CONSOL/CNX Opening New Branch in Columbiana County, OH

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CONSOL Energy’s CNX Gas subsidiary has just leased 10,000 square feet at an industrial park in Columbiana County, Ohio. The new branch office will handle all of CNX’s Utica Shale efforts in Ohio, a signal that CNX has big plans for the Utica.

Consol Energy Inc. is establishing a presence at the Columbiana County Port Authority’s industrial park here as the energy giant prepares to increase its involvement in Ohio’s shale gas boom.

The port authority on Thursday agreed to begin leasing 10,000 square feet of office space at the industrial park – officially named the Leetonia World Trade Park – to the CNX Gas Co., Consol Energy’s gas division.

The lease is for one year but the parties can extend the lease annually for up to an additional four years, with the port authority to be paid $160,000 annually in rent initially and built-in increases after that. The bigger payoff is expected to occur for the area as CNX expands its shale gas drilling in the region.

"It’s a field-based office. It will handle everything that has do with our Utica (shale) program in Ohio, from land permitting, the drilling support component and production people to support all of those activities …. All of the staff will work out of the office," said Harry Schurr III, general manager of Utica shale operations for CNX.

"Everything, from the time we lease and permit a well, to the time we turn into line, will come out of this office," he said.*

*East Liverpool (OH) The Review (Mar 30, 2012) – Consol Energy comes to county