Hundreds of individuals came out to Susquehanna County last Friday to celebrate Flag Day at the Old Glory Sporting Clay Shoot benefitting the PA Veterans Foundation and Hunts for Healing. The day was a wonderful success and the total amount raised is still being calculated. For now at least, here are some photos from the great event.

Check out all the photos from the clay shoot here.

The construction of roads and pad-sites often leaves Cabot with an excess amount of timber and wood. Rather than simply disposing of this wood, Cabot has partnered with The Wyoming County Correctional Facility to have this timber turn into usable firewood. Some of this firewood will be donated to Boy & Girl Scout Troops (for Summer Camp), to local fire houses (for ox roasts and clam bakes) and to Riverside Park (for the outdoor fire along the skating rink). The rest of the wood will be sold at market value and all profit is used to help children who are not receiving child support payments and to pay off overdue court fees.

Janice Lobdell, Landman for Cabot explains, “It’s nice to see that this timber is going to have a beneficial use around the community.”

The timber will be split by three groups at the Correctional Facility – juveniles, prisoners and fathers who are presently unemployed and unable to make child support payments. The Wyoming Correctional Facility will then sell the firewood at average market value, generating $175 for every cord sold.

The Wyoming Correctional Facility depends on organizations like Cabot to maintain its Wood Yard program. Because the wood is sold at a price which just covers costs, the program cannot sustain itself without donated timber. With the donated lumber from Cabot, the Wyoming Correctional Facility will be able to afford to buy new saws and equipment to sustain the program.

Russell D. Shurtleff, President Judge for the Court of Common Pleas for Wyoming and Sullivan counties comments, “Our Wood Yard Project will continue to thrive and assist crime victims in being compensated, along with providing opportunities to children through child support payments that would not otherwise be made.” Additionally, those whom the wood is donated to no longer have to budget their funds for providing firewood, thanks to the Wood Yard Project. Shurtleff continues, “The court system is very grateful to Cabot for taking the lead in assisting this program.”

The Oil and Gas companies are hitting the red carpet. Find out more from @OilandGasAwards through this week’s #FF.

When we spoke with the Oil and Gas Award’s CEO, Daniel Creasey he gave us the low down about the new award industry.

The Awards were launched in 2012. The Oil & Gas Awards recognize the outstanding achievements made within the Upstream and Midstream sectors of the Oil & Gas Industry. The Awards are a platform for the Industry to demonstrate and celebrate the advances made in the key areas of environmental stewardship, efficiency, innovation, corporate social responsibility and health & safety. The Awards show the Industry’s motivation to develop by recognizing and rewarding the efforts of corporations and individuals.

• What led to the creation of the Oil & Gas Awards?

We felt that that the industry gets a rough ride in the press sometimes and it was important that there was a vehicle to communicate the success stories taking place. It is also important for the industry to be able to recognize and reward its own.

• What steps needed to be taken to get the Oil & Gas Awards off the ground and running?

An unbelievable amount of hard work and getting buy in from individuals and organizations that were willing to support and drive the initiative forwards through sharing a belief that they would be successful. These organizations and individuals are true thought leaders.

• What are some of the most prestigious awards given, and are they offered in every region?

We have the same categories in every region; the most prestigious categories are the industries core values Health & Safety, Environmental Stewardship and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Cabot accepting the award for E&P Company of the Year at the 2012 Oil & Gas Awards – Northeast Region

Companies enter themselves for the awards; entry deadlines, guidelines and forms can be found on the website.

Winners are chosen by our judging panel. We still need more judges, so please get in touch with us if you are interested!!

• What is a fun fact about Oil & Gas Awards?

It was launched from my kitchen.

• What role does Twitter have for @OilandGasAwards?

We are able to talk about our finalists and winners; it also enables us to live tweet from the gala dinners.

• What do you think is the most interesting aspect of Oil and Gas Awards?

Without a doubt the emotion individuals show when they get recognition in front of their peers, the industry has a lot of family businesses and it is wonderful to learn about some of their interesting stories.

The Midcontinent, Southwest and West Coast Awards are now open for entries!! Don’t wait to sign up; submission deadlines are Friday, August 9, 2013.

Want more information about the Oil and Gas Awards?

Check out their website and Linkedin.

Last week we started a new blog segment. Today is the second post for Frac or Fiction. This new section will focus on debunking myths and confirming facts about the natural gas and oil industry.

Frac or Fiction: Frac’ing causes tap water to be lit on fire?

Despite what you may have seen or heard frac’ing DOES NOT cause tap water to be lit on fire.

Methane is prevalent in water sources across the United States. Because we operate heavily out of Susquehanna County, PA we hear many stories about Dimock’s water plagued with Methane.

Residents have always been aware of the “burning creek” and water with bubbles in the area well before any drilling or frac’ing was occuring near the town.

Frac’ing takes place a mile or more below the earth’s surface. To eliminate contamination, the area drilled is surrounded by multiple layers of steel encased in cement to seal any activities away from the fresh water.

The most popular “faucet fire” can be seen in the movie Gasland, but the director left a few vital details out.

Yes, the landowner in the film did light his tap water on fire.

No, the cause for the flames was not frac’ing.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which tested the land owner’s water in 2008, said there were “no indications of oil & gas related impacts to water well.”

The study showed that the methane was “biogenic” in nature, meaning it was naturally occurring; leading to the conclusion that his water well was drilled into a natural gas pocket.

Frac’ing is managed thoroughly during every step of the process. The oil and natural gas industry is regulated by the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and many more many other environmental regulations to ensure that water will not be affected.

Don’t let these rumors fool you…even the residents of Dimock will tell you:

Frac: Frac’ing DOES NOT cause tap water to be lit on fire.

 Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation is supporting hundreds of Marcellus Shale generated jobs in Susquehanna County. See how members of the community are benefiting.