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Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on May 5, 2015 at 1:06am

Normally you would just contact the gas company and ask for your release of lease to be filed in your county courthouse.  You don't say even which state you're in, so no way to give you more specific information.  Also:

While merely contacting one's gas company might be the norm, you were quite specific to mention your lease is now with Chesapeake.  Chesapeake is not always the most reliable company with which to deal.  Thus, you might want to consider contacting your lawyer regarding this matter, just to be certain everything goes through on the "up and up".

Obtaining a release of lease from Chesapeake is rather a big deal . . almost cause for celebration I would say.  Such a release is certainly something worth having.  Few landowners today want anything to do with Chesapeake.  If you are able eventually to disengage from doing business with Chesapeake, please accept my congratulations.

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Permalink Reply by PAUL on May 5, 2015 at 1:23am

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. I'M LOCATED IN BRADFORD, PA SHESHEQUIN TOWNSHIP. I TRIED TO CONTACT THEM BY EMAIL FROM THERE WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION. I RECEIVED A REPLY QUICKLY FROM SOMEONE FROM THE WRONG DEPARTMENT, SHE FORWARDED IT TO THE RIGHT AREA TWO WEEKS AGO, NO RESPONSE.

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Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on May 5, 2015 at 1:59am

I think you mean you are in Bradford County, PA, not the City of Bradford, PA, which is in McKean County.  Chesapeake is not operating in McKean County AFAIK.

Anyway, what you have written sounds to me completely normal, given where you are and given it is Chesapeake.  A two week, or much more, delay is unsurprising.  Try to understand:

Chesapeake is not a responsive company to begin with.  On top of that, releasing leases is not even close to being high on their priority list . . . if they eventually release you at all.  Because it is Chesapeake, I would expect them to look beneath every rock, leave no stone unturned, and come up with every excuse imaginable NOT to release your lease.

I cannot tell you whether Chesapeake will merely release you in an honest manner, as they should, or try instead to cheat you.  They might right now be attempting to decide that for themselves.  Chesapeake is not an honest company, but they do not always behave in a dishonest manner.  So you never really can predict how you will come out.

If it were me I would contact them every two or three weeks to prod them, and give them perhaps two or three months before placing the matter in the hands of my lawyer.  One problem with Chesapeake, even if they release you, you cannot be certain without legal review whether or not it's a good, an honest, release.  This is because, again, the company cannot be trusted.    

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Permalink Reply by cj wyalusing on May 5, 2015 at 10:57am

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Permalink Reply by Gunner Ostergard on May 6, 2015 at 1:30am

Do you think it would be prudent to file an Affidavit of non production in the court house?  That will certainly get someone's attention when they but and sell the lease that is no longer in effect.

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Permalink Reply by 0ym9x5ag7ury2 on May 6, 2015 at 2:18pm

Paul,

Affidavit Of Termination per PA House Bill 402

PA has a new law House Bill 402 that went into effect the 2nd week of January 2015 that allows the landowner to place an add in the Newspaper in the area where your well is located to tell the O&G company that you are going to terminate the lease with them since the lease has expired. After 2 weeks if they don't respond to your newspaper ad, you can go to the court house and file a release.

I believe the lawyers in PA are still scratching their heads over this since it leaves them out of the money loop if you are a do it your selfer and can read PA Laws then follow the directions to apply the law.

I offered to make up the forms required based on the bill, for a friend who owns minerals in PA, but he declined. Let me know if you need help on this.

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Permalink Reply by JK on May 6, 2015 at 2:31pm

Ron,

What about WV?

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by 0ym9x5ag7ury2 on May 7, 2015 at 3:17pm

JK,

    WV is bragging that they take care of their landowners after the Forced Pooling Bill failed to pass. Now they have retitled the Bill so that it is unrecognizable and plan to "Educate" WV Landowners so they can take another vote to get the bill passed.

All that to say, I'll have to look and see what WV is doing to protect their landowners from the O&G companies that won't let go of an expired lease.

From what I've seen the states and federal government write laws to protect themselves and leave us to pay the lawyers for protection that they could have easily been included in their bills.

My theory: The Politicians are also lawyers. Their firms can share in the landowners reduced royalties by suing and taking 30 to 50% of the money the O&G companies ration out to us.

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Permalink Reply by Gunner Ostergard on May 7, 2015 at 2:34am

Paul,

That is wonderful !  Thanks for sharing

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Permalink Reply by John Pilkin on May 7, 2015 at 9:00am

I was leased to East Resources got traded off to Chesapeake....lease ran out in 2011...I contacted George Weisman the head landman for Chesapeake  after a few back and forth phone calls I eventually got my release...currently we are not leased and so far it doesn't look good...best of luck to you...my property is located in Bradford County, Orwell Township

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