To give you a better foothold. If you live in WV you need to get to the Tyler County Deed office and get copies of the land deed records, land sell transaction, Oil and Deeds and conveyances, and Copies of the Will. Did the Oil and Gas company ask for your families documented genealogy? If there is land owner and not related to any of your family then they he or she owns the surface rights not the below ground Mineral Rights unless its stated in a deed transaction.