Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Outback on October 8, 2011 at 11:25am

Thanks, Wayne

Permalink Reply by Susan Lynne on October 12, 2011 at 1:26pm

Wayne, I have inherited property of my fathers in Bradford County, Sheshequin Township. My lease owned by Chesapeake expired yesterday. you seem knowledagble in so many areas about the shale, Do you happen to know if I should reach out to the Energy company? Do you have a local attorney you could recommend who has the land owner's best interest at heart? Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Wayne Miller on October 13, 2011 at 4:26am

  I would not be in any hurry to do anything. The only way I know of to be sure you are included in a prod unit is when CHK records the unit map in the courthouse. The units they have recorded recently list an "effective date" which has been 6 to 9 or more months before it was recorded. Even after it is recorded you are not notified that you are in a unit. You have to check at the courthouse or use Landex ( an on-line data base of instruments recorded ) to see if the unit has been recorded. What I'm saying is that even though you haven't been notified does not mean you are not in a unit.

 What was your father's name and I can check to see if he is listed anywhere in what I have.

 It is at that point which I can get a map to be able to add to my Bradford Co map.

You need Google Earth installed on your computer to view my map at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31036030/Bradford%20Co%20units.kmz

 

Permalink Reply by Susan Lynne on October 13, 2011 at 11:03am

His name was Andrew Tyson.If I am in a unit does that mean I am bound by the prior contract? Thank you for your help so far. Look forward to hearing back from you in the not too distant future.

Permalink Reply by Outback on October 13, 2011 at 1:11pm

Keir NE Unit recorded 9/2/11

Permalink Reply by Susan Lynne on October 14, 2011 at 1:01am

Are you replying to my post? Again, Does this imply that my father's contract is binding if the land is in a unit that was recorded prior to the expiration date?

Permalink Reply by Wayne Miller on October 14, 2011 at 2:29am

Here is the owners sheet for Keir NE

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31036030/Keir%20NE%20owners.pdf

Here is the unit map for Keir NE

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31036030/Keir%20NE%20unit.pdf

Yes, all 50 acres are included in that unit, therefore you are locked into the original lease for as long as the well is capable of producing gas.  You should have rec'd a check for a $5/acre shut-in royality for next year which continues the lease until it actually starts producing.

 This is the lease most people in this area entered into over 5 years ago when little was known about the Marcellus shale and fracing. It was back when East was interested in the Trenton-Black River play. The best part of that lease is that CHK is not allowed to subtract post-production costs from your royalities.

Permalink Reply by Susan Lynne on October 14, 2011 at 3:06am

Thank you for the information. I have not received anything from CHK for shut-in royalty. In your opinion are there suggested steps that I should be taking? Do you have a local attorney that I should contact? I am concerned about potential future liabilities.

Permalink Reply by Wayne Miller on October 14, 2011 at 3:45am

 I don't feel that you have too much to be concerned about as far as future liabilities. Since the pad is already in place and is about 3/4 of a mile away from you and any future drilling will be a mile under you, I think you are pretty much isolated from all the "action".

A CHK contact is George Weissman 570-265-6525 ext 83940 or 570-250-2595 cell.

As far as attys, I know Tanya Knowles in Athens is pretty involved with gas issues, but I don't know what anyone can do at this point, since everything is fairly 'cut and dried" at this point.