In order to do a seismic survey on mineral property in Texas, does the company to have to lease with at least one mineral owner? We aren't the surface owners anymore and I'm trying to find out if they surveyed it or not.
Dear GT,
An oil or gas lease or seismic permit or license is needed for geophysical operations to be conducted on a tract in Texas (unless the mineral owner is doing the survey). Any mineral owner can grant this right. There is no minimum percentage in Texas, just any undivided mineral interest owner.
Best
Buddy CottenBuddy, do the seismic companies attempt to negotiate with the surface owners first and if they can't work out an agreement with them, they try to negotiate with the mineral owner(s)? Or do they only contact surface owners who are also mineral owners?
Hello, 6GT,
There are actually two things going on. First it the physical survey of shoot area, locating shot points and receiver stations, etc. After that comes the geophysical survey.
I always two separate crews with different responsibilities. One for surface only and one for surface and mineral. My job was to coordinate the crews. The surface owner can grant access but you cannot collect data without the mineral owner.
There are land strategies involved, but I always liked to tie up 75+% of tracts with mineral permits or leases before we got the permission from the surface owner.
Buddy
Is a permit required through the county?