Range Resources to Move a Rig by Helicopter?

Has any property owners whose leases have run out or about to run out had any problems with Range Resources?  We are in a group who hired a very qualified broker who has written our lease with Range.  This lease ran out several days ago.  We heard nothing from Range for 4 years and 10 months.  Our lease states several times that Range must drop a bit to the ground to hold us by production.  Now, just days before leases ran out Range has moved in on properties and some without permits, they have not drilled, prepared a pad, cut brush or built a road and they will not leave the property.  We have another energy company we wish to lease with and we are ready to sign.  Our broker has been communicating with Range in Texas and getting nowhere.  They have stated that they will move a rig in by helicopter if need be.  I just want to put the word out to be aware.  They have already told one landowner to contact legal council.  I even have a copy of a letter to another party from Range, for this party contacted Range asking them for a lease.  Range commented just several months ago that they had and did not intend on any activity in our area.  We are having an attorney submit to Range requesting a letter of surrender.  If this does not happen we will sign a new lease and there will probabally be a gas war between two gas companies.  You may read this in the paper is this goes this far.  Anyone having problems I wish for you to respond.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Flor on June 25, 2011 at 10:03am
Can you tell us where this property is?  If your lease states that a drilling rig capable of reaching the strata their after is not present..then how can they hold your lease?
Permalink Reply by karen brown on June 25, 2011 at 11:35am
trout run area lycoming county  you tell us how they hold the lease our lease states they need to drop the bit but range insists that any activity is commencing.  They are avoiding the issue of the tailored lease completely.
Permalink Reply by paleface on June 25, 2011 at 10:22am
 I thought the property owner had to send a registerd letter to the gas company and they had sixty days to respond as too there intensions?
Permalink Reply by karen brown on June 25, 2011 at 11:36am
I never heard of this, I know a letter of surender has to be written for them to remove it from county records. 
Permalink Reply by paleface on June 25, 2011 at 2:06pm
What does your contract say under default or lessor termination?
0l1a6laz7smpfPermalink Reply by 0l1a6laz7smpf on November 30, 2011 at 6:46am

that's a 'top lease' provision....not in all the contracts.

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on June 25, 2011 at 1:07pm

File for a court order to cease and desist.  Contact you state Sen and House Rep.  Post the property and have any that trespasses arrested.  Contact the in-state legal counsel for the new gas company.  They may be able to advise on the interpretation of the old lease. Threaten a class action for lose of income.

 

Or write a letter threatening all of the above and see what happens.

 

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by karen brown on June 25, 2011 at 2:50pm
just to let you all know, we got word today that the energy company that we want to lease with has offered to take over for us legally.  We will be in the middle of a gas war.  They are sure they can get them out and win.  They are already contacting their attorneys  We are signing our new lease in a few days.  Wish us luck.  I thank all who have given me advice and support.  It has been a hectic week since our lease has expired.  It isn't over until the fat lady sings but we must be positive.  Our broker has been excellent in guiding us through all of this.  He is worth his weight in gold.  Honest, upfront and very personal.  One great guy.  Maybe we will make pa gas history. thank you for all you responses.
Permalink Reply by craig on June 25, 2011 at 3:20pm

Wishing you good luck, but I really don't think you will need any as the facts you stated are clearly in your favor!

 

Permalink Reply by karen brown on June 28, 2011 at 5:05pm
Just to let all of you know, Range has not dropped the bit yet on the permitted property that the lease ran out June 22 and they are still proceeding.  Carving roads, brushing etc.  Yesterday Range approached us on letting them access our property to survey on adjoining property.  Our lease expired with Range June 21.  We told them no access on our property via phone.  Well, today after we went to work they came in anyway and tresspassed on our property and our neighbors property who also have an expired lease.  We graciously asked them to leave immeadiately.  These guys don't give up.  They left.  But we cannot stay home and babysit hundreds of acres of wooded land.  Beware of these guys.   We have to work.
Permalink Reply by G S Gass on June 29, 2011 at 6:06am

Karen,

You have probably done this - if not, do so immediately!

Have you checked the Recorder of Deeds Office to determine if Range filed a Declaration of Unitization (DOU)which includes your lease as part of a drilling unit?

If yes, was the DOU recorded before the primary term of the lease expired?

FYI - I am aware of leases which include a right of first refusal that keeps the lease active for an additional 6 months.

GS Gass, CPL/ESA

Permalink Reply by karen brown on June 29, 2011 at 4:37pm
Yea the DOU was recorded 7 days prior to the experition date.  Now to explain.  5 years ago my husband put together a large group of property owners/neighbors to lease out.  We decided as a group to hire a gas broker and he wrote our lease.  He did a great job and is still doing a great job.  Our leases ran out June 21 of this year.  We heard nothing from Range for 4 1/2 years.  The last six months they did nothing but survey two of our neighbors properties and told them they were slated for wells.  The one property owner answered a letter from Range regarding the location of the well.  The property owner listed credible reasons why the well should not be there.  Range, DEP and the property owner were supposed to come to an agreement to get issues ironed out.  This never happened and Range just proceeded surveying.  They never permitted this well.  The property owner contacted Range in Texas and got no where.  Our broker contacted Range, got no where.  Then Range decided 5 days before our leases ran out to start physically preparing for a permitted well on another neighbors property.  The day his lease ran out which was the same as ours all that had happened was that they brush hogged a path to the well pad site and the well pad.  They fully disregarded the expired lease and til this day they are proceeding.  Now the kicker is our broker under our request expedited a new lease with a new company.  Range was not even interested in releasing.  The new company reviewed our Range lease and thought they could get Range out due to the fact that our lease stated that they had to drop the bit to label us commenced/active.  Range disregarded this completely.  They have done nothing but lied and bullied these people.  AS of a couple of days ago, we had slated a signing of a new lease with a new company and they were going to bat for us to get Range out.  Now this evening we received a call that the new company just does not want the properties that Range is active on but does not want any of the properties in our group as well and it consists of about 1500 acres.  The actions of Range is inacceptable behavior.  They have lied, tresspassed on expired leased property and bullied retired neighbors to get what they wanted.  Now the rest of us are without a lease and Range has put a big hole in the middle of our group.  I sure hope all who read this remembers the reputation of Range Resources.  I intend on making this publically know of their actions.

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