Marcellus Shale 2010: The year the gas boom came to the region

SALEM, Ohio —Before this year, many Ohioans probably had never heard of drilling through the Marcellus Shale fro natural gas.

That was then. Now, you can hear people whispering about the prospects, good and bad of the drilling almost everywhere in the Buckeye State.

Drilling. The Marcellus Shale drilling boom had previously hit New York and Pennsylvania. Now, the drilling rigs are moving west to Ohio and most farmers and landowners have been at least approached by landsmen from drilling companies about the potential of leasing their acreage to the companies.

In parts of southeastern Ohio, the drilling rigs have moved in and the efforts are under way to produce the gas that some say will revive the area’s economy.

The topic is still a hot one, will likely be a major issue in 2011, as well.