Mike Chadsey, Director of
Public Relations for Ohio Oil and Gas Association, spoke to the Byesville
Rotary. Chadsey described the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (affectionately nicknamed
OOGA) as a trade association representing all facets of the oil and gas
industry in Ohio.
OOGA
members include the oil and natural gas producers seen drilling in Guernsey
County, national oil and natural gas producing companies, plus international
oil and natural gas companies. Chadsey stated that the U.S. is the largest national
gas producer and Russia is number 2. Together, Ohio and Pennsylvania rank
number 3. The discovery of Ohio’s oil shale has given Ohio a presence in the
international oil and gas industry.
Chadsey
shared a little-known fact that in 1814, Ohio had the first discovery of oil in
the U.S. Landowners Thorla and McKee were drilling for slat brine to make salt.
They found brine and some awful smelling stuff that created a nuisance for them
by polluting their salt brine. Salt evaporated from the brine was valuable and
could be sold for preserving and flavoring food and raising livestock. The
black smelly stuff was not considered valuable until 1859 when refining made it
useful for use in homes.
Drilling
companies active on our area include Encino Energy, Ascent Resources, Montage
Resources and EQT—the oldest and largest company in the U.S. Chadsey pointed
out the currently many drilling companies are consolidating so we should expect
names to change. Currently, Ohio produces more gas than it consumes
.
Chadsey
explained that the oil shale and the drilling companies are the bottom level of
a complex of industries that are part of the oil and gas industry. This complex
of associated industries may take up to 10 years to develop.
Industries
and businesses drawn to an oil and gas producing area include natural gas power
plants such as the one being built along I 77 and south of I 70. Another level
of industry is the ethane cracker plants which break the ethane into its
chemical components which are used to produce plastic such as polyethylene. A
final level of industry is the establishment of plastic manufacturing plants
which like to be located near to the plastic supplies they need.
Chadsey
pointed out that our area has advantages other than oil shale—good weather for
one—in this case no hurricanes which can force power plants to close down.
Additionally, Guernsey County is within a 1-day drive to 50% of North American
markets.
Connect with
#ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com , Twitter Byesville_Club, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior
Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome
at the club’s meeting. #6690
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