The Houston Chronicle is reporting that landowner royalties in Pennsylvania alone could exceed $1 billion in 2012: "In Pennsylvania alone, royalty payments could top $1.2 billion for 2012, according to an Associated Press analysis that looked at state tax information, production records and estimates from the National Association of Royalty Owners. *** For some landowners, the unexpected royalties have made a big difference. *** 'We used to have to put stuff on credit cards. It was basically living from paycheck to paycheck,' said Shawn Georgetti, who runs a family dairy farm in Avella, about 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh."
Read the whole thing - particularly if you're interested in how it effects state economies as a whole. Very interesting.