Comment

Comment by Tanya Gabriele on October 25, 2011 at 5:43pm

I know that a few writers on this site have said that ALOV is seeking the best deal.  But, the articles that feature ALOV seem to emphasize the number of permits Chesapeake is granted in each county and the subtile push to let one company harbor that access instead of granting access to a number of different O & G companies.  Is anyone else getting the same impression?

Comment by Robert Bond on October 25, 2011 at 12:30am

They are a very well known law firm.  They have an office in Youngstown.  I know they have done some work of this type.  I suggest you call them.

Comment by Tom Frey on October 24, 2011 at 11:43pm

Has anyone heard of a company that is called Harrington, Hoppe and Mitchell? Do they negotiate with the oil and gas companies?

Comment by Tanya Gabriele on October 17, 2011 at 5:05pm

Great job Ed and James

Comment by James Kerns on October 15, 2011 at 5:51am

Hi Tanya, Hi Edward, Hi All, 

ALOV, associated landowners of the ohio valley, have a website and a PDF of their lease as proposed, as well as some information on the areas they have already worked a deal for,  and mapped out the property's affected. 

Their shortcoming's are they don't update often enough. But they have a very nice volunteer staff and the leadership seems competent and i believe on a volunteer basis as well.

I think the $60 application fee, regardless of acreage, was just that and no other fees are due. I believe alot of their funding has been from their own pockets and other donations.

I think this is why it has been said the new entity"Buckeye Mineral" will be a fee for service deal. They have countless hours invested in ALOV, as a community service, and any further work they must feel the need to be paid, justly so in my opinion.

Many have already gotten paid their "Bonus$" in group A), as well as i think there are many who are still waiting due to problems uncovered in the due diligence portion of the program, that need cleared up, then they can get paid as well.

Northern Trumbull and Ashtabula counties are either group B or C i'm really not sure at this point.  I have called them several times for updates and usually post it here unless they hint that i should not. I think Craig Stull also calls them often for same.

I signed with them, but i am still gathering information and reading other leases, its good to have a backup plan. they have yet to contact me with any information, and i have been told soon they will be ready to mail out the packets and call for a vote, several times, and still i wait.

 My business and my farm have both suffered due to the economy, same as most others, so its a balancing act to wait and see, but wait i will. I could use the money but my wife and i decided we lasted this long, so lets just take it slow and sure. By the way we have Organic Grass Fed Black Angus Beef, box packages for sale, choice two year old humanly treated steers, if anyone is interested. We have 50 lb. min. up to whole beef to offer. There thats my shameless plug, why not, seems that every landman in the nation does the same here one way or another. Best Wishes to All, Hope to see you soon at the finish line (the bank, check in hand, LOL).

Comment by Ed Ganelli on October 15, 2011 at 1:49am

Hi James!  Been a while since I've seen you on here!

 

Everything James said is correct - ALOV does seem to have a FEW shortcomings (mainly with their communications skills...I was a union contract negotiator for years, and if we EVER went more than a few days without updating membership, there would have been a mass mutiny!), but even with those shortcomings, ALOV for most is by FAR the best option!!!!  As said below, the ALOV lease is regarded by most as the best lease available in the area!  Even for those like myself who aren't signed with any group yet, the ALOV announcement of their agreement in this area is still very important - it lets everyone know what a base starting point for the area will be.

 

I've already decided against WishGard at any terms now - high pressure sales tactics, a lease that effectively binds the landowner permanently to whatever O & G company that ends up with it, and their questionable business practices (see elsewhere on this site about WishGard/Pleasant View) - leaves me unable to trust anything they or any of their representatives have to say...

Comment by James Kerns on October 15, 2011 at 1:28am

I didn't think i had so much to say this morning, but one last thing before i go feed cattle, is this. The mega O&G companies may have their own rigs and enough of them, capable of drilling these horitzontal wells. But the smaller companies do not, they contract them out. Under the current conditions, i have this on good authority from my best friend who works in the industry, it takes a five or six year commitment to that driller, to keep him and his crew working, to get a rig moved up here and have it move onto your location. There are only so many rigs and the cost per well is very high, much more so than any Clinton, or Berea well from days gone by. This is specialized equipment and even BP or Shell or whatever, have contracted with independant drillers, outside of their own subsidiary's, from time to time.

