Ben Hardesty, president of Dominion Exploration and Production Inc., examines some of the core samples taken from wells in north central West Virginia. Although some of the earth seems rock-hard, modern technology allows the material to be fractured so it releases trapped natural gas.

Ben Hardesty, president of Dominion Exploration and Production Inc., points out some unusual features on a geological map in the company’s Jane Lew map room. Much of the state’s natural gas industry has moved to the area.

Looking over a map of Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s holdings in north central West Virginia are, from left, Cory Deal, a summer intern who is a junior studying strategic communications at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism; Maribeth Anderson, manager of corporate development in Chesapeake’s Eastern Division; and Scott Nease, production superintendent in the Eastern Division.

Scott Nease, production superintendent in Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s Eastern Division, stands outside the company’s new Jane Lew field office. The office overlooks the Jane Lew exit of

Dominion Exploration and Production Inc.'s headquarters at Jane Lew is decorated with numerous photos from the natural gas industry's early days in the region. Ben Hardesty, president, points out an early photo of a wooden derrick. Under it is a picture of a worker in a horse-drawn wagon filled with nitroglycerin.