Here’s this week’s most important shale gas stories:

( 1 ) YOUNG Conference & Expo Begins this Week

The third annual Youngstown, Ohio Utica and Natural Gas Conference & Expo begins Wednesday. This year’s theme is “production, processing and prosperity.”

The event is hosted and organized by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. Several companies sponsor the event, which attracted more than 1,200 registrants and 100 vendors last year.

A welcome reception and “casino night’ will take place at the Boardman Holiday Inn on Wednesday. The expo takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Covelli Centre.

The Shale Gas Reporter will be there to talk with industry insiders.

For information about last-minute registration or exhibit space, visitwww.young2013expo.com, or contact the chamber at 330-744-2131, ext. 21.

( 2 ) 45-Mile Pipeline Coming to Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe Counties

According to the Times-Reporter, PVR Parrners announced the construction of a 45-mile natural gas trunk line, traveling through Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe Counties. The line will service Hess Corp.’s gas production and will connect with an existing line in Monroe County.

The project is estimated to cost more than $125 million.

» Via: The Times-Reporter › 45 miles by 2014: Utica Shale play heats up

( 3 ) PA DEP Could be Sailing in Troubled Waters

Pennsylvania’s audit of the Department of Environmental Protection’s water monitoring could reveal problems, according to state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in an interview with The Times-Tribune.

Read it:

“Meeting Thursday with reporters and a member of the editorial board at The Times-Tribune, Mr. DePasquale declined to say what his auditors are finding, but hinted at problems with the way the department is carrying out its duties.

“The only thing I could say is, it’s a good thing we’re doing the audit,” he said.”

The audit, which arrives just before the election campaign for governor heats up, will draw a  lot of attention from the gas industry and drilling opponents.

» Via: The Times-Tribune › Auditor general hints at DEP water monitoring problems

( 4 ) Airport Drilling Jobs Estimate

The recent contract between Consol Energy and the Allegheny County Airport Authority leases natural gas rights on 9,200 acres of Pittsburgh International Airport. According to The Times Online, the deal has already earned the airport authority over $50 million in signing bonuses. Experts say the deal could net $450 million in royalty money over the life of the project.

How many jobs will the drilling create? Consol estimates that the company expects to hire 50 to 75 people over the next year and a half. With each full-time job requiring four to six contractor or support jobs needed.

That’s a total of 310 new jobs.

Could be higher

According to a report from the Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center, the deal may actually net the equivalent of 611 full-time jobs over the life of the project.

» Via: The Times Online › Cleared for landing: Job creation estimated for airport drilling project