I am considering signing a lease or doing other business with a driller or landman for a company. Can I find out if that “operator” has a history of “violations” of state laws or rules?

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You can find out information about “violations” on the West Virginia DEP, Office of Oil and Gas web site. But be aware that much enforcement is done informally without the state writing up official “violations” that will show up on this data base. And many surface owners believe that even that enforcement is lax. There are only 16 inspectors for 45,000 active wells, and nearly 3000 well work permits a year, plus other duties.

Go to this page of the website of the West Virginia DEP, Office of Oil and Gas. You can search by County, “operator” or inspector or any combination of those – and whether they have been closed or not.