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Permalink Reply by jeff on April 17, 2013 at 3:55am

Marsha, There have been a no. of posts on this subject previously. Check the site history if you can find it.

In short, they have to cause some vibration in the ground to get a seismic reading. This is done via a "depth charge" or w/ thumper trucks along a road or path. To say there won't be any equipment or workers on the property is just not true. At the very least they have to place a recording device on the ground to get a reading.  Also, you can indeed require them to give you a copy even if you have to hire a geologist to read it. Another point is - they should be reimbursing you for the info. since they are making a profit on it themselves. They may tell you the benefit to you is to get a well drilled and receive income from that. However, there is no guarantee anyone will drill on  you or even lease w/ you. They should also sign a waiver of liability, should any of their workers somehow get hurt while on your property. Lots to consider here, so be careful. Seismic is not a precursor to leasing. They use the info to refine the lay of the strata for drilling purposes, but they already have a good basic knowledge of what's there.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on April 17, 2013 at 1:10pm

RE: "Also, you can indeed require them to give you a copy even if you have to hire a geologist to read it."

At the very most, you would only be entitled to data acquired beneath your property.

You would obtain that data in digital format (a bunch of 0's and 1's).

You would have to pay a seismic data processing lab a lot of money to turn it into something that a consultant Geophysicist could read.

Then you would need to hire a consultant Geologist to purchase well data that can be tied into the processed seismic data in order to calibrate the data.

Then you would need to hire a Well Log Analyst to interpret the well logs to tie into the processed seismic data.

All this data would be meaningless unless you had a large volume of land (for which you could obtain data); at least 4000 -10,000 acres; otherwise you are trying to picture the nature of a jigsaw puzzle with only one piece.

After spending several hundred thousand dollars on seismic data processing and consultants necessary to make the data meaningful; you would need to spend several years taking the necessary University courses necessary such that you could understand what these consultants told you.

The seismic data are only useful after analysis performed by a sizable team of high paid professionals.

 

All IMHO,

                 JS

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Rick on April 23, 2013 at 1:48am

A drilling company would have those necessary individuals, and would be happy if i would give or let them view, or sell them the digital data that is under my property... therefore I may get a better lease if i have said data in my possession... but... i doubt you or anyone else will be given a copy... just ask and you shall recieve.. "NOT"

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Permalink Reply by Rick on April 23, 2013 at 1:43am

 Jeff, I was told I could indeed ASK to have a copy of the results. So i thought for a minute, and remembered the landshark way of thinking and said " I can ASK for a copy, but will i get one?" he said flat out  "NO"  so i told him to leave... not so much to be stubborn, but because i felt he was trying to decieve me.... anyone get their copy yet? I hope so, and I hope that you all had better experiences... the copy would be a valuable asset to have if you ever have to renegotiate a lease dont ya think?

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on April 17, 2013 at 12:56pm

Aspects of this have been discussed before, below are two past discussions:

http://gomarcellusshale.com/forum/topics/access-fees-for-seismic-te...

http://gomarcellusshale.com/forum/topics/3-d-geophysical-survey?com...

The availability of seismic data has the potential to make your acreage more attractive to potential lessees; subsurface data obtained from a 3D data allows O & G Companies to reduce their drilling risks and increase the likelihood of a successful well.

The reduced risk of drilling (a very expensive) dry or sub-par well due to the availability of 3D data can possibly result in a better bid for a lease or greater competition for the lease. 

If a fault is seen on 3D seismic data, this does not necessarily mean that they will not drill – they would have the option of placing the well in a location not impacted by the fault.

All IMHO,

                JS

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Permalink Reply by Rick on April 23, 2013 at 1:37am

"There won't be any equipment or workers on the property." Marsha,they are lieing.... if they were only doing 2D with thumper trucks, they would not need your permission, but they would still most likely tresspass on your property.  They are probably doing 3D in your area, and they absolutely want access to your property to dig, monitor, set off explosives.. etc. I tried to get them to agree to give me a copy of the results also, the landman said flat out NO.... so i said goodbye, and run him off...

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Senich on April 23, 2013 at 11:33am

I understand that landowners are entitled to more than a per acre access fee.  I bounced the question of my brother, Mike, who is a geologist with a Permian Basin independent.  I tried to get him to reply on site, but he sent me an email instead.  With his permission, I am attaching the text of that email for the reader's benefit.

It seems like it is up to the landowner to find out what his access rights and damage fees are worth. 

Attachments:

• GMS.ltr.mas.04.23.13.doc, 23 KB

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