We are about to sign a lawyer-approved lease for our 20 acres with EQT, but recently received more letters/phone calls from Huntley & Huntley.  We had been in communication/negotiations with H&H earlier, but they were not as willing to negotiate as EQT has been. Overall, our experience in dealing with EQT has been more pleasant; H&H landmen were very overbearing, wanted to meet in-person all the time, and said some things that can be construed as threats.

The landman with whom we talked from H&H is trying to convince us that they are no longer swapping leases with EQT, but says that H&H will be the company to produce our area. Therefore, if we don't sign with them, we will be cut out of the profits and royalties. They do seem to have most of the leases in our area with a few exceptions.

The landman with whom we were dealing before (also from H&H) said, "If you sign with another company, we will get your lease anyway because we are going to produce here, and you won't be treated as well."

So which is it? Will H&H cut us out if they are the company to produce? Or will they acquire our lease from EQT? Can a gas company just cut out a property owner, or worse, just leach the gas out from underneath?

I hate this obnoxious, hard-sell tactic and based on that alone, I don't want to sign with H&H. However, I don't want to be left out of potential royalties.