Drake has finally begun recording leases in the Houston County Deed Records. They recorded 52 lease memos on 3/28/2025.
These leases cover acreage in the G Greenwood A-37 and R Pennington A-821 Surveys. The Greenwood leases total more than 2,000 acres.
Here is a map showing the location of these surveys:
We should see more lease memos filed in the next few months.
Thanks for this information, Alan.
There has been a lot more leased than just these filed leases. These brokers a “getting all the low hanging fruit” real cheap and long term from what I’ve heard.
I posted last week that Drake’s objective is to lease 30,000 acres in northwestern Houston County and 30,000 acres in southwestern Anderson County. I believe they are close to being done in Houston, and are doing title work in Anderson.
I was told by a company that there is an interest in drilling wells that are shallower than the Bossier/Haynesvillle in Houston County. They can be drilled a lot cheaper and produce liquids as well as gas. It’s not just a Bossier/Haynesville play.
Is it the Kiamichi shale?
Multiple possible formations above the top of the Bossier & Haynesville Shale. Depending upon the geology.
Drake #2 is now leasing East of Grapeland nearly to Percilla and they’re playing hardball. They are more CS than the Drake 1 team leasing West of Grapeland. They will not hardly budge from a 4 year lease, 3 year option and 3/16 Roy. Also they will not give a true cost free provision when requested by the mineral owners. They have offered up to $400 per nma but that is the highest I’ve heard. They need some competition
I figure that Expand/Chesapeake does not know “In House” how their lease brokers are dealing with Mineral Owners. Drake is Expand. IT is sort of like EOG and their CS way of doing business.
Drake filed 589 more lease memos on April 10. I’m just beginning to go through them.
Drake has now filed 639 lease memos in Houston County (through April 10). The leases include acreage in 61 surveys. Here’s a map of the surveys that contain leased acreage:
Are Cypress and Drake leasing for the same operator?
Thanks
Expand (Chesapeake) is supposed to be represented by Drake 1 and Drake 2, there are four or more brokers trying to lease from time to time. What I figure is that there are other investors and smaller companies trying to get “ahead of the play” and lease cheap and then flip to Expand, Mitsusi, Comstock, or other larger companies with 30 million to spend on a well. On Comstock Resources website and earnings report they are calling the Western Haynesville the Bossier/Haynesville play. Horizontal Drilling is now possible at the Bossier/Haynesville depths where back in 2012 era it was not possible to drill horizontal in the Deep Bossier or Haynesville. Companies drilled 20,000 ft. vertical wlls in the Bossier in Houston County. These area’s already have 2D and 3D plus lots of well logs from many year’s. I believe that they will drill horizontal in the old Deep Bossier area’s in Houston County. Don’t be fooled into leasing long term and cheap, you are only hurting your self!
Hello, I’m sorry for coming in so green. I was contacted today by an “independent” looking to secure mineral rights I inherited in Houston County, and I never even knew about these rights in the first place, so this is the first I’ve heard of it. I’m open to leasing, but don’t want to misstep and get screwed. I’m guessing the guy that called me is wanting to lowball and get ahead of Drake? If I wait might I hear from Drake directly? This is all new to me.
Drake Exploration has been leasing for Expand (new name for the company previously known as Chesapeake). Expand has recently been pulling in landmen from other entities in order to speed up their leasing process. It is possible that the person that contacted you is part of this effort.
Ask him who he is leasing for. In addition, post what you know about where your mineral rights are located in Houston County. The person you spoke to should be able to give you the survey name and abstract number where the minerals are located. If you post that, we can perhaps give you more specific help.
Thank you for any advice you can provide. My abstract is 844, and the survey name is Benjamin Parker. The initial offer is a three year lease with a three year option, and 18.75 percent royalties. $300 per mineral acre.
Your minerals are located just north of Grapeland. That’s at the eastern edge of Drake’s lease area, according to leases that have been recorded in the Houston County Deed Records. However, there have been reports that Drake is extending their leasing to the east of Grapeland.
In Anderson County, where Expand (Drake is leasing for them) is competing with Mitsui for acreage, lease bonuses have reached $1,250 per acre or possibly higher. Some mineral owners also have obtained 25% cost-free royalties.
The initial offer you received is just a starting point for negotiations. You definitely should be able to get better terms. Have you asked the person that contacted you who he is leasing for? Drake has been calling in additional land men to assist with their leasing for Expand.
Does anyone have contact information for Drake Exploration?
Thank you sir. I appreciate your insights as always.
