Paul Morris from the Appalachian Legacy Project (ALP), and a fourth generation oil producer in the oil industry, shared the ALP’s focus Thursday while on site with the Well Done Foundation.
He explained that his father, uncles and cousins operate Dallas-Morris Drilling; he has his own company, Blackhawk Energy, based in State College; and his two brothers own and operate Pennhills Resources, based at Lantz Corners.
Morris said that he and his brothers reached out to initiate the conversation and later created the Appalachian Legacy Project to help the Well Done Foundation (WDF) with efforts in the area.
“We had been organizing to come to PA,” Curtis Shuck, Well Done Foundation Chairman, said. “When Paul reached out, it was a perfect fit. He had the connections locally and with Dallas-Morris Drilling, and he is fourth generation oil & gas. He has been amazing to work with.”
Morris feels participation in efforts like these are a way of coming full circle for those who work in the oil industry. He said that having the first Pennsylvania well plugged by WDF be in Bradford was a goal they brought to fruition.
“It’s nice to be in our hometown,” Morris said. “We wanted to do it in Bradford; it’s a good way to give back. We had the idea of what Well Done is doing, and we have the technical administration experience. We have local connections and know a lot of individuals and private parties interested in tackling the orphan and abandoned well issue so we decided to team up.”
Morris explained they will be responsible for conversing with surface owners and with officials, lining up contractors and “making sure the backing feels comfortable. We have an exclusive relationship with Well Done and are the general contact for PA, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.
“Our goal is to restore the Appalachian basin,” Morris said. “There is a big orphan well issue that needs to be addressed. We believe it benefits the community to do so, and partnering with Seneca Resources, we can give back to the community.”
