West Virginia landowners get more say over natural gas drilling
Monday, June 10, 2019
Natural gas producers in West Virginia can no longer drill on neighboring property to reach natural gas reserves on adjoining tracts, according to a Supreme Court decision made last week.
The Supreme Court justices upheld a lower court ruling and jury verdict against EQT Corp., in a 5-0 ruling, siding with two Doddridge County residents who had sued the state’s second-largest gas company.
The court determined that gas and other mineral companies must obtain permission from surface owners to use their land to reach reserves under other properties.
Learn more: Charleston Gazette-Mail > Supreme Court ruling gives residents more say over natural gas drilling
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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.