EQT Sued Over Claims that Gas Giant Owes Landowners Royalties

Two Pennsylvania property owners have sued EQT Corp., claiming the largest U.S. natural gas producer illegally extracted gas from their property without contacting them and paying them royalties.

The complaint, filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, is a proposed class action. It alleges the Pittsburgh-based producer failed to identify all landowners who were entitled to royalty payments as required by the Pennsylvania Minimum Royalty Act.

Rice Drilling, Vantage Energy Appalachia LLC and Vantage Energy Appalachia II LLC, all of which are EQT-controlled ventures that have in the past signed leases in their own name, are ...