H. B. 2707

                        (By Delegates Eldridge, Marcum, Hicks, Rodighiero, Perdue

                                                          and Campbell)

                        [Introduced February 12, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on Energy then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §36-3-8a, relating to permitting surface owners on whose properties natural gas producing wells are drilled and surface owners on whose property natural gas pipelines cross to purchase gas at market rates.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §36-3-8a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. FORM AND EFFECT OF DEEDS AND CONTRACTS.

§36-3-8a. Natural gas leases; wells; pipelines; who may purchase gas.

            (a) A natural gas company who drills a natural gas-producing well shall permit the owner of the surface on whose property the well is drilled to purchase gas, at the market rate, from that well, in addition to any free gas to which he or she may be entitled.

            (b) A natural gas company shall also permit the surface owners on whose properties a natural gas pipeline crosses to purchase gas, at the market rate, from that pipeline, in addition to any free gas to which they may be entitled.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit surface owners on whose properties natural gas- producing wells are drilled and surface owners on whose property natural gas pipelines cross to purchase gas at market rates.

            This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.