GAS WELLS BEING DRILLED IN ELK COUNTY

Increasing energy costs have caused an upsurge in natural gas exploration near the Elk/ Cameron County border.

A large percentage of the mineral (stone, coal, oil and gas) rights under state forest land are owned by the state. In the East Branch Dam area of Elk County, however, the mineral rights are owned by Seneca Resources.

Seneca drilled 22 wells there last year and at least 18 additional sites will be developed this year.

Seneca is also drilling in Fox Township for a "research and development" venture to assess the potential for future natural gas development in the area.

Fourteen well sites located near Winslow Hill in Benezette Township, Elk County, have yet to be developed. These sites, proposed by Homeland Energy Ventures in 2006, are on land where Homeland Energy leases the mineral rights but does not own the surface rights.

Well locations are one-fourth to one-half acre with an access road that is linked to other well roads, timber sale roads or state forest roads. Pa. Forestry Bureau personnel measure the trees to be cut, determine the volume, and bill the energy company for the fair market value of the logs.

After drilling is complete, roads and sites are limed, fertilized and seeded to reduce the potential for erosion.