Shale Gas Drilling Planned In Coudersport Borough
Potter County Today
Residents of the county seat will gain a greater understanding of the far-reaching impact of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in the coming months as one of the more active energy companies in the region moves forward with its ambitious plans. Penn Virginia Corporation has been issued permits to drill two deep gas wells in Coudersport Borough. Location is in the Niles Hill area. The Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), which issued the drilling permits, refers to the sites as Northeast Timberlands A 1H and A 2H. Penn Virginia is also drilling three wells in Allegany Township, north of Coudersport, two on the Risser farm and a third on the Dunn farm.
Company officials held a meet-and-greet session in Potter County last month for emergency service providers and community leaders. They’ll be meeting again with the Potter County Department of Emergency Services staff in early December. Penn Virginia Corporation will be one of the bigger players in the region, with ambitious plans for gas production in townships surrounding Coudersport, including a major lease of state forest land. The company submitted the high bid of $13.9 million on 3,640 acres in Eulalia and Roulette townships. The state will also receive 18 percent of production royalties. During the same round of state forest land leasing, Seneca Resources of Houston, Texas, was high bidder on 7,440 acres between Denton Hill and Fox Hill, offering $23.3 million.
Here is a breakdown of the Marcellus Shale gas well permits issued for Potter County as of Nov. 20: West Branch Township, 16; Pleasant Valley Township, 13; Sweden Township, 8; Abbott Township, 7; Clara Township, 7; Hector Township, 3; Allegany Township, 3; Wharton Township, 3; Coudersport Borough, 2; Sharon Township, 1; Hebron Township, 1.
Ultra Resources Inc. is the most active company in Potter County with the 23 permits in West Branch and Abbott Townships. Pennsylvania General Energy has received 13 drilling permits in Pleasant Valley, 7 in Clara, and 3 in Wharton. Seneca Resources has been issued 8 permits for Sweden Township. Other local players are Triana Energy LLC, 3 in Hector; J-W Operating Company, 1 in Sharon; and Guardian Exploration LLC, 1 in Hebron.
Drilling activity has been much more intense in the counties east of Potter, particularly in Bradford County, but there are signs of an escalated drilling schedule in Tioga County in the coming months.
