Community Meeting Highlights Issues Concerning Oil & Gas Leasing

Community Meeting Highlights Issues Concerning Oil & Gas Leasing

Medina County land owners and intersted residents are invited to attend a special Oil & Gas Leasing Issues Community Meeting, sponsored by Medina County Township Trustees and the Medina County Farm Bureau.  The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building, 144 North Broadway Street, Medina on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

The program will be facilitated by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) Director for Energy Services, Dale Arnold.  "Long-term energy demand and new drilling technology have sparked interest in tapping into the Marcellus and Utica Shale deposits in parts of the Appalachian plateau, including many areas of eastern and centeral Ohio," Arnold said.  "It is estimated that methane and methane liquids in these deposits can address major requirements for fuel well into the second half of this century.

While many farmers and rural residents in the area have worked with energy service providers for years, new directional drilling technology, deeper wells and the amount of natural gas reserves expected have sparked new leasing arrangements.  "Land unitization requirements, repair/remediation practices, general payments, royalty and bonus provisions - Leases now being presented to local landowners are structured much differently than those offered during the 1970's - 1990's," Arnold said.

Arnold will discuss current energy trends, new drilling technology, remediation standards, general payment provisions and other provisions that are needed to create effective lease agreements.