Gas Drilling's Environmental Impact

West Virginia

How to read these graphs:

The graphs on the left show the rate of growth compared to the earliest year for which we have data -- in most cases 2003. The gray lines represent a theoretical constant annual rate of change.

The bar charts on the right show the actual values for each year we have data. For example, in 2008, West Virginia had 2,165 new wells drilled.

State Data

West Virginia’s 2009 new wells drilled figure is as of 11/24/09.

21 enforcement staff for 58,269 wells in 2008

Wells Drilled: Change Since 2003

Wells Drilled

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1,418
1418.0
1,914
1914.0
1,982
1982.0
2,422
2422.0
2,539
2539.0
2,165
2165.0
767
767.0

Enforcement Actions: Change Since 2003

Enforcement Actions

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
246
246.0
150
150.0
116
116.0
111
111.0
115
115.0
131
131.0
249
249.0

Enforcement Staff: Change Since 2003

Enforcement Staff

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
20
20.0
18
18.0
19
19.0
20
20.0
20
20.0
21
21.0
24
24.0

Total Wells: Change Since 2003

Total Wells

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
51,236
51236.0
51,800
51800.0
50,232
50232.0
53,217
53217.0
53,719
53719.0
58,269
58269.0
55,222
55222.0