Landmen scoping out Cacapon Area.

       For the past three months "landmen," a euphamism for men working for the gas well companies, have been knocking on doors and contacting people with large land holdings (and some small) along the Cacapon west of Cacapon Mt. They have in one case, secured a lease for the right-to-drill on a 300-acre parcel on the Cacapon.  A Dr. Alan Glasgow has formed an informal group to warn prospective landowners about the dangers of signing (loss of money) and other details that are involved. Here is a run down by John Webster. (For additional gas news see OTHER NEWS below)

 

Gas Drilling in Marcellus Shale Formations

By John C. Webster

            Drilling for natural gas in Marcellus shale formations is undergoing rapid expansion in West Virginia. Over 2000 wells are planned for the state and over 500 acres are already signed up here. While the possibility exists for some to make substantial amounts of money through signup bonuses and royalties, the methods used to capture gas tapped in these shales cause many environmental problems that have to be balanced against possible financial gains.

            These sites have to be much larger than conventional ones because they use horizontal lines to capture gas from an area of up to 640 acres at a depth of up to 9000 feet under the earth’s surface. As much as 5 acres are needed at each site for drilling equipment, water containment, gas storage and access.

           A new horizontal well can cost 41 million or so and uses double or triple the amount of water needed for conventional drilling. Up to 5 million gallons of water first needs to be stored, then mixed with chemicals, before it is pushed by high pressure into the fractured shale, forcing he seams apart for greater gas recovery.

           The resulting brew can bring up potent brines containing sale, radioactive isotopes of uranium that break down into Radon, original chemical used in the “fracing” (fracturing) process, oil silt and other pollutants that have to be death with – along with the gas. This same mixture may also be forced into surrounding ground water supplies due to the high pressures used.

           Above ground, poorly constructed holding areas can lea to over-topping, erosion, sediment leakage, and pollution of surrounding land areas and ground water supplies.  A gas company can “survey one’s land and even bulldoze access roads there without your approval, according to West Virginia senator Clark Barnes.  So-called “thumper trucks” and small explosions are used to take seismic readings and all of this can take place within just 15 days of notice before drilling begins.

           Under current West Virginia law, last updated in 1981, a landowner has no rights or options for input about what part of a leased property can be taken by the drilling company.  Air-tight leases are needed up front to insure current and future rights of the land owner, so newly formed West Virginia Surface Owner’s Rights (WVSORO) organization has been formed to in-form all who are considering natural gas leases. [Go to  www.wvsoro.org for information.]

 

OTHER NEWS:

For story on 36,000 acres leased in Garrett County MD - http://wjz.com/local/gas.drillers.land.2.817369.html