Ohio, Pa., W. Va. Agree to Collaborate on Shale Gas Issues

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Officials from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania announced Tuesday that they entered into an agreement to collaborate on areas critical to the success of the growing shale gas industry. The agreement was signed at the Tri-State Shale Summit in Morgantown, W. Va.

“The issues and opportunities facing our growing oil and gas industry do not recognize state lines, making it essential that we work together to help ensure the continued growth we expect to see,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said in a statement. “We are seeing tremendous and continued growth in this industry and we know that can be strengthened by partnering on key areas.”

Taylor represented Ohio at the conference and signed the agreement, which can be viewed here.

Under the agreement, the three states will discuss ways to cooperate in marketing efforts to attract new businesses, strengthen workforce development programs, spur investments in expanding infrastructure and delivery of natural gas and liquids, and encourage its academic institutions to expand and collaborate on research.

Ohio’s horizontal shale wells recently produced a record 10 million barrels of oil and 405 billion cubic feet of natural gas in the first half of this year. Production continues to rise as oil increased by more than 5.6 million barrels and gas by 250 billion cubic feet compared to the first half of 2014 – a 126% and 160% increase, respectively.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.