The Headline article in the West Virginia Observer gives a review of the objections to hydraulic fracturing and discusses potential actions by the West Virginia legislature aimed at protecting public health and the environment.

An AP article in the Charleston Daily Mail says that “gas drilling in Appalachia yields a foul byproduct” – in reference to the wastewater associated with hydraulic fracturing.

An article on the Oil and Gas Journal website reports that the Sumitomo Corporation of Japan is considering a stake in the Marcellus Shale gas play. Last year they invested in Barnett Shale acreage.

An article on the Oil and Gas Journal website gives a detailed presentation on the huge number of opportunities that still exist in the Marcellus Shale gas play.

In a news release, Chesapeake Energy says that they are the largest leaseholder in the Marcellus Shale play with 1.45 million acres net. They are the most active driller in the play with 15 rigs and they expect to be the largest natural gas producer from the play by the end of 2009 with 80 mmcfe net per day. And they have increased their average per well yield projection from 3.75 bcfe to 4.2 bcfe.

A private landowner in West Virginia leased drilling rights to a natural gas company then transferred the property to a state park system. Now the state says the gas company is not allowed to drill. More in the Houston Chronicle.

An article at RigZone profiles the Marcellus Shale holdings and activities of Range Resources. Range was one of the first companies to aggressively buy Marcellus leases and now has significant holdings.

National Fuel Gas has been drilling wells into the Marcellus Shale and the yields from those wells seem to be increasing as their methods improve. They speculate about Marcellus Shale wells that yield 40 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. More in the Buffalo News.

The United States Geological Survey has a new fact sheet titled: “Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale”. It addresses what many consider to be the number one environmental challenge facing the development of the Marcellus Shale – water supply protection.

A new USGS Fact Sheet: “Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale” provides an overview of the Marcellus Shale gas play with an emphasis on the environmental impact on water resources.

As part of a report on first quarter income, which was up sharply, Range Resources reported that they have ordered six rigs custom designed for drilling in the Marcellus Shale region. They plan to drill sixty wells this year. More at Forbes.com.

The West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization is a group of people who are concerned about environmental and property owner’s issues related to drilling for the Marcellus Shale. They are urging state legislators to pass a Surface Owner’s Bill of Rights to protect property owners. More at the West Virginia Public Broadcasting website.

The President of the Kanawha County Commission (West Virginia) sees lots of natural gas money changing hands and is calling for a reassessment of natural gas property values within the county. More at the Charleston Daily Mail. County Commissioners in Pennsylvania are lobbying for the ability to assess oil and natural gas properties at the county level. More on the Susquehana Independent website.

Here is an article that summarizes the status of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  Things are slow right now but far from stopped.  More in the TimesLeader.

Even though the economic downturn and tight credit have slowed the rate of leasing, drilling for the Marcellus Shale continues.  More at CNNMoney.com.