CHARLESTON â West Virginiaâs two oil and natural gas associations have merged into one organization.
On Dec. 3, voting members of both the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV) and West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) voted to combine and become the Gas and Oil Association of WV (GO-WV).
âDiscussions were initiated back in mid-spring of this year regarding the advantages of merging two very strong organizations that consistently found themselves, over the past few years, being in agreement on virtually all regulatory, legislative and environmental matters,â said IOGAWV executive director Charlie Burd, who is now the executive director of GO-WV.
West Virginiaâs two oil and natural gas associations have merged into one organization.
On Dec. 3, voting members of both the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV) and West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) voted to combine and become the Gas and Oil Association of WV (GO-WV).
âDiscussions were initiated back in mid-spring of this year regarding the advantages of merging two very strong organizations that consistently found themselves, over the past few years, being in agreement on virtually all regulatory, legislative and environmental matters,â said IOGAWV executive director Charlie Burd, who is now the executive director of GO-WV.
Like many businesses in West Virginia, 2020 has been full of uncertain times for natural gas and oil producers and the many ancillary businesses that serve the industry.
The pandemic is just one part of the difficult equation as regulatory issues, court delays on pipelines and market prices have made the operating climate difficult for much of the year.
But that doesnât mean the industry is dead, or even on its way out. It does mean all businesses need to operate more fiscally prudent and work together to advance the industry.
The fact that West Virginia had two oil and natural gas associations â the Independent Oil and Gas Association-WV (IOGA-WV) and the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) â for many years is no justification for the status quo.