Property Ownership

The Marcellus Shale gas formation underlies much of West Virginia. A landowner who leases their property for natural gas extraction retains:

ANo rights after signing the lease
BSurface ownership and receives royalty payments✓ Correct
CThe right to drill competing wells
DFederal mineral rights regardless of the lease

Explanation

A landowner who leases mineral rights for natural gas extraction typically retains surface ownership and receives royalty payments (a percentage of production revenue). The lease grants the energy company rights to extract gas but does not transfer ownership.

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