Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Laurel on May 17, 2011 at 4:50pm

Edgar, please forgive my ignorance of Lycoming County as I am a non-resident with a vacation home there.  I am hearing quite a bit about the "line of death" that lies in western Columbia Co., Luzerne, and even Susquehanna County in some locations.  I know it is presumed to be south of Rt 118 in eastern Lycoming.  They are drilling a test well presently right along 118 near the Bear Station in Sugarloaf township in Columbia Co. which is very near Lycoming.  Perhaps Mifflin township is along the "line of death?"

 

http://seekingalpha.com/news-article/1052796-drillers-take-another-...

Permalink Reply by Keith Barrows on May 18, 2011 at 1:36pm

I was actually checking well production numbers on DEP's website today, and it does appeat that well is not as productive as a well nearby.  I don't know that Mifflin is along the line of death necessarily , but I have seen that gas companies will lease land in Mifflin, but not lease anything across the Susquehanna River to the south.

Permalink Reply by Edgar Simmers on May 18, 2011 at 4:20pm

Thanks Keith. I haven't signed on yet and was wondering if I would be wasting my time to investigate further. I'm not a resident but do own land located approx. 1/2 mile south of route 973, between Route 44 and route 287. (3-4 miles west of Salladasburg) Do you know what companies are still leasing?

Permalink Reply by Chad Ramsey on June 5, 2011 at 10:02am

Mifflin Township is not near a line of death, but the exact opposite.  This area is the one of the heaviest production areas of Lycoming County, if not the neighboring counties as well.   Take a drive across Dam Run Rd. from 287 to Waterville.  As you know Chief is the major player in your area.   Also a low production hole...close to 1.2 MCF is still in the breakeven range for a producer.

Permalink Reply by Edgar Simmers on June 5, 2011 at 11:28am

Thanks Chad. Do you know if Chief or others are doing anymore leasing?

Permalink Reply by Keith Barrows on June 6, 2011 at 9:11am

Whether or not we want to call it a line of death does not matter, but the southern portion of Mifflin Township, from Route 973 to the Susquehanna River is on the edge of where the companies have been willing to lease land and then also to drill wells.  If you look at a map of the Marcellus Shale formation and then also a map of well locations, you'll find that the line goes right along the mountain ridge that is immediately south of the Susquehanna River.  The DEP map for 2011 wells drilled shows the same pattern:

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/photogallery/...

So does the 2010 map:

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/photogallery/...

Prior year maps of wells drilled, and permits for new wells for 2011 all follow the same pattern.  There may be several reasons for this pattern:

1) The Marcellus Shale line of death is nearby to the south (it's only 2 miles or so from the Stroble well site off Rt. 973 to the Susquehanna River, and then another mile to the mountain ridge line to the south);

2) Gas companies are unwilling at this point to cross the Susquehanna River to the south and risk putting a pipeline under the river in in order to reach the Williams/Transco pipeline that runs through Mifflin Township.

3) Gas companies are unwilling to drill/explore to the South beyond the Williams/Transco line.  Penn Virgnia Resources (PVR) has put in distribution lines to the north from the Williams line, along with two compression stations, to service wells that are already in production along Route 973 and Route 287, but no pipeline connections to the South.

I think the route from 287 to Waterville is precisely where Edgar is talking about.  If you travel 973 across, you find the Stroble well (low production) and the Zinck well (great production) within a mile of each other.  But, I believe those two wells are the southernmost wells. 

 

Permalink Reply by Edgar Simmers on June 6, 2011 at 9:40am

You are correct on my location Keith. I am in between both wells and can almost see them. I also heard that there is a well a little north of 973 (where Ridge road intersects) and the royalities are astronomical.

Now then, my original question; is it to late to get on board with any of these companies?

Thanks,

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