Also very little is known about this formation and companies don't dish with each other on the well logs, core samples, and other geological findings. Thats just good business, so that means very little factual information will be shared with the public, except what is required to be filed by the state. Most of that happens after a well is put online, or into production i should say. Oh sure, each company has its well log's and core samples from the wells already drilled, including the vertical ones from years past. But exact information on this formation is still largely unknown here in ohio. And each well will add to the knowledge library, so some areas of little interest initially may become the next land rush, when the wells drilled in 2010 and 2011 are finally put into production.

Also remember, we have seen very little in the way of infrastructure updates yet. In almost every county, we will see mass roadside gas project's as new larger pipline is laid and even old lines of adequate diameter are replaced due to age. They can sell little or no gas into the small coroded lines from the  1960's or whatever, since the last time line was replaced. This means the wells drilled last year and this year are most likey going to be delayed in production (and royalty payments) until this happens. All the while the industry has to work this out while keeping the bottom from falling out of the prices they are paid per barrel of oil and mcf. of gas, or the whole thing comes to a halt if its deemed unprofitable. So iguess what i am saying is relax, if you can keep from going under financially, you might do well to adopt a wait and see attitude for awhile. If you are struggling to keep a home, then you must do what you have to do for you and yours, and that is exactly what the O&G lease agents are counting on, hence the small bonus money, boilerplate leases, and min. royalty %'s. Pretty much the same thing the Amish logger's are doing last couple of years, now that i think of it. Capitalize on your misfortune, thats the name of the game, too often. Grab and go, laughing at you all the way to the bank. Well really gotta go now on that note. Best Wishes.

Comment by Tanya Gabriele on October 15, 2011 at 12:46am

He's right.  AlOV should post the terms they are pushing in their base contract to O & G Companies, so land owners who haven't signed with them can see the specific strengths and weaknesses of the agreement.  Keeping things open will help ALOV generate more support and forgo the skepticism Unions either rightfully or wrongfully generated by keeping a closed shop.

Comment by James Kerns on October 15, 2011 at 12:38am

One other thing, i almost forgot, i would advise anyone to, after doing your own homework and looking at your set of circumstance's, consult briefly with an attorney and have him or her read and comment on the lease language, before signing any lease. Any lease. At $125 or whatever per hour multiplied by maybe two hours max., it's worth it the way the English language is twisted this way and that in a legal document. Ask lots of questions, you'll have less regrets that way. Thanks to all for the good reading posted here. Good Luck!

Comment by James Kerns on October 15, 2011 at 12:29am

Hi Guys and Gals, I dont have the chance to read and post daily (wish i did), but after reading the past four pages in reverse order (what a pain) the discussion makes more sense to me. I will weigh in with your permission, Michael, I am not sure how long you have worked with the public and maybe its a generation issue, but i will say this, your people and sales skills need work. The moment you become confrontational with a prospective client or otherwise, you lose, most especially when done in a public forum. I have owned and still own, three and two, respectively, self started small business's, so after over twenty years in a sales and customer service capacity, i know what i speak of.

Secondly, Michael, there is truth to some of your statements, as well, although Edward, Jeff,  and the others have many valid points. I for one would like to have the chance to read Wishgaurds lease, with addendums, would you please post a link to a virus free PDF? The proof will be in that and that alone.

Third point, I am a landowner who has signed up with ALOV, Northern Trumbull county, and many neighbors who i respect for their business savy have also done so. I will stay the course and be patient to see what they come up with. I have read their lease and if signed as written, it is the best lease i have ever seen, and i have seen more than most, my experience goes back further than any shale play anywhere. Of course it will not be signed as written, not all addendums and clauses will be accepted by the O&G company. I truly in my heart of hearts do not believe anyone will lose out by waiting awhile to see how this thing shakes out.

Another point, a large part of ALOV's shortcoming's is their inability to effectively use the internet to post updates, or email all who have provided contact information, or to even telephone those who don't have email. This leads to exactly this kind of he said, she said, who said stuff. Keep up the good work everyone with the updates and please post any hard information you can come up with, facts and figures, for none of us know everything, so this forum helps us all round it out. Again, Good Luck to All and God Bless.

 

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