Natural gas blow-out prompts halt in Pennsylvania drilling

Pennsylvania's environmental officials have ordered the energy company responsible for the natural gas blow-out to cease all operations in the state until an investigation is concluded. Last week the well spewed explosive gas and polluted water for 16 hours in Western Pennsylvania before being brought under control.

State environmental officials met with company representatives on Monday. Governor Rendell says fines and penalties could be levied against EOG Resources. But more information is needed.

"We're gonna find out why it happened. Were the necessary precautions taken, why the blow-out preventer didn't work. Those are questions we're gonna find out. We're gonna hire outside experts to find out if the company did all it should."

Rendell has been a big advocate of natural gas drilling in the state is pushing for a tax on the companies.

Last Thursday a well in a remote part of Western Pennsylvania sent combustible natural gas, along with 35,000 gallons of waste-water 75 feet into the air.

EOG Resources, the company formerly known as Enron, operates more than 250 wells in the state. Officials did not return calls for comment.