Dec 31, 2013 2 min read

Penn State Cooperative Extension has scheduled two natural gas workshops for landowners this month in Washington.

“Shale Gas Update and Landowner Impacts; Leasing, Re-Leasing, and Pipeline Development” will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, in the first-floor public meeting room of the Washington County Courthouse Square office building, 100 West Beau St.

Natural gas drillers have produced fuel from “conventional” gas reservoirs for more than 150 years. New shale gas production techniques have opened much wider areas for exploration, including the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian shale formations.

Many landowners in Southwestern Pennsylvania may be approached for the first time about leasing and re-leasing. The workshop is intended to help landowners have a better understanding of what is currently occurring regarding leasing and natural gas development.

Presenters include Dan Brockett, a member of the Penn State Marcellus Education Team, and local attorney Kris Vanderman. An update will be provided on shale gas trends and production in the region and state, leasing information and leasing trends. A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion.

Penn State Extension also will hold a seminar, “Shale Mineral Management for the Landowner,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 21, at the same location.

This seminar is aimed at landowners who are receiving royalty checks, but who do not fully understand how current trends and production figures mesh with royalty payments. Brockett and Steven Karabin, president of Rhino Group LLC, will be the presenters.

Mineral management resources available to landowners to assist in reviewing their lease, royalty payments and calculations considered in the determination of payment will be discussed. Experts will discuss royalty pay stubs, a topic of high interest for many landowners.

Karabin holds a B.S. degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering from Penn State.

Additional information about the workshops may be found at extension.psu.edu/shale-landowner-leasing or at agsci.psu.edu/shale-mineral.

Advance registration for each program is required and may be completed online at the above links or by calling 1-877-489-1398.

The cost of the Jan. 9 session is $10 per person, and the cost of the Jan. 21 workshop is $29 per person or $40 per couple.

For more information, email Brockett at dlb14@psu.edu or Carol Loveland at cal24@psu.edu, or call 570-320-4429.

Penn State Extension notes this program is for educational purposes only and should not be construed in the same manner as advice from private legal counsel.