Splitting acreage to different lessors

William,

The township is blanketed with leases going for 10 years and some probably have extension rights. The middle strip of sections has some very good production from multiple zones. Eastern strip of sections likewise. In your situation, and assuming the 32 acres in all in one section. (very important assumption) I would encourage you to grant them a short term lease (3 years max) at high royalty rate. I have my suspicions of their plan so make certain that all rights come back to you that are not in an approved production unit a year after the primary term, the acreage leased is explicit and limited, no water rights are leased, and all that good limiting stuff.

Top force them to take all your acreage for a bonus could be shooting yourself in the foot for the long term. Do what you can to get a well drilled within your contiguous block. You have nothing to lose and lots to gain for doing so.

Gary L Hutchinson

Minerals managment.