Seismic surveys

I would appreciate some feedback from anyone who has experience with signing a seismic permit request, and then regrets it. My parents have 60+ acres in Sullivan county and so far have not signed a gas lease for various reasons- concerns about how it will affect their land, their water, the environment around their home, etc. Pretty much all of their neighbors have signed, however. The agent for Geokinetics sweet-talked them, I think, and made them believe the document was not really legally-binding, etc...Anyway, they signed for $5 an acre , for 18 mos. time frame. There is no mention of the company specifically repairing property damage from truck tires, etc, and in fact it makes reference to the $5 per acre being compensation for damages, if any, to the property...it is the 3D testing they are doing.
My parents want to back out of this if possible, and if it isn"t possible, do they have a chance to add an addendum to the agreement to protect them, like asking the company to agree to repair surface damage, give them notice when they plan to come onto the property, etc?
Would the company bother to sue them if they alert them they are not welcome to come onto the property and they have had a change of heart? Their main concern is their water, damage that may occur from the blasts, etc...

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Permalink Reply by LAE on April 28, 2010 at 12:44am
They've done litterally thousands of properties, and the biggest complaint I've heard is that the cables for their geophones were in yards when people wanted to mow. I think you're being overly conservative.
Permalink Reply by Robin Fehrenbach Scala on May 1, 2010 at 3:44am
That was a really unfortunate thing for your parents. Make sure they never sign anything again without having it checked out first.
Unleased landowners who allow seismic testing are basically handing over very valuable information for free. Never allow it unless you are already leased.
Too late for your parents, though. They signed it and that is the end. I wouldn't worry too much about damage as no one to date has suffered any real damage from the blasts. It's NOT like they are blowing the place up. The blast goes downward, so even if you were standing there when it went off, nothing would happen.
If any damage came of it (would mostly be from people setting charges all over) the company would be on the hook.
Maybe this bad situation will end up good. If the seismic shows their land to be good for drilling they will be able to name their price for the lease!
Permalink Reply by ben yanda on May 3, 2010 at 4:57pm
Terri
Going to add my two sense for what it is worth. I have worked on several thousand miles of seismic line across the country. I help companies get permits.

Don't worry about your water. If they use dynamite (drill holes 25-35 feet deep) there should be no real impact to water. Any impact would be extremely rare. Just watch and observe your water following the blasts. There are minimum set backs required by law to wells, springs, ans surface water.

As far as surface disturbance. Go with the positive and up front communication. Ask to talk with the survey manager when you see land surveyors staking the porperty (they will likely notify you by mail they are coming). Ask for respect and treat them with respect.

FYI, for the most part siesmic companies and other O&G companies are required by law to cut out data that is for minerals that they do not own. It is a form on mineral trespass to profit from minerals in any way that you do not own (or have the right to use). WIth a 60 acre lot they would have aquired data on your land whether or not they accessed it. Access to your surface just allows them to complete the survey more carefully and completely. Unless they have Rights in the document your parents signed granting them geophysical data (not just permition to collect geophysical data) they will cut out this portion. My guess is that this is why the agent said it was not legally binding.

Good luck
Permalink Reply by David Wheelis on May 4, 2010 at 3:23pm
There is no established case law in the state of PA to dictate a "mineral trespass."
Permalink Reply by jeanne mcdevitt on May 18, 2010 at 6:41am
Hi Terri,

Having a signed gas lease, Geokinetics surveys would seem to be the next step before the gas company would even contemplate drilling on our land. Is that statement correct? Do you know if Geokinetics is in the Warren Center area of Bradford? Do they give the landowner the results of the survey?
Permalink Reply by David Wheelis on May 23, 2010 at 2:36pm
Geokinetics (which is the company) is recording data all across Bradford Co. You will not get the results.
Permalink Reply by TERRI CALVERT on May 24, 2010 at 2:33am
my mother sent them a letter indicating her desire to cancel the contract. she had called the attorney general office to see if this type of work is subject to the "cancellation clause" required by law to be on the contract, which it is not. they told her the clause is required. the agent brought back her original contract, which of course will be destroyed. saw the movie Gasland a couple of weeks ago. very interesting, and disturbing to see the damage to the environment. i am all for utilizing our natural resources, but only if the environment can be preserved without harm.

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