American Energy Partners announced Monday an agreement to acquire 48,000 net acres of leasehold in five West Virginia counties, establishing the company as a new player in Marcellus Shale development in the state.

The acquisition was officially carried out by American Energy Partners subsidiary American Energy Marcellus, which bought up the acreage from East Resources Inc., and a private company whose name was not provided. The acreage includes parts of Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Tyler and Wetzel counties.

The Oklahoma-based company also struck a deal Monday to acquire 27,000 net acres in Monroe County, Ohio, to be operated by another subsidiary, American Energy Utica.

To read entire article, click here.