More natural gas wells expected in Valley

Cities and townships no longer have authority over gas well permits.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Natural gas well drilling in the Mahoning Valley is likely to increase because of a change in state law and rising gas prices.
But the wells must be drilled according to rules that take into account safety and environmental and property issues, says Thomas E. Stewart, executive vice president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
Stewart said this week that a new law that took authority over well drilling away from local governments and gave it solely to the state already has resulted in 240 new gas wells since this time last year.
He said the Mahoning Valley is a prime area for gas well drilling.
House Bill 278, which became law in September 2004, took away township and city authority over well permits and gave it to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
He said regulations for well drilling in more populated, or "urbanized" areas, became official in July.
Stewart said wells in this area are typically 4,000 feet deep and require a 40-acre block of land. More than one property owner can be in the block, so leases are needed from each owner involved, he said.
Property owners not involved in the drilling block have no say over the drilling, but a 500-foot buffer zone is required between the well and their properties.
Procedure
Stewart said that drilling a well typically takes two weeks, and then the drilling rig is gone. A fence encloses the well, and the area is not much bigger than a parking space.
He said nonproductive wells are capped and that the land must be reclaimed to the satisfaction of the property owner.
He said pressure seals keep oxygen out of gas tanks, eliminating the worry of explosions from lightning strikes.
Steps also are taken to protect groundwater, he said, and any water wells within 300 feet of the gas well have to be tested.
Stewart said property owners have the ultimate authority over gas well drilling and can refuse to enter into leases with gas companies.
But, he said, drilling local wells helps keep natural gas costs down, and property owners who participate in a drilling block can get free gas and collect royalties that amount to 12.6 percent of gross revenues.
What Carano said
State Rep. Kenneth A. Carano of Austintown, D-59th, said he voted against HB 278 because he did not like the idea of taking authority away from local governments.
He said a Boardman case that arose last year after the law passed showed the need for regulating where and how the wells are drilled because the well was close to homes.
But since the regulations became official in July, Carano said, he isn't as concerned.
"I still don't like the idea of no township approval, but at least now the rules are in place and they [gas well drillers] have to follow them very carefully," Carano said.
starmack@vindy.com