October 27, 2009

 

BIG FLATS-- A gas drilling company is shifting some jobs from the Southern Tier to Western Pennsylvania, where drilling is already well underway.
     Fortuna Energy's parent company, Talisman Energy, is establishing a branch in Pittsburgh and some Horseheads employees will be moving down.
     Fortuna Energy isn't closing here, but some jobs will be moved to Pittsburgh.
     A spokesman for Fortuna Energy, Mark Sheuerman, says Pittsburgh's a good populated spot to open a branch.  He says its because the Marcellus Shale covers several states, where Talisman needs a presence.
     Mark Sheuerman says the company will transfer some of the jobs in Fortuna's big flats headquarters.
     The Big Flats doors will stay open to  focus on opportunities and projects happening here.
     “Seventy-five producing wells are here in Trenton-Black River. Along with our 600,000 acres of land positioned here in New York. So those items are going to need to continue monitoring and activity and field work and that will be managed from this office,” Sheuerman said.
     Employees have been notified that changes are happening.
     Fortuna is still working out the details regarding how many employees and when.
     That could take up to a year.