From what I know, usually it's done by oil and gas exploration companies such as Chesapeake Energy or Range Resources(my wells). Typically, a gas company would want somewhere around 50-100 acres of land to drill. Sometimes they accomplish this by pooling several tracts of property to make one management unit. If a well is drilled and several properties are involved, royalty payments(usually 1/8th) will be split according to how much land an individual owns in a unit. The oil and gas company will own the well until it no longer is productive at which time they will usually cap the well or sell it to the landowner(usually very cheap) to get rid of liability. I know a couple of people who bought slow wells for $1 and who have not only been able to get free gas for their homes but usually a neighbor or 2 as well.
I'm a little further east than you but there is a big formation called the Marcellus(10k ft) that extends from southern NY to W.V. and includes Ohio and Pa. Lots of new drilling going on. Since the implementation of horizontal drilling, there's also been a number of these deep 'Shale' wells being drilled from Texas to the eastern seaboard.
You might want to check your deed to see if you own any oil, gas or mineral rights. You may own some but have a current lease from a utility or exploration company.
