Here’s this week’s top shale gas stories:

( 1 ) Chesapeake Energy Selling 94,000 Acres

Chesapeake Energy Corp., the biggest player in Ohio’s Utica shale, is actively searching for a buyer(s) for 94,000 acres of leased land in Ohio’s Utica.

The sell-off could be in response to Chesapeake’s $20 billion shortfall in 2012. Regardless, there’s many acres up for grabs.

» Via: The Shale Gas Reporter › Chesapeake Energy is Trying to Sell 94,000 Acres of Leases in Ohio

( 2 ) Firm Launches New Drilling Rig

With all of the emphasis on the money coming to landowners from the natural gas boom, it’s easy to forget the money coming to drillers.

According to Philly.com, Schramm Inc., the West Chester drilling rig manufacturer made famous in 2010 by rescuing 33 trapped miners in Chile, is entering the oil and gas exploration business.

The company finished producing its first T500XD Telemast rig, recently. The rig is smaller than typical Texas drilling rigs, but it can be loaded onto fewer trucks and requires half the workers to operate.

» Via: Philly.com › West Chester firm launches a giant drill rig for Marcellus work

( 3 ) Roustabout Endures 13-Hour Shifts to Provide for his Family

Thenewsoutlet.org followed the story of Brian Rose, a 35-year-old roustabout who works for Black Bear Oil Corp. The story is an interesting examination of the life of one Northeast Ohio’s fastest growing professions.

Rose typically works 13-hour shifts for two weeks at a time. He then gets one week off. He is responsible for the general operations of a drilling rig, that includes picking up trash and repairing containment liners.

Get the whole story at Vindy.com.

» Via: The Youngstown Vindicator › Grueling work, rich rewards loom at ground zero of drilling boom

( 4 ) Shale Pipelines are Opportunities for Business

According to CantonRep.com, shale pipelines were the topic of a day-long Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce seminar.

At the seminar local projects were discussed like Caiman Energy and Dominion’s partnership  on the Blue Racer project. A project that will connect Utica wells with over 500 miles of pipeline and processing facilities in West Virginia.

The project’s price tag is approximately $1.5 billion.

» Via: The Canton Repository› Utica Shale pipeline offers business opportunities