Trans Energy Inc., St. Marys, W. Va., (OTCBB: TENG) has started drilling its first horizontal well in the Marcellus shale. Anderson #7H is being drilled in Wetzel County, West Virginia. The company will drill the vertical portion of the well to a depth above the kick-off point and then set the casing, says Trans Energy chief executive officer James K. Abcouwer.

A second, larger rig will follow-on to drill the horizontal portion at a depth of approximately 7,000 feet. The company’s current plan calls for keeping the rigs drilling continuously through 2009.

“We have to-date successfully drilled four vertical Marcellus wells,” Abcouwer says. “Beginning a horizontal program is another significant step forward for Trans Energy to properly develop its acreage position in northern West Virginia. Our plans call for a combination of verticals and horizontals to optimize the recovery. This approach, along with the construction of our gas-gathering pipelines with multiple interstate-pipeline connections, is the heart of our development plan.”

He adds that the company will continue to expand its acreage position in Wetzel, Marion, Marshall and Doddridge counties.

Trans Energy’s core properties are in the Appalachian Basin. JAS