I have been dealing with this thought for along time and finally found this forum and hope I can get some advice when dealing with a existing lease. I live on 10 acers of land that I bought in 2000 from a farmer who was liquidating his 30 acres and was dividing it up into 3 parcels. I was of the first buyer to purchase the land off him and I requested if the mineral rights come with it. He said yes.
When we close on the property I started getting checks in the mail about every 3 months. Nothing much to brag about, even though when I acquire about the property it was never the intent to acquire the rights, I just wanted my own piece of heaven, and if I was entitle to the rights I believe I should have them. Throughout the years I have talked with the land owners who purchase the other 2 parcels and I found out that they are not receiving any mineral rights what so ever. I now assumed I ended up receiving all of the mineral rights to all 30 acres.
Fast forward 12 years later...... Since then I have built my house,and only recently to find out that Chesapeake Energy is now drilling a well about 5000' from my house and the other 20 acres of land I'm collecting the mineral rights off of. They have come to my house to test the water. I didn't understand to much about the process of them drilling the well until I asked only to find out that they are drilling 8 wells on a single pad and traveling 12500' horizonal and then 5000 to 5500' vertically ( they called this a super well). Because the property I'm on is very narrow I believe I could end up with 2 verticle wells under my property.
I'm currently collecting my royalty checks from EnerVest and they are paying me for oil they are receiving from the Clinton Formation which is approximately 4600' down. I understand my lease is with EnerVest, However because this well being drilled is 7900' deeper and the vericle head will end up underneath my house am I entitled to any compensation? Even though the well is not on my Property and my lease is with EnerVest.
Also should Chesapeake be contacting me? If they don't should I contact them or EnerVest?
I feel very lost on the direction I should go.......I hope someone can shed some light on this.
The location of my property is 10 miles south east of Canton, Ohio. County of Stark. Pike Township