CADIZ - Village Council heard a presentation from John Barenz, permit agent for Global Geophysical Services Inc., following Wednesday's meeting. The commissioners re-opened their meeting following the conference with Barenz, who negotiates surface permits with property and mineral owners to allow for the exploration for oil and natural gas deposits by means of 3D seismic surface imagery.
The commissioners then approved Agreement 20-12 contracting Global Geophysical for seismic testing on 942.19 acres of county property. The fee of $10 per acre will cost the county $9,421.90.
"We are already operating a 3-D seismic project and have surveyors on the ground in Harrison County," said Barenz. "We have contracted with Consol Energy for over 13,000 acres in the county and Oxford Mining for over 1,400 acres and are currently moving into surveying for private land owners."
Global Geophysical has a permit to use underground seismic charges with surface receivers that will record data from explosions to create a 3-D image of the Utica Shale mapping the underground precisely for the gas companies. He said surveyors will identify hazards including old underground mines or pipelines which can then be avoided.
Barenz said the study was weather dependent but should be completed within eight weeks.
He will meet with Cadiz Village Council tonight to ink a similar agreement with the village.
In other business:
L. Scott Blackburn, director of the Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services met briefly in executive session with the board to discuss personnel promotions with no action taken.
Commissioners approved agreement 11-12 which named Barbara Pincola as the board's voting representative to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Commissioner Don Bethel will be the alternate.
Transferred $244.88 from supplies to other and $23.49 from travel to other at the request of the Prosecuting Attorney's office for their victim's grant fund.
Transferred $200 into line item Foreign Judges for Judge Puskarich.
Palmer can be reached at mpalmer@timesleaderonline.com
