Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robin Jackson on March 13, 2012 at 11:00pm

Have you rec'd documentation that you are in a unit?

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 14, 2012 at 7:46am

No. Maybe the original entire lease owner got the documentation? I haven't heard from them since they moved to Florida after selling their home a few years ago. But according to the maps I pull up on here I am. I bought my land from a larger parcel (which is entirely in the unit). When my check comes it is shown under the that name but of course written to me.  I called the company (3-4 years ago) and asked why and they said it is only because I am originally part of that bigger lease but that when my next lease comes it will list my name. I am now 5 days away from expiration and have not received anything.

Permalink Reply by Stan Smith on March 14, 2012 at 8:19am

I had a similiar situation in that I did not recieve word on the unit , but that can be found at the County Courthouse.  I consulted my attorney and absent a pugh clause, my entire acreage was locked in to lease even though only a couple acres were in the first production unit in my area.  Fortunately the remaining acreage is being placed into another well unit. 

Permalink Reply by angela visalli on March 14, 2012 at 8:40am

Go to www.marcellusgas.org.  You can sign up for a free membership for 5 peeks to see if a permit was pulled to drill on your land.  You can also pay for the annual membership which is $20.  You can print one map of the drill for free.  If not, you can just pay $10 for the map.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 14, 2012 at 9:21am

Thanks. I'll do that. I was able to pull up the map on this site showing the units and there was no well pad shown on my unit. The one south of me which abuts my unit does have a pad and the map showed a drilling path under my unit.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 14, 2012 at 9:22am

What is a "pugh clause"?

Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on March 14, 2012 at 3:34pm

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What is a "pugh clause"?

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 14, 2012 at 3:46pm

Thank you Frank. My copy of the original lease does not show an addendum or Pugh clause but I am already at the end of the second five year period. Does that help or hurt me at this point? I guess my most imoprtant question is whether or not to call the company to tell them my lease is about to run out or wait until it expires. I have been told to do both by my neighbors up there but since I only have a vacation home and live in SE Pa, I am not sure who to listen to.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 14, 2012 at 4:09pm

Thanks to Angela, I went to the .org site and just got the map. Seems things have changed since the other unit map I pulled up on here was done. It seems as if they cut the unit around me and I am no longer in a unit. My land is actually notched into the unit instead of just following the property lines from one neighbor to another and including me. So now that we know that, can anyone explain my situation to me? Should I call the gas company or not? Am I out of the game completely at this point? Thanks for everyone's help.

Permalink Reply by scott brion on March 15, 2012 at 9:34am

Chris,

 It sounds like you have a number of moving pieces to your situation that make it difficult to fully assess.  To answer your question though it probably does not matter whether you contact the Company or not at this point.  In general it is better for a lease to expire to create the opportunity to get a better royalty and possibly some lease rental if the company does want to develop your property.   If they do not want the property it doesn't matter as they will walk away from the lease.   Something to think about  - your property is considered part of the original leasehold, so if part of the the original parent property is in the unit and the unit has drilling, production or operations that continue the lease, the lease on your property will most likely continue as well.   Feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss the details.   The important aspects will be to look at all the property in the lease, all the units that include that any of that property and the specific lease language regarding extending the lease beyond the second five year term. 

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 15, 2012 at 9:57am

Thanks Scott. Just to update. I contacted the courthouse this morning and they don't show me being in a pool but they directed me to Landex (which is currently down). They also did not see the original lease owners name listed, but their land (and the people who purchased that land) is included in every map I have found showing the unit (North Crane). One of the maps I got from here shows me in it, the one from marcellus.org does not. Is Landex the same as what Wayne provides on here?

Permalink Reply by Christopher Corrado on March 15, 2012 at 11:15am

Update: I got the document from landex and 9 of my 10.25 acres ARE in the unit. Myself and my neighbor who also bought their land from the original owners are shown to be in it but it is listed under the original owners name and that total acreage equals my neighbors and mine minus about an acre (there is a little triangle cut off on my land). I guess my outcome will depend on the language in my lease. I will update for informational purposes to any other newbie, but thanks for the help everyone.