Kentucky

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 2 – The Kentucky Geological Survey is taking inventory of state and university lands and attempting to discern by this fall whether any might have oil and gas potential.

The state general assembly adopted a resolution calling for the energy and environment cabinet and KGS to identify factors that may limit development of resources on public lands.

Of the state’s 25.4 million acres, preliminary figures indicate there are more than 1,000 parcels that total at least 282,000 acres. Of those, around 220 or 39,000 acres are owned by educational institutions including universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

KGS plans to compare the property locations with areas of known production. Brandon Nuttall, KGS principal investigator, said any funds generated from development likely would be supplementary amounts and insufficient to make up large state budget shortfalls.