Links
Advocacy - Favors Drilling
- American Petroleum Institute – Hydraulic Fracturing National organization of energy companies. This particular section of the API website is dedicated to hydraulic fracturing with fact sheets and videos. Excellent resource.
- ANGA – America's Natural Gas Alliance National industry organization making the case for clean-burning natural gas as America’s best energy alternative. News and resources. Check out their Hydraulic Fracturing 101 fact sheet.
- Energy in Depth Educational organization sponsored by America’s independent oil & gas producers. Excellent resource loaded with news, blog posts, files to download and videos to watch. Uses facts to counterbalance those who oppose drilling. A must-follow website.
- Energy in Depth – Northeast Marcellus Initiative EID site dedicated to the issues surrounding the Marcellus Shale, specifically in northeastern PA and NY. Tom Shepstone and crew do an outstanding job with this “take no prisoners” pro-drilling website.
- IOGA – Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York Trade association for New York’s independent oil & gas producers, offering news, events calendar and more.
- IOGAWV – Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia Trade association for oil & gas producers in WV. Issues a monthly PDF newsletter, most issues containing information about the Marcellus Shale.
- Marcellus Shale Coalition Industry-backed organization based in the Pittsburgh area. Committed to the responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale. Offers a wealth of news, fact sheets and more. Another must-follow site.
- MarcellusFacts.com A Marcellus Shale drilling news blog sponsored and produced by the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York.
- Natural Gas Forum for Landowners (PA Gas Lease) This site is packed with useful resources, including videos, maps and more. Well worth your time to investigate, especially if you’re new to drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
- NaturalGasPA.com Website dedicated to PA residents and the natural gas industry. We connect businesses, residents and places to the Marcellus gas play. Blog posts, event listings, forum discussions and much more.
- Ohio Oil and Gas Association Trade association of oil & gas producers in Ohio. Updates on legislation pending before the state legislature.
- OilShaleGas.com – Marcellus Shale A fairly comprehensive list of the energy companies involved with drilling in the Marcellus Shale, along with some general background on the Marcellus formation.
- PIOGA – Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Assocation Trade association for PA’s independent oil & gas producers. Offers news, events, info for landowners, a good general backgrounder on the Marcellus Shale and more.
- ShaleBlog.com – Marcellus Shale A blog site devoted to drilling in shale formations. This particular section of the blog deals with news and information about drilling in the Marcellus.
Advocacy - Opposed to Drilling
- Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Identifies key threats to Cayuga Lake and its watershed, and it advocates for solutions that support a healthy environment and vibrant communities.
- DRAC – Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition A group of Dryden citizens interested in raising public awareness of issues related to gas drilling, including land leasing details and the methods and risks involved with unconventional gas drilling.
- Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project Claims to be a citizen operated site with the belief that gas and oil drilling need to occur in a way which does not risk public health and safety nor violate individual civil or property rights.
- ROUSE – Residents Opposing Unsafe Shale-gas Extraction Advocate for and provide resources to residents who do not wish to be exposed to extensive gas drilling.
- Shaleshock Action Alliance A loose network of groups and individuals. Landowners and renters. People with leases, and people without.
- The Marcellus Effect A blog covering news of drilling in the Marcellus, from an environmental journalist (anti-drilling point of view).
Basics
- Geology.com – Marcellus Shale Full of brief articles and maps, including useful tools like a royalty calculator. Good place for an overview of what the Marcellus Shale is all about.
- Geology.com – Mineral Rights Basic information about mineral, surface, oil and gas rights.
- Natural Gas Forum for Landowners (PA Gas Lease) This site is packed with useful resources, including videos, maps and more. Well worth your time to investigate, especially if you’re new to drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
- NY DEC – Gas well drilling in the Marcellus Shale A brief overview of drilling in the Marcellus by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Although written for New York, it’s a good primer for all Marcellus Shale locations. Complete with links to other resources. A good place to start.
Energy Companies & Drillers
- AB Resources A privately-held oil and gas company operating in the Appalachian Basin region. Aggressively moving forward with an increasing number of new drilling initiatives while maintaining hundreds of unconventional Marcellus and Upper Devonian wells.
- Alta Resources A private company located in downtown Houston with a field office in Montrose, Pennsylvania. Alta was formed in 1999 to explore for oil and natural gas in the onshore United States.
- Anadarko Petroleum Among the largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the world. Anadarko’s portfolio of assets encompasses premier positions in nearly a dozen major U.S. onshore natural gas resource plays.
- Atlas Energy Atlas has been engaged in the energy industry since 1968 and is currently a leading producer in the Marcellus Shale. Also one of the largest producers in the New Albany Shale in Indiana, the Antrim Shale in Michigan and the Chattanooga Shale in Tennessee.
