Over the last century, the sands of the Allegheny National Forest in the Southern Tier of New York State and adjacent Pennsylvania have yielded impressive volumes of oil — with a projected 160 million barrels still remaining. As a result, there are now more than 8,000 active wells in the region, with about another 1,200 being added each year.
Servicing the scores of oil and gas companies holding leases on mineral rights in the forest has become a focus for a number of surveying firms in the area, including Bradford, PA-based Lang Surveying. Owner Chuck Lang says that, while he also does boundary and topographic work, better than 95% of their business is well related.
“I am currently working with 15 different oil and gas companies,” he says. “We get our clients to a point where a well can be permitted and drilled, and doing so can differ from one client to another.”

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Companies: Lang Surveying; Bradford, PA; and Sylvan Surveys, Inc., Mt. Jewett, PA
Project: Use of GPS technology to locate existing gas and oil wells, establish new ones and file the permitting for both.
Location: Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Topcon Products:
GR-3 multi-constellation receiver
HiPer Lite+ receiver
FC-2000 controllers
GMS-2 GIS mapping field controller

Topcon Dealer:
Boyd Instrument & Supply
Horsham, PA.
www.boydinstrument.com