Pitt: Number of Allegheny Co. properties leased for oil, gas up 322 percent from ‘08-’09

Pitt: Land leased for oil, gas up 322 percent

PITTSBURGH — The number of properties in Allegheny County that were leased for oil and gas exploration increased by 322 percent between 2008 and 2009, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh said Monday.

University officials used data from the county’s Department of Real Estate to look at land leased for such exploration between 2003 and May 2010. Researchers said in findings released Monday that more than 2,000 tracts, or 7 percent of the county’s parcels, had been leased for drilling since 2003.

Much of the recent leasing activity is due to the large Marcellus Shale natural gas formation and the rush of companies to tap into it. Oil and gas leases taken out by parcel increased from 29 in 2003 to 1,102 in 2009. So far in 2010, 475 leases have been taken out.

Researchers said Dale Property Services/DPS Penn has leased 1,654 parcels in Allegheny County, or nearly half of all properties leased for oil and gas in the county since 2003. Huntley and Huntley Inc., of Monroeville, has leased the most area in the county, 10,990 of the more than 35,000 acres leased since 2003.

Online:

www.ucsur.pitt.edu/thepub.php