CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Great Plains Oilfield Rentals will move its operation from Buckhannon to St. Clairsville, Ohio, the company said Monday.

The move will affect about 120 employees, most of whom will have the opportunity to transfer to Ohio, according to the company,

The company, an affiliate of Chesapeake Energy, provides equipment for the drilling industry.

In order to be competitive, the company must be close to where Chesapeake is doing the majority of its drilling, Jerry Banta, Northeast Region Manager for Great Plains, said in a prepared statement.

"Currently, there is a great deal of focus on developing the highest-return, liquids-rich shale plays such as West Virginia's Northern Panhandle, and this new location assists in facilitating this objective," Banta said.

Great Plains provided a severance to employees who were not offered a transfer, according to the company.