2013 PA Act 13 Well Fees Expected to Generate $224.5 Million
Governor Tom Corbett announced on Friday that the state of Pennsylvania expects to collect $224.5 million in 2014 through Act 13’s well fee assessed on unconventional wells. This figure represents an 11% increase over the previous year. Since Act 13 became law in 2012, the total amount collected from the fee accounts for more than $630 million in revenue.
The majority of the Act 13 well fee funds are directly distributed to counties and municipalities for a variety of authorized uses. A portion of the funds are also distributed to commonwealth agencies such as the DEP and conservation programs like Growing Greener and Marcellus Legacy Fund.
Act 13 imposes a 15 year fee for companies drilling into the Marcellus Shale formation. The annual fees can range between $5,000 to $60,000 per well, depending on the current price of natural gas and the age of the well.