Marcellus Gas Drilling by joe seamans

This well is being drilled along Hypocrite Creek Road north of Ligonier. This well appears in another image on this page, which focuses on the frac pond. This image places the well in the context of those who live near it. The white house is very close to the well site. I am told that the land owner who leased his gas rights resulting in this well lives around the bend on the other side of the hill. The well was placed far from his house at the edge of his property and abutting his neighbor. I don't know whether the neighbor is part of the leasing agreement which would provide him with financial compensation for what some in the gas industry refer to as a 'temporary inconvienence'. On the day I made this image, the activity at the well created a fair amount of noise.

Note: Once you lease the land you have almost no say as to where the pad is made and the well, drilled. The location is typically determined by the size and shape of the lease and the local geology. With this in mind the surface location will be located where the well can achieve the maximum horizontal length in the pay zone while not crossing any lease lines.