WV Farm Bureau Magazine March 2013 | Page 8

Oil & Gas 101: The Marcellus Shale Bob Kiss O ver the last two years, the Marcellus Shale has become the top energy story in the eastern United States. The Marcellus Shale, named after an outcropping near Marcellus, New York, is located throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. It has been classified as the second largest discovery of natural gas in the world, with scientists estimating the Marcellus Shale contains as much as 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In north central West Virginia, the Marcellus Shale has been located at depths between 6,500 and 7,500 feet. While permits have been issued for Marcellus wells throughout West Virginia, the primary drilling efforts have been in the north central counties of Marshall, Wetzel, Preston, Barbour, Upshur, Harrison, Doddridge and Marion. As more counties are explored, the thickness and depth of the Marcellus Shale will undoubtedly vary. As with traditional oil and gas arrangements, the owners of the gas interests receive royalty payments, based on the quantity of gas produced. Different wells produce at different levels, but new Marcellus Shale wells commonly have higher production levels. 8 West Virginia Farm Bureau News 8 West Virginia Farm Bureau News