Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on October 17, 2012 at 2:44am

How are they dealing with the coal issue?

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on October 17, 2012 at 7:01am

Are they taking landowners in the coal-affected townships?

Goshen, Washington, Wayne, Smith, etc?

Permalink Reply by Dave on October 17, 2012 at 8:49am

Looks like Washington, York, and Mead in Belmont County.   New members minimum of 20 acres or more.   Per KWGD website.

 

Switzerland, adams, Ohio, Sunsbury, and Salem Townships in Monroe

Permalink Reply by davy crockett on October 18, 2012 at 1:58am

I've spoken directly with XTO, Consol and Phillips Exploration and NONE are making an offer.  I have maps (Belmont County) with parcel numbers for 600 contiguous acres in one section and another 500 contiguous acres UNLEASED and these companies are not making an offer.  So it is not as simple as everyone makes it sound.  There are a lot of great leases out there for the landowner to use, but it seems that the oil and gas companies are looking for larger amounts of acreage to make an offer.  This KWGD group has been forming since the beginning of September, so it really isn't short notice.  And with the coal issue, I believe the coal in these townships have already been mined. 

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on October 18, 2012 at 2:40am

There is still coal to be mined in those townships. Even where it has been mined, Murray Energy has objections to O&G drilling any place they wish to. Murray says you can't drill through a room in a room and pillar mine because gas might leak into that room and fill the mine with explosive natural gas - OR - you can't drill into a previously mined room and pillar area because the pipe will impede movement through that area into unmined areas. They also say you can't drill through a longwalled area because after those areas subside, they are not packed solid and natural gas could leak around the pipe and seep through that subsided area and leak explosive gas into the mine creating an unsafe mining situation. There are also numerous other excuses coal has come up with to severely limit where a well can be drilled. I believe the coal issue WILL eventually be resolved, but it is not as simple as some here have indicated. The O&G people are used to being able to drill anywhere the please on the land they have leased. Belmont County land that involves Murray coal is NOT that way right now and until that is resolved, getting a good lease is going to be an uphill battle.

Permalink Reply by Dan on October 18, 2012 at 1:38pm

Wow, Murray has convinced me, coal mining is really dangerous.  With all those risks maybe we should take his cue and all rise up and have his extremely dangerous mines shut down for good.

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on October 18, 2012 at 3:19pm

That would be a great help for all the landowners above his coal holdings. The gas produced from the wells that could then be drilled could be used to produce cleaner, less expensive electricity and benefit everyone in the tri-state area with cleaner air and more money in our pockets.

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on October 18, 2012 at 3:32am

@davy crockett

Have you spoken with the 2-3 dozen other producers who are interested in the Utica? A quick survey of 3 companies is NOT due diligence.

Permalink Reply by davy crockett on October 21, 2012 at 2:22am

I've also spoken with Anterro, Gulfport, Eclipse, Hess (CNX, Consol), Gastar and Stone Energy.  From what I've been told, only a handful of oil and gas companies will be interested in Southeastern Belmont County (not 2-3 dozen).  So those are the main companies I tried to deal with.  Southeastern Belmont County is Exxon territory (XTO, Phillips) and Consol territory (from previous North American Coal property). The three companies previously mentioned were the only ones to call back requesting more information after I sent them maps with parcel numbers on them.  I work with the industry and am not a lawyer. 

Permalink Reply by Dan on October 21, 2012 at 3:35am

Have you spoken with any after the Shugert test results were released by Gulfport?

Permalink Reply by davy crockett on October 23, 2012 at 2:35pm

Yes.  Not much interest in this side of Belmont County.

Permalink Reply by davy crockett on October 23, 2012 at 2:36pm

York.

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