Delaware Riverkeeper Network

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Forced Pooling for Natural Gas Drilling

Gas Driller Withdraws Application for Well Spacing On May 2, 2014, landowners in Western Pennsylvania opposed an application by Hilcorp Energy Company for well spacing units (and eventual forced pooling) for natural gas drilling and sought a declaration that the law under which Hilcorp sought forced pooling, The Oil and Gas Conservation Law, is unconstitutional. The Delaware Riverkeeper, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and Mountain Watershed Association filed a friend of the court brief in support of the landowners on July 30, 2014. This law has not yet been used to allow forced pooling in horizontal hydrofracked wells. A hearing on the case was set for September 24, 2014 in the Commonwealth Court. On August 29, 2014, Hilcorp withdrew its application and is no longer seeking well spacing units.