34 years ago I purchased working interest in two wells in Richie County, Union district, WV. I was informed by the exploration company that both wells had been completed with multiple pay zones and were experiencing a short delay before going on line for production. Shortly after this initial disclosure of information the exploration company I invested with went bankrupt. I then attempted to contact a Mr. Ferrell Prior who I had been told controlled the lease and production of the wells, this proved to be a waste of time and I was informed by others the Mr. Prior was not trustworthy. It has been my assumption that since I have never received any further invoices, bills or checks for oil or gas royalty that for unknown reasons neither well was ever put in to production. Yesterday I received an offer from Antero Resources to purchase my working interest. At this time I just want to know what my wells have been doing since 1983, it seems strange to completed two wells and never put them in to production. The wells in question are the Barnard and Ellison leases. Anybody have any information or suggestions?
Mr. Sprehe, here is a website for Ritchie county tax and document information
Choose the document search, select a date before 1985 for the start, and today for the end.
Using your name, I found documents for the wells you mentioned. One of those had API numbers.
Using those, I searched The WV Office of Oil and Gas well search database
One of these is in Gilmer county, south of Ritchie. The other is in Union district, Ritchie.
These are both listed as being operated by Solomon Production Corporation.
You can use that name and search the Ritchie documents, and find an assignment from Prior to Solomon.
You can search a different part of the WV Office of Oil and Gas database Operator search
and there is a listing for Solomon Production I am not sure how recent this is, but it is what the WV
OOG has for their latest information.
You can go to the WV Geological and Economic Survey Pipeline and search by county and the end of the API number. The link is for the Barnard well. Use Gilmer and 03993 for the Ellyson.
This database goes back to the 1980s giving a more complete and historical picture of the wells.
Neither of these wells appear to have been good producers.
However, read your document carefully, as to what you own in the Ritchie county well. I can't find a website for Gilmer county records online.
Someplace to start.
If you wanted the older records (deeds, assignments etc) go back the the first link, again choose documents, then choose Archives. This is harder to use, and if you want some pointers, please ask. The new system stared mid year 1985, and older records are in the archives. This is filing date. Sometimes there is a big lag between document date and when the document was filed.
Wow, I am very impressed! I will take your advise and get started.
Thank you,
Ryan, what do I need to do?
Thanks, Richard
Richard, I believe you have working interest instead of a royalty interest. The working interest owners get paid out of the profits of the well, not a set royalty amount. I think you need to pursue finding the operator of the well. You might need an attorney to help sort things out, see if you are owned anything, how to get it.
Yes, I agree this is a working interest. With your assistance I have been able to locate documents representing pumper fees etc. that were sent to B & T Exploration and never advanced forward to myself or other investors I have spoken with this week. Thus, if both wells were operated for the past 34 years there must have been "some" profit, I am just questioning where it went and why the investors were not notified that the wells were producing. In other wells I have invested in I receive quarterly billing for services and equipment and checks from Farm Service for the crude oil produced. As far as the investors are concerned these well seem to have vanished except for the two mechanic liens I just found this week on the WV website. I did contact a local oil and gas attorney today and hope to get together next week and attempt to understand what is going on.
You are making progress! The Oil and Gas business, at least some of it, seems to have a large population of shady characters. You might be learning about some of them.
Update: Attorney in WV just now receiving 1982 paperwork and it appears that one of the following may have occurred. Mechanic lien from 1985, pumper vs operator, may have put all payments in suspense. Power of Attorney document I signed to manage my interest may have sold my interest, unlikely since this would seem to have gone beyond the scope of this agreement. Finally based upon WV reputation, the operator may have just taken mine and others interest. Attorney has not indicated how long title search will take but I will update findings
Glad to hear that you are finding some of your answers. A lot to dig through but the answer is there somewhere. Thanks for the update!
I received letter from my WV attorney today and she indicates that “Solomon Productions” has been and continues to produce both of my WV wells. The attorneys 10 day demand letter of one month ago was not responded to and a second letter was sent via certified mail last week. This was followed by a phone call to Solomon Productions which was answered by a machine and again with out a response. Does anyone know anything about Solomon Production? At this time all we know is that they exist, they control the distribution of funds from my wells and we are unable to contact anyone from the company that will respond to our inquires.
Very frustrating. I am glad that you have an attorney helping and that you are doing some things. Thanks for the update. Please keep us informed when you find out something. Maybe some members can help.
You might start a new discussion with "Solomon Productions" in the heading. It might get somebody's attention.