Starting in 2007, many western Maryland landowners saw increased oil and gas leasing as gas companies further developed the Marcellus Shale which contains one of the largest known natural gas reserves in the world. The Marcellus Shale is adjacent to a large energy market in the East Coast. The formation is located primarily in eight states, including Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and western Maryland. Many landowners may think that the period for understanding how to negotiate an oil and gas lease has passed, but Maryland’s oil and natural gas resources have not been fully developed. This Bulletin will explore some of the legal obligations that mineral owners should consider.