West Virginia Mineral Rights

West Virginia Mineral Rights have a history that goes back to the time when Indians primarily occupied the land. Native Americans called natural gas vents "burning springs". The oil and gas industry in West Virginia got its start as a result of salt mining. Many large oil and gas fields were found near to or over the top of salt domes. The Rathbone brothers discovered the first oil well in 1859.

Top Oil and Gas Producing Counties in West Virginia

• Doddridge County
• Harrison County
• Jackson County
• Kanawha County
• Lewis County
• Logan County
• McDowell County
• Mingo County
• Ritchie County
• Upshur County

Oil and Gas Companies Active in West Virginia

• Cabot Oil & Gas
• CDX Gas
• Chesapeake Appalachia
• Dominion Exploration
• Equitable Production
• Geomet Operating
• Goex
• Linn Operating
• Penn Virginia Oil and Gas
• Tug Fork Development

West Virginia Mineral Rights Links

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.wvdep.org/item.cfm?ssid=23

Additional Reading

• Oil & Gas 101 – General information for mineral rights owners. Start here if you’re a newbie.
• Huron Shale - Information for West Virginia and Kentucky mineral rights and royalty owners of the Huron Shale gas play.
• Marcellus Shale West Virginia - Short article describing geology, location & counties within the Marcellus Shale of West Virginia. Written for oil and gas mineral rights and royalty owners in WV.