WARREN, Ohio - Trumbull County is making it easier for oil and gas companies to research the owners of mineral rights.

The county is digitizing all of its records from 1980 back to 1795. Records between 1980 and now have already been digitized.

The project will cost 253-thousand dollars, but the county won't have to pay a dime. The cost is being picked up by the Associated Landowners of the Ohio Valley.

"This will protect our records, our hard copies, they won't be, have the wear and tear they're receiving right now and you can pull them up readily very quickly," said Diana Marchese, Trumbull County Recorder.

The recorder's office hopes to have all of the records digitized and online by the middle of June.