Court Finds for Marathon Oil in Disputed Shale Gas Lease for 46,000 Acres

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. - A federal judge has granted Marathon Oil Co.'s motion for summary judgment in a dispute over whether the company reneged on an agreement to lease 46,000 acres for shale gas drilling. Allegheny Wood Products Inc. v. Marathon Oil Co., No. 1:09-cv-149 (N.D. W.Va.).

Judge Irene M. Kelley granted Marathon's motion on March 25, while denying a similar motion by plaintiff landowner Allegheny Wood Products Inc. and dismissing the case with prejudice. No appeal has been filed.

AWP sued Marathon after the energy company notified AWP that it would not sign leases with AWP or a group of …