All Blog Posts (41)

A hearing was recently held in regards to EPA's findings regarding the Wyoming groundwater contamination case.  The EPA holds firm it's findings in this case linking the contamination of ground to the fracking processes in the area.  Further, the agency warns the use of this finding as a broader indictment of hydraulic fracturing noting that fracking in the Wyoming area occurred under conditions "different from those in many areas of the country".  Evidence utilized in these findings by the…

Protecting Your Surface Rights - What Not to Do

If you live in rural Colorado, then you probably have a tractor, bulldozer, semi, or other heavy equipment to block unwanted oil and gas equipment from coming onto your land.  When that unwanted equipment shows up at your door, you’ll know what to do to keep them off.  Maybe you’ll even put that shot gun in the back window of your pickup to let them know you mean business.  These antics are likely to get their attention and likely to…

The EPA has approved a new ph neutral fracking solution that is "Green" friendly. It sounds like this could do away with one of the major environmental problems threatening the growth of fracking. Details here:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120110005710/en/100-Green-Fracking-Solution---SteriFrac

Unsolicited Offers for Minerals and Royalties

I've noticed that recently that a certain well-known oil and gas company has been sending out letters to mineral owners in my area inviting them to sell their mineral rights to the company for a period (term) of 12 years, in exchange for as much as $6000/acre if unleased, and as much as $5000/acre if leased at 3/16. At the end of the 12-year period the mineral rights revert back to the mineral owner.

Not a bad sounding offer eh?…

http://www.fhoa.ca/

Just want to increase awareness of this group.  It's very helpful.  The more unified we are, the more leverage we have to negotiate better leases.

There is also a new MRF Group at http://www.mineralrightsforum.com/group/canada-freehold-mineral-owners

Texas Law - very typical - check the law in the State in which the property is located.

A situation more common than you think.

Seller places his property (suburban or rural) on the market with a Realtor.  The Realtor finds a buyer and the Seller and Buyer sign an earnest money contract, which provided for the reservation of all of the minerals.

The Deed is prepared and is signed by the Seller and no mention is made of mineral rights, which in…

Bonus money being paid by a particular company or in a particular area is a frequent topic on the Mineral Right Forum.  For many, the offer of a bonus payment to sign a lease is the first encounter with oil and gas development.  For many in northern Michigan this first encounter with oil and gas activity was far from positive.  While 2010 brought a flurry of leasing activity in northern Michigan, 2011 brought frustration for northern Michigan landowners who did not receive…

Professionals from a number of fields involved with oil and gas royalty determination and payment converged on Houston Oct. 17 & 18 for the latest information in this demanding field.

 

The conference opened with one of the most talked-about industry topics, the legislative and regulatory challenges facing operators and royalty owners, as well as other recent IPAA initiatives.  The session featured Susan Ginsberg, Vice President, Crude Oil and Natural Gas Regulatory Affairs,…

Forgotten Minerals- Grandma’s pearls, Dad’s gun, and your Aunt’s Buick are rarely forgotten in a Will or by the executor in distributing property after they’ve past.  However, the same can’t be said for mineral rights. Mineral rights are often forgotten either when a person plans the distribution of their estate or when their estate is being probated.

What problems have you encountered when…

A long time ago, Ambrose Claybar told me, "Buddy, i don't do anything for free."  And he meant it.

The first time that I EVER heard of a Surface Access Fee was when we wanted to lay a line over Temple Inland Land.  They would not let us set foot on the property, not even to look around, until there was an agreement in place, with them assuming laibilities, no firarms, hunting, fishing, etc.  No fences cut, waste picked up and disposed of and anything else they could cram in a…

Do you have questions about Hydraulic Fracturing?

On November 17, the Rocky Mountain Mineral…

I thought everyone needs to know what happens if you quit claim deed- life estate minerals to your heirs.  My uncle did this for my siblings and I, signed the worst lease ever with Irish OIl, which requires Ratification from the remaindermen, then he died. 

Now, they are currently drilling the land, and three out of seven of us, have yet to sign the ratification.  I have tried to work with the company who bought the leases to renegotiate terms and conditions, and they are not willing.…

The 2011 National Oil & Gas Royalty Conference will be held in Houston, TX, on October 17-18, 2011. Please support our sponsor and be sure to attend the event if you are a mineral owner or industry professional.

Click Here to access the brochure and reserve your seat…

I have a problem with executive rights as they exist today.



The proverbial “bundle of sticks” is an analogy familiar to most landmen. The analogy is that property ownership is like a bundle of sticks—that is ownership is composed of separate and individual property rights—and each “stick” represents a right or benefit available to the owner.



By the court ruling in Alford on the bundle of sticks theory on the nature of ownership of the mineral estate is…

If you have not done so, go back and read the two blogs posts that I penned earlier to set you up for this article.

The Rule of Capture

The Basics of Pooling in Texas

This blog will have to with voluntary pooled units in…

http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/index.php

I come upon this website today, first I was able to locate several past family members.  Then I typed in the search box; Oil Drilling, or Oil Wells.  There are hundreds of photos of days gone by of many topics, including the ND oil industry.

It's likely you can find your well, or something to do with the homesteaders of the land your minerals are on.

Happy hunting.

There is confusion on this board and the gowhatevershale.com board concerning these terms.

A NPRI means this - a Non-Participating Royalty Interest.  A NPRI is a non-cost (meaning drilling and development) share of production.  It is generally expressed as a fraction of production of 8/8ths, but that is not a requirement.   Here is an example, Grantor reserves for himself, his heirs and assigns a royalty equal to an undivided 1/16 of 8/8ths of the oil and gas that may be…

As lease forms become more complicated and longer, it is more the fashion to file a "Memorandum of Oil, Gas and Other Minerals" in the public records where the property is located, in lieu of the original document.

Why would an oil company file a lease in the first place?  To impart constructive notice to innocent third party purchasers of the existence of such a lease. 

But has he?  It depends on the state.  A Memorandum of Lease is not a contract, nor a…

The Paid Up Lease Form is the most common vehicle for obtaining an oil and gas lease in most parts of the country. 

Many sophisticated landowners demand a rental lease form, most oil companies offer a paid up lease form.

Why is a paid up lease form a good idea for an oil company?

The main reason is that it is near nigh impossible to lose a paid up lease form during the primary term.

In Texas, the payment of royalties is a…