Mountaineer
researchers from West Virginia University are joining Buckeye students from
Ohio State University to determine how both states can receive maximum benefit
from shale exploration. With billions of dollars’ worth of economic growth at
stake for both states over the next several years, the universities are teaming
up to study how to maximize the value of the Marcellus and Utica shale
formations underlying West Virginia and Ohio. They have signed a memorandum of
understanding creating a shale energy partnership between the two schools. "This
singular partnership demonstrates the wisdom of universities collaborating with
one another," said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. "West Virginia
University and Ohio State have complementary research strengths in this area.
Working together, our faculty will take a unique leadership role that will advance
our shared, scientific understanding of the complex environmental and economic
issues in shale energy." The MOU acknowledges that research and education
related to shale energy development must be of high value to students, faculty
and the public. The two schools will exchange information while jointly
exploring funding of shale energy and related environmental studies before,
during and after the development of the Utica and Marcellus shale plays. This
could include the development of field laboratories. "I am very excited
about this partnership between two land-grant, flagship, research universities
on an issue that is of great importance," WVU President Jim Clements said.
"By working together we will enhance our capacity to do cutting-edge
research, high-quality teaching and effective outreach on shale energy. This
partnership will also enhance our ability to serve the energy needs of our
states, nation and world." WVU and OSU will address the complex issues
related to shale development, including the economic implications of natural
gas and other hydrocarbons, as well as the possible impacts of such development
efforts on the environment, local communities and public health. In Ohio, gas
and oil producers like XTO Energy, Gulfport Energy, Hess Corp. and Antero
Resources continue fracking wells, while processing companies like MarkWest
Energy, Caiman Energy and M3 Midstream build plants across the countryside. In
West Virginia, drillers such as Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, Stone Energy,
Gastar Exploration, EQT Corp. and others continue developing assets in West
Virginia, while processing companies including MarkWest, Williams Partners and
Dominion Resources construct increasingly more infrastructure across the
northern portion of the state. In Ohio, during a single week last year, one
Marcellus and Utica Shale leasing company paid about $60 million in signing
bonuses to Belmont County mineral owners. As an example for how the industry is
impacting West Virginia, Marshall County property values increased by $577.2
million for the 2013 tax year, largely because of oil and gas drilling. This
means the county and its board of education will collect more tax dollars this
year. The Gulfport Stuntzman well south of Barnesville is one of the reasons
drillers are so active in Belmont County. Based on initial production numbers
and the going rates for oil and natural gas, WVU Marshall Miller Professor of
Energy Tim Carr said this well could be producing as much as $100,000 worth of
revenue per day. Much of the high value for the gas underlying parts of Belmont
County can be attributed to the fact that it is wet gas containing ethane,
propane, butane, pentane and oil in addition to the dry methane gas. This
valuable wet gas is also found in northern West Virginia, particularly in
Marshall and Ohio counties.
By
CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer , The
Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register