Pitt: Land leased for oil, gas up 322%

PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh researchers say the number of properties in Allegheny County that were leased for oil and gas exploration increased by 322 percent from 2008 to 2009.

University officials used data from the county's Department of Real Estate to look at land leased for such exploration between 2003 and May 2010. Researchers said in findings released Monday that more than 2,000 parcels of land, or 7 percent of land in the county, has been leased for drilling since 2003.

Much of the recent leasing activity is due to the large Marcellus Shale natural gas formation and the rush of companies to tap into it.

Officials with the University of Pittsburgh created a database of the leased property on the website for the University Center for Social and Urban Research.