The Morgantown City Council is considering a resolution to request that West Virginia stop issuing drilling permits in its portion of the Marcellus Shale “until comprehensive legislation and inspection resources for horizontal well drilling are established to effectively protect public water resources, public health and public safety.” The resolution echoes the sentiments of a group of West Virginia House of Delegates members who have called on the state Department of Environmental Protection to institute a drilling ban until the legislature is called into special session and passes new Marcellus regulations (see Shale Daily, March 21). The legislature failed to pass proposed Marcellus regulations this year, and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has said he isn’t likely to give lawmakers a second chance by calling a special session (see Shale Daily, March 17; March 15). Recently Lewisburg, WV, the county seat of Greenbrier County, also called for a special session to address Marcellus issues. The Morgantown City Council could vote on the resolution Tuesday (April 5).

Mountainview Energy Ltd. — an exploration, production and development company based in Cut Bank, MT, and focused on the Bakken, Three Forks and South Alberta Bakken shale plays — has acquired 506 net acres in Sheridan County, MT, from a private individual for $750/acre, or a total price of $379,500. The acquisition brings the company’s holdings in the Williston Basin to 11,572 acres. Mountainview also said it has acquired a 12.5% working interest in 160 net acres in the Williston Basin for $160,000 and has also acquired a 12.5% working interest in a horizontal well to be drilled in Roosevelt County, MT, in the Bakken Shale play.