OXFORD – A group of 350 landowners representing approximately 24,000 acres in the Oxford area will soon be putting out to bid lease offers to a host of interested natural gas companies.

While details of the bid package were not disclosed, the group’s consultant said the project is “very close to shutting down.”

Most of the land in the group is located in southwestern Chenango County, with some as far north as East Pharsalia. The Oxford Land Group, as it’s called, started with roughly 600 acres on May 5 and closed membership on July 22 with 24,000 acres.

“We hope to be bringing everyone to the table soon, and we expect the bids to be competitive,” said consultant Jackie Root.