Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 9, 2012 at 6:21pm

Thanks Bill, very informative.

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 9, 2012 at 8:22am

John, Thanks for your explanation, input and understanding on this important issue.

We landowners here in Southern Belmont & Northern Monroe Counties have been bullied by the local coal interest for a very long time. We havent even been given a back seat on the bus, just left behind or run over. Those that are in positions of trust  seem to have been  continually giving in to the big coal lobby at the expense of the landowners. We sure do hope for more fairness in the future, and also hope that those in the positions of trust are monitored very carefully to preserve the honor of impartial rulings and to prevent fraud.  

When the #8 coal was sold, our ancestors reserved the right to drill through and produce the oil and gas. We do not intend to forfeit our rights to do that.  The language and intent in the contract is very clear, and therefor make some of us question the previous decisions that have shut down the landowners in this matter.

In our opinion, the ODNR should not give special superior status to big coal over oil and gas.

When the contracts say that the landowner has the right to drill through the coal, the oil companies should not be delayed. If the oil well is drilled out ahead of the longwall, a portion of the longwall can be removed for a short time thus allowing it to go around the well shaft. A few feet past the well shaft the longwall could then be reattached and able to continue forward. This is not nearly as difficult or expensive as some would try to lead us to believe.   

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 8, 2012 at 9:54am

Mr. Sprouse, What was your position at the ODNR Ohio Dept of Natural Resources in Louisiana?
Do you or have you ever been on or financially connected to Murrays payroll?
Remember just because special superior favoritism was granted to some in the past here in SE Ohio, it may not turn out that way in the near future where the people are better informed and where those in the position of making the decisions are now going to be observed much more closely.

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 8, 2012 at 10:54am

If the longwall mining method was put on a state wide ballot for approval or denial, it would be interesting to discover the result. Considering the current unemployment rate perhaps returning to the method of conventional mining in Ohio would not only create the need for additional miners but also allow for oil and gas production in the same area of operation.
The longwall mining method is the problem. Perhaps Ohio can weigh the options and ban longwall mining and return to conventional mining.
Murray gets his coal, more miners are hired, the oil and gas companies can drill and produce, the landowners can finally get paid for their minerals and we don't lose our water table. Murray can butter his bread a little lighter. Everybody wins.

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on April 8, 2012 at 11:11am

I find it interesting that some people worry about fracking contaminating water wells.  But longwall mining is guaranteed to ruin your water well and maybe your house.  Outside of Belmont and Monroe you will never hear about longwall mining and how destructive it is.  I live in Cleveland and nobody up here has ever heard of it, but everybody has heard of fracking and injection wells.

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 8, 2012 at 11:49am

Philip, in comparing the two. Do you know how deep the Utica shale fracking is below the water table in comparison to the longwall miner here in Belmont County? I understand that the century mine has been called an underground toilet where the miners deficate and that it's common to see lots of terd floating in pools of water. If that's the case maybe its a good thing that the longwall destroys the drinking water wells in the area.

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on April 8, 2012 at 1:38pm

Here is a map of the Belmont co. core records:BELMONT CORE RECORDS if click on the marker you will get a link to the ODNR core record for that site.

The GEORGETOWN MARINE (SWIW #1)  map shows the David Hill injection well, if click on that marker you will get the Well Summary with depths of the geological formations.

The Utica is about 10,000' deep (NO POSSIBLE CHANCE OF WATER WELL CONTAMINATION)

The coal is only a few hundred feet deep. (NO WATER WELL AFTER SUBSIDENCE) 

Attachments:

• GEORGETOWN MARINE (SWIW #1).kmz, 1 KB

Permalink Reply by Cheyenne on April 8, 2012 at 2:33pm

It's apparent that fracking in the Utica Shale is far less of an environmental concern then is longwall mining. With accurate information like this available it should allow for better decisions by our state officials and the voting public.
All to often the case where the general public is misinformed and cast their votes accordingly. This is one if the reason America is in such bad shape these days.
There is no good reason that the coal industry should continue to be granted a superior position above the landowners and the oil and gas producers. It's time that the ODNR re-examine the rules of engagement here and realize that serving big coal is not fair to the rest of us. Big coal can learn to go around our wells.

Permalink Reply by 0i7okn54zwbdo on April 8, 2012 at 11:08pm

The coal industry is in the final throes of death. Cheap, abundant natural gas will replace in within the next decade. Thugs like Murray are just trying to take as many landowners down with him as possible. Belmont and Monroe county landowners deserve the right to tap into their natural resources and be unchained from the grips of these old school, questionable coal polluters.

Permalink Reply by SA Frank on April 9, 2012 at 8:48am

All,

 

I encourage all of you to contact your state representatives and let them know how feel about longwall mining and its effect on your homes and water wells.  Writing on this board allows us to vent, but does not help much when it comes to the politics of the matter.  How can coal or gas for that matter take precendence over your right to water? 

Permalink Reply by OUBobcat on April 9, 2012 at 11:01pm

I see on the well summary sheet that in the remarks section for the Marcellus strata "gas" is noted.  However the remarks field is blank for the Utica Shale.  Does this mean there was no gas found in this stata?

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on April 10, 2012 at 7:40am

That is a very good question.  I have been wondering the same thing.  It was originally drilled as a gas well and then changed to an injection well.

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