WELLSBORO - Shell Appalachia is holding town hall sessions in Tioga County during the month of March to explain its "field development plans," said Kimberly Windon, Upstream Americas-Onshore Gas Shell Appalachia communications specialist from Warrendale.
"During these sessions we will be discussing our 2012 field development plans and answering community questions. We will also make sure everyone is aware of our Neighborhood Call Center and how to get help if they need it from Shell," Windon said. According to Windon, Shell Business Integration Manager Scott Bruner will explain the company's plans for 2012, including where its drilling rigs will be, truck activity and maps of where its drilling activity will be.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Tioga County Fairgrounds in Whitneyville, maps will focus on drilling in the Wellsboro area. Due to space limitations there will be two meetings at the Mount Zion Retreat Center on March 27, centering on an area known as "Texas Creek," she said. Times are 4 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
"We are trying to cater the information to them as much as possible. Some people know about Shell and others don't so this is an opportunity to share with others where we are going," Windon said.
Windon said though other smaller drillers may be reducing their plans to drill this year, Shell has no such plans.
"We are still following plans from last year. The lower natural gas prices do have some effect, but as of right now we have planned 75-150 wells for the year, depending on weather and rig availability. We are just putting as many of them as close together as possible," Windon explained.
Shell representatives have been out and about talking to community members and elected officials to try to find out what they want to know about the industry.
"We are using that to help us in terms of what we share, talking about things that are important to them and how our field development plan is impacting them," she said.
Shell also has been conducting field tours of drilling sites for various groups such as a visit last week from a delegation from North Carolina, where drilling may be taking place soon and yesterday with members of the county's Professional Dairy Farmers Association.
"It helps people to understand what we are doing and why we do things we do," she added.
