W.Va. Driller Asks Court to Enjoin City from Imposing Fracking Ban

MORGANTOWN, W.VA. - Northeast Natural Energy has asked a West Virginia court to preliminarily enjoin the City of Morgantown from enforcing a new ordinance prohibiting the use of hydraulic fracturing within one mile of city limits. Northeast Natural Energy LLC, et al. v. The City of Morgantown, West Virginia, No. 11-C-411 (W. Va. Cir. Ct., Monongalia Cty.).

Northeast says in a complaint filed on July 7 in the Circuit Court of Monongalia County, that it already has state permits to drill two wells in the Morgantown Industrial Park and "fracking" is needed to extract gas from shale 7,000 to 8,000 …