Keith: Tell us a little bit about your background.

Mary: I’ve been the lead attorney for Encana’s US operations since 2001.  Originally I got into the business as a joint interest billing clerk for a small independent, eventually did production tech and land work at Anadarko and Chevron.  Then law school…

You signed a lease and you are anxiously awaiting royalty payments.  What you might not be expecting is a bill from the tax office asking for several years’ worth of back property taxes.

An important amendment to a law took effect that could hit you in the pocketbook if you lease land for Marcellus exploration that is preferentially assessed under the Clean & Green Act.

For those unfamiliar with the Clean & Green Act, it is a law that provides tax relief…

Not All Terms are Created Equal

Many landowners who have familiarized themselves with the Marcellus Shale natural gas leasing process have learned certain “key phrases” or “key terms” that are valuable to the landowner when evaluating an Oil and Gas Lease Addendum.  However, landowners must be aware that ALL ADDENDUM HEADINGS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.



As an example, one of the most important landowner friendly terms to be included…

There is much talk and hope that all this shale oil and gas will get the US freed of dependance on OPEC oil.  The Bakken, Eagle Ford, Utica and more have great oil potential. The Marcellus, Utica, Hainesville, Barnett and more have great gas potential, especially if we convert  major portion of our transportation to natgas. All of these should help us wean ourselves off of foreign oil and gas, which would fantastic for the country.

But one problem with that scenario is competitive…

Rick Smead is a veteran in the natural gas industry. If you have read anything on shale gas reserves, you have have probably read something that he had a hand in creating. This come-lately niche has led to 100 speeches on the topic over the last 3 years. Rick was holed up in a Washington D.C. law firm for a few days serving as an expert witness. I went in and met with him to discuss his…

Just found out yesterday what I have suspected all along, We are tyed up in a lease with no well untill 3/14/2012,When it runs out.What do I do about leasing again? Anbody have any suggestions?  THanks.

I get the impression that the members of this group arent concerned about the environment as much as their pocket books.

Am I wrong?  I have not been to or lived in W.Va. for quite some time.  I reside in Hana, Hawaii and travel to California on business quite often.   

I find it odd the Mr. Douglas Clark Esq. fails to mention the most important consideration in selling one’s minerals. The dollar amount one receives per acre.  If that amount is higher than what his percentage is in what a typical well makes in the trend over its lifetime, one should sell.  This is true for a number of reasons including the Net Present Value of Money and that Risk in drilling a well.

Many landowners across Pennsylvania are receiving solicitations by companies, partnerships, and even hedge funds seeking to purchase their Marcellus Shale natural gas rights.  It is critical to understand whether these solicitations are for a permanent purchase of your Marcellus Shale gas rights, or whether you have received an offer to lease your Marcellus Shale gas rights.

Many individuals may be confused when they receive these…

Has anyone heard any results from the Snyder Leasehold Sale (Armstrong, Butler, etc. counties)?  Our group became part of it (400,000 + acres total), and signed leases, but no information as yet.  I think we were supposed to hear something by Sept. 8.

A couple of weeks ago, landowners in our area (Butler County) began receiving offers from a landsman representing Shell.  $3,000.00 per acre + 15% royalties.  But since most of us are locked into the Snyder deal, we can't sign…

ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM - Analyst Report) is all set to exploit Ohio’s Utica Shale, supposedly one of the biggest sources of crude oil in the United States. The company has made its entry into the oil-rich fields of Utica Shale by acquiring leases in…

My name is Tim Sokoloff and at the request of Mr. Ron Eiselstein I am writing here today to introduce an idea that would be tremendously beneficial to a great number of people involved in this developing industry.

Ron and I have identified a need for housing some of the workers that are coming into the area to run these operations. Our organization offers a unique opportunity to provide housing for new workers not only that are coming into the area from out of town, but…

I go to a lot of meetings and the citizens are always concerned about how the Marcellus Drilling might impact the groundwater aquifer, but we all seem to forget about these flooding events that most likely have a more cummulative negative impact on the environment and our health.  If your private well has been inudated  with water and possibly submerged, you will need to take the following action:

1. Make sure the power is off the the well and check the electrical…

Hess and Consol team up for Utica

US independent Hess has staked a claim in the simmering Utica Shale play in Ohio after a $593 million joint venture with coal and gas giant Consol Energy, announced on Wednesday.

Luke Johnson  07 September 2011 17:38…

New Online Guide for Private Well Owners in PA

Nearly a million households in Pennsylvania rely on private water supplies.In Pennsylvania, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of homeowners. Private wells are typically safe, dependable sources of water if sited wisely and constructed properly. Information is provided here to have your private water supply built correctly and protected adequately.  There…