- Cabot Oil & Gas Headquartered in Houston, TX, a leading independent North American natural gas producer. The company’s reserves are focused in both conventional and unconventional basins in Appalachia, the Rocky Mountains, the Mid-Continent and the Gulf Coast.
- Capital City Energy Group Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Columbus, OH. One of the few vertically integrated independent oil & natural gas companies, with rapid growth by acquiring drillers, operators, service companies, pipelines, lease owners, etc.
- Carrizo Oil & Gas A Houston based independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil. Current operations include the Barnett Shale in North Texas and the Marcellus Shale of Appalachia, among other locations.
- Chesapeake Energy The second-largest producer of natural gas, a Top 20 producer of oil and natural gas liquids and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK.
- Chevron One of the world’s largest integrated energy companies. Headquartered in San Ramon, CA. Engaged in every aspect of the crude oil and natural gas industry: exploration & production, transportation, chemicals manufacturing & more.
- Chief Oil & Gas Founded in 1994, independent oil & gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas reserves in several fields in the Appalachian Basin, northern Texas, and Central Utah.
- Citrus Energy Founded in 1989, the company has grown through acquisitions and drilling programs in a number of states. The current focus is to drill acreage in unconventional shale plays including the Barnett Shale in North Texas and the Marcellus Shale in PA.
- CNX Gas In 2005, CONSOL Energy established CNX Gas Corporation, a business that has expanded to become one of the largest independent natural gas exploration, development, production and gathering companies in the country.
- ConocoPhillips The third largest integrated energy company in the U.S. and the fourth largest refiner in the world. Headquartered in Texas with operations in more than 30 countries.
- CONSOL Energy A leading diversified energy producer in the Appalachian (Marcellus) basin. Named one of America’s most admired companies by Fortune magazine, CONSOL produces both natural gas and high-BTU coal.
- Dominion Exploration & Production Dominion E&P was previously a subsidiary of the energy giant Dominion. Most of Dominion E&P was sold to CONSOL Energy in 2007, retaining some E&P reserves in the Marcellus region.
- East Resources East Resources was a Pennsylvania-based oil and gas company sold to energy giant Shell in July 2010. The former East is the foundation for Shell’s new operations and growth in the Appalachian (Marcellus) Basin.
- Encana Among the largest natural gas companies in North America. Focused on natural gas exploration and the development of natural gas resource plays.
- Energen A domestic oil and gas exploration and production company.
- EOG Resources One of the largest independent (non- integrated) oil and natural gas companies in the United States.
- EQT Corporation One of the country’s largest natural gas producers. Operating in four states, they are a leader in the integration of air and horizontal drilling. Also major Midstream operations: pipelines, processing plants, and storage facilities.
- Exxon Mobil The world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company. Exxon Mobil became a major player in the Marcellus when it purchased XTO Energy for $31 billion in late 2009.
- Fortuna Energy In January 2010, Fortuna Energy–a subsidiary of Canadian-based Talisman Energy Inc.–changed their name to Talisman Energy USA Inc. This was a name change only, all operations remain the same.
- Gastar Exploration An exploration and production company focused on finding and developing natural gas assets in North America. They own exploration and development acreage in the Bossier gas play of East Texas and Marcellus Shale play in WV and PA.
- Hess A very large energy company with exploration, production, refining, and retail sales around the world.
- Inflection Energy A small, privately-held oil and gas exploration company based in Denver, CO.
- Marathon Oil Marathon is among the world’s leading integrated energy companies with both upstream (exploration & production), and downstream (refining, transportation) operations.
- Mesa Energy Based in Dallas, TX, Mesa is a growth-oriented, publicly traded Exploration and Production (E & P) company, drilling multi-well, repeatable projects in low-risk basins for the creation of significant recoverable reserves.
- Newfield Exploration An independent crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1989 and went public in 1993.
- Northeast Natural Energy Headquartered in Charleston, WV, a private oil and gas company focused on drilling, exploration, acquisition and joint ventures in the Appalachian (Marcellus) basin.
- Nytis Exploration A Denver-based exploration and production company formed in 2003 as a subsidiary of Cadent Energy Partners to establish a position in strategically located North American natural gas assets.
- PDC Mountaineer A joint venture formed in 2009 between PDC Energy and Lime Rock Partners. Headquartered in Bridgeport, WV, PDC Mountaineer is focused on exploration and development of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale play.
- Penn Virginia Corporation An independent natural gas and oil company focused on the exploration, acquisition, development and production of reserves in onshore regions of the U.S.
- Range Resources Among the leading independent natural gas companies operating in the United States through subsidiaries in both the Southwestern and Appalachian (Marcellus) regions of the country.
- Reliance Industries A Fortune Global 500 company and the largest private sector company in India. Activities include exploration and production of oil and gas, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals and more.
- Rex Energy An independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, production, exploration and development of oil and gas, with properties in the Appalachian (Marcellus), Illinois and Rockies Regions.
