Robbie Matesic, Executive Director, Economic Development
Lisa Snider, District Manager Fort Jackson Building, Mezzanine, 19 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-852-5278 / Fax: 724-852-5341
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
OIL AND GAS OWNERS:
What we’ve been seeing in the county has been described as a modern gold rush. There are a dozen or more companies in the county that are all vying to lease oil and gas rights.
Here at the district we’ve heard about the worst and the best from landowners interactions with the Gas and Oil producers. The best thing you can do is educate yourself before a landman knocks on your door with an offer and a lease for you to sign.
First and foremost NEVER sign anything that your lawyer hasn’t looked at first.
The most comprehensive resource we’ve run across is from the website maintained by the Penn State Extension Office (extension.psu.edu/naturalgas or go to PennState).
Additionally, though it’s a link on the Penn State Extension Page, be sure to read through www.pagaslease.com.
Read the sites, read every link, make sure you feel you’re informed and have consulted a lawyer before making a pact with an Oil and Gas producer.
You may even want to consider an addendum requiring the producer to have their Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans reviewed by the Conservation District prior to construction.
MARCELLUS SHALE:
Many ask "What is the Marcellus Shale" — it happens to be on of the country's largest deposits of clean-burning natural gas; and it could be right under our feet — in a deep layer of rock known as Marcellus Shale. Pennsylvania and West Virginia are major locations of Marcellus Shale, and to help in transforming our nation's energy future, it will create good jobs to support families and communities for generations to come.
There are four stages in Marcellus Shale development: preparation, drilling, completion and production, & reclamation. All of these phases must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as part of the natural gas drilling permit process. Click here to read more about the development process.
(Source of Marcellus Shale Information & map image: Range Resources)
DRILLING IN THE NEWS:
Pipeline Proposal will Affect Greene County (2/5/2011) — Equitrans LP, a subsidiary of EQT Corp., has filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a new natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Equitrans plans to construct and operate about 41.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline and 2.7 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline, a new compressor station in Jefferson Borough, Greene County . . . click here for news article.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Many ask "What is the Marcellus Shale" — it happens to be on of the country's largest deposits of clean-burning natural gas; and it could be right under our feet — in a deep layer of rock known as Marcellus Shale. Pennsylvania and West Virginia are major locations of Marcellus Shale, and to help in transforming our nation's energy future, it will create good jobs to support families and communities for generations to come.