What are they looking for with seismic testing in Eastern Ohio

Here in the Eastern Guernsey county area we are seeing a company use a helicopter to lower seismic testing supplies into remote areas.

This area is being drilled, or rather was before oil prices fell, so my question is what are they looking for ?

A representative of the company doing these surveys/testing came to our house last summer asking for permission to our land, which we had already denied them over the phone and by mail.

He told me quite frankly that if we were leased it was in our best interests to allow them on our property. I told him of the high drilling activity even though I am sure he was aware of it and asked him what they were looking for since the presence of the Utica is already a sure thing.

He would not straightly answer my question or even address it so I asked them to leave and not come back. I don't regret that decision nor do I question why others allowed them access to their property for these tests.

But to this day no one has been able to tell me what they are looking for.

By the way, the monetary compensation for allowing access to test on our property was the generous sum of $5 an acre.

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Permalink Reply by James Vanderink on April 15, 2015 at 11:34pm
Lower Chazy Shale
Permalink Reply by tena marie west on April 16, 2015 at 9:27am

Hello, I talked to my sister last night who lives in Harrison CountyOhio and was approached by the seismic people to do there property and they told them no. They own over two hundred acres and the guy got pretty upset with them. But he told them they wanted to go down to the plateau formation. Is there such a formation. Thanks

Permalink Reply by Craig Cooper on April 16, 2015 at 10:25am

tena,

Probably the Pt. Pleasant formation, which is below the Utica and is also organically rich.

Just out of curiosity, do you know why your sister decided to no-permit the seismic company?

Permalink Reply by tena marie west on April 16, 2015 at 11:43am

Craig, I dont really know i know there tired of the whole mess. They let a pipeline company come in to survey and they left gates open for there cows to get out and they were there all the time and were in there fields without calling first and then decided to not go through them after messing with them for about  a year. My brother in law says he has better things to do. Ill have to ask her and see what she sayes. Tena

Permalink Reply by David Allen Lilly on April 16, 2015 at 9:56am

I drove what we call the back way to Byesville today, off of State Route 265 passed the shed building company and to the fork in the road which takes you to the elk farm. There were folks with the big trucks vibrating the road like they did here a few years ago. I believe it could only be seismic testing.

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on April 17, 2015 at 2:20am

Here is a good video that shows a seismic survey in PA.

https://vimeo.com/8022074  

Permalink Reply by Craig Cooper on April 17, 2015 at 5:37am

Nice video.

More & more companies are using 'cableless' seismic equipment which eliminates potential hazards and minimizes surface footprint. Also, when required by regulation or contractual terms, shot holes may be tamped / sealed with bentonite which usually prevents blow-outs such as those shown in the video.

Permalink Reply by brad ocel on April 20, 2015 at 8:04am

just remember they are offering you five an acre, what do you think they are chargimg whomever they are selling these results to, I would guess it is a very large price these companies don't work for pennies but they love paying us nothing for it , when you let them just remember they will come and go as they please and will  not care how they get there !!

Permalink Reply by Craig Cooper on April 20, 2015 at 8:57am

brad,

The seismic acquisition companies may not work for pennies, as you say, but the cost of a good seismic survey is pretty high so their net is actually pretty small. It is certainly no where near what E&P companies make.

As for your last comment (i.e. "... will not care how they get there!!"), that is certainly NOT true. There will be unscrupulous operators as there are in any industry / company, but the vast majority of them are good, ethical companies who do care how they operate and relate to their stakeholders. 'Not caring how they operate' is bad for business. 

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