- Samson Investment Co A large, privately held exploration and production company headquartered in Tulsa, OK. An active driller in the US annually spending well over a billion dollars a year in drilling new oil and gas wells.
- Seneca Resources Headquartered in Houston, TX, a subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Company that explores, develops and purchases natural gas and oil reserves in the Gulf Coast of TX & LA, the Appalchian (Marcellus) Region, the Southwest and in CA.
- Shell Appalachia A global group of energy and petrochemicals companies with around 102,000 employees in more than 100 countries and territories. In July 2010 Shell purchased East Corporation as its foundation for operations in the Marcellus Shale region.
- SM Energy Formerly known as St. Mary Land & Exploration, an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States.
- Southwestern Energy A growing independent energy company primarily engaged in natural gas and crude oil exploration, development and production within North America.
- Statoil A large, Norway-based energy company with a large gas position in the U.S., especially in the Marcellus shale gas area and the Eagle Ford, Texas shale gas area.
- Stone Energy An independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, LA, with additional offices in New Orleans, Houston, and Morgantown, WV.
- Talisman Energy A global, diversified, upstream oil and gas company, headquartered in Canada. Talisman’s three main operating areas are North America, the North Sea and Southeast Asia.
- Trans Energy Based in WV, an independent exploration and production company focused on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas in the Appalachian (Marcellus) Basin.
- Triana Energy An independent, privately held oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Charleston, WV.
- Ultra Petroleum A leading independent energy company actively engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas.
- Unit Petroleum A wholly owned subsidiary of Unit Corporation with a large drilling fleet and an inventory of more than 1,400 drilling locations. Operates or owns interest in more than 7,700 wells.
- West Bay Exploration An oil and gas exploration and drilling company based in Traverse City, Michigan.
- Williams Production Appalachia A subsidiary of Williams Corporation concentrating on the Marcellus. Williams is one of the top energy producers in the US, with natural gas operations spanning exploration and production, midstream and pipelines.
- XTO Energy Started in 1986 and bought by Exxon Mobil in 2010–now an Exxon Mobil subsidiary concentrating on natural gas, particularly in the Marcellus region.
Energy Services & Support Companies
- El Paso Corporation An industry leader in transporting natural gas, taking extensive measures to ensure their pipeline’s safe operation and physical integrity.
- Elexco Group A full service land company providing land consulting and land administration services including oil and gas leasing.
- eWebOQ DOT safety and qualification training delivered through convenient online training tools available 24/7.
Government Organizations
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – Hydraulic Fracturing Section of the EPA website dedicated to hydraulic fracturing and the EPA’s multi-year study of it with an eye toward regulating it under the Clean Water Act.
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – Oil and Natural Gas Air Pollution Standards Section of the EPA website dealing with new regulations they intend to impose on the oil & gas drilling industry to reduce volatile organic compound emissions from wells that are hydraulically fractured. The new regs go into effect by Feb 2012.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration – Natural Gas U.S. government agency responsible for predicting energy demand and supply. Load of research. This section of the EIA site is dedicated to natural gas.
Hydraulic Fracturing
- American Petroleum Institute – Hydraulic Fracturing National organization of energy companies. This particular section of the API website is dedicated to hydraulic fracturing with fact sheets and videos. Excellent resource.
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – Hydraulic Fracturing Section of the EPA website dedicated to hydraulic fracturing and the EPA’s multi-year study of it with an eye toward regulating it under the Clean Water Act.
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – Oil and Natural Gas Air Pollution Standards Section of the EPA website dealing with new regulations they intend to impose on the oil & gas drilling industry to reduce volatile organic compound emissions from wells that are hydraulically fractured. The new regs go into effect by Feb 2012.
- EPA Draft Study of Hydraulic Fracturing (PDF) The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s draft plan for how they intend to evaluate whether or not hydraulic fracturing is safe for water supplies. Full of information on the practice of hydraulic fracturing.
- Horizontal Shale Drilling (Video) An excellent video showing how shale drilling works, complete with a detailed explanation of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracing”), and an explanation of how horizontal drilling keeps water supplies safe and sound.
- Shale Gas and Drinking Water Just what hydraulic fracturing is, how it’s done, and why it’s safe, particularly in the Marcellus Shale deposit. It is an extremely well written and enlightening article—short and to the point. A must read.
- Water Facts #28 – Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply (PDF) A guide to water problems that might possibly occur from gas drilling activities, and the proper way to test water to ensure it is not contaminated from drilling. By Penn State University.
Regulations
- New York Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) The official version of the draft regulations drafted by the State Dept of Environmental Conservation for drilling in New York State, July 2011 version.
Resources of Interest
- Geology.com – Natural Gas Royalty Estimater A handy calculator that works right on the web to help you estimate how much in royalties you may realize from wells drilled on your property.







