Pennsylvania landowners sue Chesapeake and related companies
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
A federal lawsuit filed against Chesapeake Exploration accuses the company of improperly taking out fees, using fake prices for royalty payment calculations and conspiring with a pipeline company to pad profits, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The lawsuit was filed in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and involves more than 50 property owners with natural gas leases in the northeastern part of the state. The lawsuit also involves Anadarko Petroleum and Williams Partners, a pipeline company. Attorneys for these leaseholders say that Chesapeake’s actions violate the terms of the leases.
The leaseholders are asking for a full account of how much money was collected by the companies, as well as unspecified damages.
Via: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review > 50 northeastern Pa. landowners sue gas company over leases
Related: Chesapeake Energy accused of cheating landowners out of royalties Jan. 3. 2015
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.