Demographics

NATURAL RESOURCES

Oil and Gas

Although geologists have long known about the natural gas resources of the Marcellus Shale formation, the depth and tightness of the shale made gas exploration and extraction very difficult and expensive. Interest has increased significantly of late due to:

• Recent enhancements to gas well development technology, specifically horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing,
• The proximity of high natural gas demand markets in New York, New Jersey and New England and
• The construction of the Millennium Pipeline through the Southern Tier.

Questions have been raised about possible environmental and community impacts. Most concerns are related to water use and management and the composition of the fluids used for fracturing the shale. These are discussed below.

Landowners have been approached by energy and land management companies about leasing their land.

The Marcellus Shale is a black shale formation extending deep underground from Ohio and West Virginia northeast into Pennsylvania and southern New York. Although the Marcellus Shale is exposed at the ground surface in some locations in the northern Finger Lakes area, it is as deep as 7,000 feet or more below the ground surface along the Pennsylvania border in the Delaware River valley. Drilling activity is expected to focus on areas where the Marcellus shale is deeper than 2,000 feet.

Sand/Gravel

The region contains sand and gravel resources in the channel, islands, floodplain and terraces of the Ohio River. The floodplain and terraces are the low lying, relatively flat areas that occur intermittently along the length of the river. Although communities, industries, and mine and industrial waste cover much of the floodplain and terraces, there are some unoccupied areas.

The sand and gravel in the Ohio River Valley is also important as a ground water reservoir providing water for individuals, communities, and industries. It also acts as a filter to clean river water pumped from wells near the river.

Water

The principal water sources are wells and the Ohio River. Wells drilled in the gravel, alluvium and other strata along the river valleys typically yield over 300 gallons per minute and can exceed 3,500 gpm yields. Typical yields in other locations are less than 20 gallons per minute.

The ground water quality in the area is generally good in both the alluvium and consolidated rock aquifers. Available data shows that the median concentrations of chemicals are within acceptable drinking water limits in all cases except for hardness.

The other principal source of water, the Ohio River, offers virtually unlimited supply for process water and for domestic uses. The lowest estimated flow still provides better than three billion gallons per day through the region. Normal flows are twice that amount.


For additional information contact:

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
PO Box 879
Morgantown, West Virginia 26508
Ph: 304-594-2331
Fax: 304-594-2575
Website: www.wvgs.wvnet.edu


Timber

The timber stands found in the area are primarily hardwood with oak and hickory predominant. Reserves are estimated at 1,060.6 mmbf in Wetzel County. Harvesting accounts for only a quarter to a third of the annual timber growth.

Source: WV Division of Forestry
Website: www.wvforestry.com

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