Judge Rules WV Lawsuit Against SWN for ‘Well Bashing’ Continues

Two Marshall County, WV landowners with the same last name (obviously related) sued Southwestern Energy (SWN), accusing the company of "well bashing," in March of this year (see WV Mineral Owners’ Lawsuit Accuses Southwestern of ‘Well Bashing’). The landowners seek to have the lawsuit certified as a class action. Well bashing happens when drilling a child well near a parent well causes the parent well to lose pressure or become clogged with fracking fluids and sand. Ultimately, the child well causes the parent well to become less profitable (i.e., less revenue from royalties for the landowner). The WV lawsuit says Southwestern is practicing well bashing intentionally--in order to keep lease rates low. Yesterday, a federal judge working the case rejected Southwestern's request to dismiss the case.

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