PA Gov. Corbett Says “No” to Concept of Forced Pooling of Marcellus Shale Leases

Forced pooling happens when most landowners in an area have signed leases and want to allow drilling, but one or two have  not. If a landowner has not signed a lease but owns land situated between other land already leased, that landowner could be “forced” to allow drilling. The unwilling landowner would not be forced to allow a drill pad, but a driller on a neighboring piece of property would be allowed to drill underneath the landowner with a “minority interest.” Forced pooling is not currently allowed in Pennsylvania, and according to new Gov. Tom Corbett, it won’t be as long as he’s governor.

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