Comment

Comment by Dale E. Fisher on February 20, 2011 at 5:34am

In Muncy Creek Township, we have also been contacted by Elexco/Seitel to do surveying and seismic testing on our unleased property.  They do not pay the landowner to do this procrdure, they are in a big hurry to get started, and they claim the procedure is a service to the landowner because gas companies are not leasing property anymore unless seismic testing has been completed and results are available to the gas companies.  The inference is that without prior seismic testing, it is less likely that a landowner will be offered an opportunity to lease.  Elexco Land Services does the face-to-face contact with the landowner, and the Seismic Permit is in the name of Seitel who apparently does the testing.  Elexco/Seitel sells the test results to the gas companies, who then determine whether to offer the landowner a opportuniy to lease.  Our property is no-till cropland, and I am hesitant to allow those heavy trucks to be boring around on the fields at this time of the year.  This is kind of a 'new twist' and I am curious to know if any other unleased landowners out there have experience and can shed some light on the procedure.                   

Comment by kathy on February 15, 2011 at 4:17pm

Oh and if you don't sign and all  your neighbors sign, than you actually have less of a chance of them drilling on your property, I believe. Personally speaking, show it to your gas lawyer, the contract I mean. They try to rush you and get you sign, they are busy, only here for a short while etc. I know you need to get your water tested asap if you haven't already, need to establish a baseline before they test you OR your neighbors.

Comment by kathy on February 15, 2011 at 4:14pm

Elexco isn't one of the big seismic companies that have taken over in Lycoming County but they sure are hitting Huntersville hard. In looking at my parents "lease" I noticed it didn't have the lease "look" to it. Also, they don't pay anything for you allowing them to come on to the property. We were told at a meeting that drilling is so expensive that they just can't drill anywhere, they need to know specifically where the best areas are and the only way to find that is by the testing, the only issue is that this company has only been around since 2007, not alot of history to go on. I googled it and found a law suit in another part of PA involving them for entering an area illegally and testing without permission.  We signed with CGG VERITAS and were offered $5 an acre when they actually test. Not sure if that helps. I know my folks and brother signed with them.