Residents of northearsten Pennsylvania have sued Cabot Oil & Gas Corp, on the grounds that the company's natural-gas drilling has contaminated their water wells with toxic chemicals. Several residents are reported sick as a result of the contamination. 15 families sued the company for allowing methane escape into private water wells and in two cases caused wellhead explosions due to a gas build-up.

Cabot, which is known for its effort to develop the Marcellus Shale, a massive gas formation that underlies about two-thirds drilled dozens of gas wells in Pennsylvania.

The company's spokesman, Mr. Ken Komoroski said Cabot was in full compliance with Pennsylvania's environmental laws.

The company argues that its drilling procedures are safe as chemicals are properly processesed and injected into the ground via layers of steel and concrete thousands of feet below the aquifers that are used for drinking water. This technique used is called a called hydraulic fracturing.

Further reports say that many residents in the community claim that the technique pollutes aquifers for drinking water with chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious sicknesses. The company releases lots of spills and discharges, causing lives and properties to be exposed to chemicals and industrial wastes, residents complain.

The complaints say they have suffer neurological, gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms from exposure to tainted water. They also say they have had blood test results consistent with exposure to heavy metals. And seek permanent injunction to stop the drilling processes as well as unspecified compensatory damages.