer 1H well near New Milton in Doddridge County remains under investigation.
Colorado-based Antero must submit a report to the DEP by July 31 explaining what caused the accident and how it plans to safely resume operations.
The report must also include preventive measures the company plans to avoid similar incidents.
Antero says methane gas ignited as the crew was completing the well.
The DEP said the blast ruptured two tanks containing flow back water, but the secondary apparently containment system captured the fluid as designed.
