Drilling deeper for Barnett Shale answers?

You've come to the right place. Welcome to "Blogging the Barnett Shale," the Star-Telegram's new blog on all things-Barnett Shale.

We'll blog on everything from what's going on with leasing offers in your neighborhood, to what's going on down at City Hall, and what's up with the landmen and drilling companies that are working in the Shale. We want this blog to help serve as a conduit for conversations our readers are already sharing with each other. If you know of something going in your neighborhood, please share it with us! Anything's fair game.

Blogging the Barnett Shale will also be only the first part of an expanded coverage of the Shale in the Star-Telegram. In a month or so, we'll launch a Barnett Shale web page containing the latest info on what's going on with lease offers in neighborhoods around the region, graphics on how the drilling process works, a history of the Shale and the significance of the gas play underneath all of our homes, bios of the players, and Q&As on your offer and what happens next.

Thank you for visiting us, and check back often!

-- Mike, Jim, Scott, Bill, and Richard

Comments

[Thomas N. Farrell]

I have developed the above URL for the High Pointe Home Owners Association in Cedar Hill.

It has been developed to keep our residents informed on the activity connected with the Barnett Shale.

I have attached your blog page to the web site. It is the best source of information I have found. Thank you for developing it.

Can you attach our web site to the Blog?

Thanks,

Tom Farrell
freedom777@juno.com

[Liah Almaguer]

I live on Mission Hills Drive in Arlington, 76018 and have not heard from anyone.
Does anyone know who I can contact? to see if I am this gas deal.
I don't know what group I belong to, please help.

[Amanda Wilson]

Can someone please give me some insight on protecting potential assets(mineral lease) when the various landmen succesfully divided and conquered the area where my property is located. What steps do we take when our property (15acres) is located in Mansfield, Tx in a socioeconomically challenged area where people did not understand the process and either are caught up in the lawsuit w/Briscoe or setteled for a minimual contract (approx $3000.00 per acre). Some landmen seem to think that we 'should' simply conceed and settle for that offer that was done almost two years ago. Advice and contact referrals needed

[linda]

I would encourage everyone in Fort Worth being solicited for gas leases to visit the Fayetteville, Arkansas Shale websites. Read the comments about the landmen activities. Here is what I read but I encourage you to read this for yourself. In Fayetteville, Ark. landmen researched land deeds on the sly, solicited land owners to sign over their mineral rights for $25 an acre, then a few years later drilling companies began drilling. Now these land owners are crying foul and lawsuits are being explored. My point here is do your research intensely with close consideration to fair market value on future prices of natural gas royalty and issues concerning pipeline placements, ordorized gas vs. non-odorized gas, and transportation costs accessed against royalty payments. The landmen & drilling companies will tell you anything to sign the line. There may be nothing illegal about this....this is business afterall not personal as we learned in the "Godfather". When there is little or no regulation of this business, the buyer must beware.

[Johnny B]

We just signed our gas oil lease with Paloma Resources through the Seapo deal ( seapo = South East Arlington Property Owners ) . Our bonus check is 7028.00 plus a no expense 25% royalty !!! Thank You Seapo !!!!!!!!

[Pjohn]

Anyone know how we are supposed to file with the IRS on the money we recieved for a pipeline row lease last year? It's not the same as a bonus or royalty payment. We were told by the landman we worked with that we could claim part as damages. Don't know how to do that though. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Doug and Patty]

Fleet Oil and Gas are really hounding us here in Sheffield Village. Does anyone know if the neighborhood has organized to negotiate a better deal? If anyone is interested let us know. I have lawyer in Weatherford who said he would represent our neighborhood. Otherwise as best as I understand, you have no leverage for negotiation.

[Ron D.]

There was an intital meeting scheduled in soutwest Arlington in the neighborhood bounded by Eden, Matlock east....includes Lynn Creek Estates (Wicklow, Jennifer, Kissamee, Tabor). Flyers were passed and a group was supposed to meet Saturday morning. However the weather was misty and I wondered if anyone showed up at the meeting at Workman Park on Tabor Dr.

Whoever passed out the flyer did not have any contact information and I want to check in with someone to get involved. Anyone know a name or email/phone number?

[B. Humphries]

wiley, thanks, but why do you ask? the answer is buried in this blog. regards, ms. humphries

[Wiley Post]

Sirius and B. Humphries, you both seem to have a lot of knowledge on these issues. As someone in the industry I hope you will take that compliment.

Water recycling is an issue. With water as valuable a resource as it is, recycling is critical. Water is plentiful right now, but if we have another drought as we just came out of it will be a problem.

We need to do more to reduce our response to foreign oil, but in a environmentally sound manner. Are you in the business Mr. Humphries?

Thanks for your time.

[B. Humphries]

To Rosie. If you own an acre, you get the offer
at 100% for it. It is all based on a percentage from there.
Lot sizes are listed with your deed survey. The sq. footage it equals. There are 43,560 sq. ft. in an acre. You have to do your
math for this. Do not assume you have the same lot size as your
neighbor. They vary greatly I have found out, on my street.
Whatever your lot sq. footage is, is the percentage your lot will
bring under the acre offer. Ask any Landman what your percentage
would be on your lease. He will do the math for you.

[Rosie Hardgraves]

Acre ? Lot ? I read of offers of $10,000.00 per acre. Also offers of $750.00 per lot. Where can I locate info. to break those figures down to understand the possibilities concerning my property ?

[B. Humphries]

Please add Wedgewood to the blog theme.

[B. Humphries]

to J. Freund---Go to the Tarrant Co. Appraisal District, they may help you to do a Deed Research on your property. The longer you have owned your property the easier it will be. The more owners in the past, the more research required. Contact your Mortgage holder, go over your papers. You can also go downtown to the Tarrant Co. Tax Assessor office and research your deed. Usually if no mineral rights are mentioned in your paperwork or deeds, they have not been retained by anyone else at the time of a sale. That would indicate that you own your mineral rights.

[j. freund]

How do you go about finding out if you own any or all mineral rights to your land?

[chris]

Great idea!
Can you add Woodhaven to the list. I have been amazed at the way that situation has "developed". We got the rigs but they are only tapping a small part of the communal lease. One year of production netting about $40. The development corp was quite triumphant in their announcement that the managed to get Chesapeake to distribute checks at the $25 mark instead of $100. Nevermind that the next three to come online are expected to also tap a small fraction of the lease area.

Crazy.

[Mike]

Great Blog.
Our neighborhood in Meadowbrook/Eastern Hills have been inundated with lease offers. Could you add Meadowbrook/Eastern Hills?

Thanks,

[OLA F. DENMAN HEFLIN]

Please include Azle, Springtown and surrounding area in your Blog News. Explain TypeKey or TypePad account...
Ola F. Heflin

[Tony]

What is the average cost to drill a horizontal well?
What is the average cost to refracture a vertical well?

[PAUL SELLERS]

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE GAS WELL BRING IN MONEY WISE IN A 30 DAY PERIOD?

[Barbara Morrison]

Fleet Oil and Gas
3000 Montgomery
Fort Worth 76107
817-738-1004
www.fleetoilandgas.com

[BDD]

Please add "Interlochen - Arlington" as a Blog Theme

[B. Humphries]

Please add South Hills to the blog theme

[jenny]

to the blog administrators - please add Tandy HIlls as a Blog theme.

It would be good to follow the progress of the Park and the potential effects of pad sites to the east of the property.

[Sirius_girl]

ask a lot of questions of landmen, energy company reps, and neighbors who are living near gas well sites before signing any contract.