Stalnaker Energy Corporation

Services

Leasing Opportunities

Contact Us

History

In the early 1960's, Gene Stalnaker began in business by borrowing money to make a down payment on a backhoe. With this backhoe, he contracted his services to Consolidated Natural Gas and other clients. From these humble beginnings and through honesty, hard work and perseverance, he built an oil and gas company that drilled and operated hundreds of wells throughout the state of West Virginia.

In 1969, Mr. Stalnaker expanded the scope of his business by purchasing a cable tool drilling rig. He began his drilling operations by drilling in-house wells. After doing contract backhoe work during the day, he would go to the cable tool rig and drill in the evenings. Unfortunately, this cable tool rig was lost in a fire when Mr. Stalnaker drilled into a pocket of natural gas that was ignited by the rig's forge. After losing the cable tool rig, Mr. Stalnaker added additional equipment and employees and concentrated the company's focus on providing earth moving services and building drilling locations for other operators.

Gene Stalnaker, Inc. was incorporated as a West Virginia Corporation in 1974 and two years later obtained its first rotary drilling rig. One rig per year was added between 1976 and 1981 with the sixth rig being added in 1984. These six rigs, with depth capacity to 9,500', along with the ancillary service equipment necessary including earth moving equipment, tractors, trailers, water trucks, and a well service rig, formed the core of the Gene Stalnaker, Inc. fleet. As both a drilling contractor and oil and gas operator, Gene Stalnaker, Inc. drilled over 800 wells throughout the state of West Virginia and employed over 150 people during the height of drilling operations in the mid 1980's.

With the downturn of the Appalachian oil and gas industry in the late 1980's, Gene Stalnaker, Inc. divested itself of its drilling equipment and began to focus on developing and producing its own leaseholds. In April of 1998 the various Stalnaker companies were merged to form Stalnaker Energy Corporation.

Stalnaker Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas development and producing company located in Glenville, West Virginia. Stalnaker Energy currently owns and operates approximately 276 oil and gas wells in West Virginia. Stalnaker companies drilled most of these wells, while a portion were obtained through acquisitions. The majority of these wells are located in the north-central portion of the state in: Gilmer, Ritchie, Doddridge, Lewis, Roane and Calhoun Counties. Stalnaker Energy Corporation controls a large amount of lease acreage in these counties and is actively obtaining more leases. It is the continuing goal of Stalnaker Energy Corporation to engage in the low cost exploration, development, acquisition and operation of oil and gas wells and properties in West Virginia.

In 1991, Ron Stalnaker, Gene's son, completed his Business and Marketing Degrees from Fairmont State College and shortly thereafter joined the company on a full time basis. Prior to college graduation, Ron worked summers for the company in various aspects of field operations. After completing his degree and joining the company, Ron continued to work in field operations, eventually supervising all field activities. In 1994, he moved into a management role and assisted in the day-to-day operations of the company. In 1997, Ron took over day-to-day operations of the company, including the development and supervision of all drilling programs.

In a tragic accident, Gene Stalnaker passed away on July 2, 1999. He was one of the first independent oil and gas producers to drill and develop the deeper Devonian Shale formations in this region and was very instrumental in shaping the oil and gas industry in the state as we know it today. In addition to his business accomplishments, Gene Stalnaker was a dedicated family man and a devout Christian. He is deeply missed by his family and friends, as well as the oil and gas industry as a whole.

 Web Site Design by Realization Studios.

© 2001-2002 Stalnaker Energy Corporation. All rights reserved.