Barnett Shale

Tally for FW Mayor's China trip? $1,726.13

If you’re scratching your head wondering how the mayor can go all the way to China with a security officer and spend less than $2,000, here’s how. Someone else was picking up most of the tab. Airfare from DFW Airport to Taiwan for Price and her security officer were paid by the airport so she could take part in a signing ceremony to promote direct air links between DFW Airport and Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport. Airfare between Taiwan and Beijing was picked up by the U.S. Department of Energy, which was sponsoring the energy conference in China she attended. Here’s a breakdown of the costs that will be paid by the city: $915 for the security officer’s hotel costs, plus $611.13 in expenses by both the officer and mayor (taxis, meals, etc.) and $100 each to enroll in an online global registration system to handle international travel paperwork. Price has said the conference helped promote ties between Fort Worth-based oil and gas companies and China. She told the Star-Telegram last week that officials associated with PetroChina, the largest oil and natural gas producer in China, recently visited with Fort Worth-based XTO Energy. But there’s been some private grumbling about the trip from some residents about the mayor leaving the city for 10 days to hob-knob with energy officials.

--Bill Hanna

Gas lease renewals in southwest Arlington

Word in the southwest Arlington area around Lake Arlington Baptist Church (roughly along Little Road, between Arkansas and Mayfield) is that homeowners are receiving lease renewal bonus checks from Chesapeake Energ, giving the company two more years to drill on that turf. The company's previous three-year lease, providing a bonus of $22,000 an acre, was negotiated, signed and paid for in April 2008.

- Bob Cox

Barnett Shale Newsletter offers information map

The Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter, a subscription-only electronic publication aimed at industry insiders, has created the Barnett Shale PowerMap©, which allows users to view production data for individual wells that can be searched for by location. The map covers the Barnett Shale and other fields in the Fort Worth Basin. To give it a try, visit the newsletter at http://www.barnettshalenews.com. There is a link to the map, along with instructions on how to use it.

The map displays Texas Railroad Commission data, but people who have attempted to use the Railroad Commission's own production information system (http://gis2.rrc.state.tx.us/public/) should find the newsletter's map vastly easier to use. The map will be free through June 15, after which it will require a subscription.

-- Jim Fuquay

Royalty calculator

The Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods has posted a royalty calculator on its gas resource drilling page, modeled after one the Mistletoe Heights Neighborhood Association recently built for its members. You'll need some basic information on your offer to get started.

-- Scott

Resources for Barnett Shale junkies...

We've added a "Resources and Links" page on this blog for everyone who just can't get enough on this topic. The links point you to everything from the city of Fort Worth's neighborhood database (great for neighborhoods that need tips on organizing from neighborhoods that have done it), to Barnett Shale history, stats, and economic impact.

Click here to take a look. And as it says at the bottom, this page will always be "under construction." Please send us an email if you know of a great resource or link we need to include.

-- Scott

Barnett Shale resources

CURIOUS ABOUT THE BARNETT SHALE? HERE ARE SOME USEFUL LINKS:

CORPORATE

Carrizo Oil and Gas

www.askchesapeake.com (Chesapeake Energy site)

Colt Exploration

Dale Resources

Fleet Oil and Gas

Harding Co.

Holland Acquisitions

Paloma Oil and Gas

Potestas Corp.

Western Production Co.

XTO Energy

DRILLING ORDINANCES

Arlington (includes city gas drilling resource page)

Bedford (city's gas drilling page, including ordinance and property owner Q&A)

Bedford  (city's comparison of provisions in several area drilling ordinances)

Colleyville (city web site)

Fort Worth (includes city gas drilling resource page)

Grapevine (Type "gas drilling" in the search bar to find the ordinance)

ECONOMIC IMPACT/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Barnett Shale Economic Impact Study, Ray Perryman, 2007

The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Devon Energy in Denton, Tarrant and Wise Counties, Bernard Weinstein and Terry Clower, University of North Texas, 2004

Public Perception of the Natural Gas Industry: Insights from Two Barnett Shale Counties, Sam Houston State University, 2007 (Johnson County results, Wise County results)

Credit FAQ: Why the Barnett Shale Gas Basin Could Benefit Texas Municipalities, Standard & Poor's, 2008

LEASE FORMS

Leases negotiated by the Berkeley Place, Ryan Place, Mistletoe Heights, and Tanglewood neighborhoods in Fort Worth

NEIGHBORHOODS

Arlington Neighborhood Network, City of Arlington site. Includes updated contact info.

Arlington neighborhoods, neighborhoodlink.com. Spotty, but includes some info, such as neighborhood association email addresses, that isn't on the city site.

Bedford neighborhood associations, City of Bedford site, includes updated contact info.

Benbrook neighborhood associations, City of Benbrook site. Includes updated contact info.

Colleyville neighborhood associations, City of Colleyville site, includes updated contact info.

Fort Worth neighborhood database, City of Fort Worth site. Includes updated contact info.

Grapevine homeowner associations. City of Grapevine site. Includes contact info.

Neighborhoodlink.com

ORGANIZATIONS

Barnett Shale Energy Education Council

Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods Gas Drilling Resource Page, including "Tips for Neighborhoods Negotiating Gas Leases."

FWCanDo (Fort Worth Citizens Against Gas Drilling Ordinance)

Texas Land and Mineral Association (represents mineral rights owner)

Trinitytrees.org

PUBLICATIONS

pegasusnews.com

Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter (paid subscription)

Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University (oil and gas publications)

texasinsider.org

GOVERNMENT

Railroad Commission of Texas, includes Barnett Shale resource page, information on regulations.

Tarrant County public records site (Includes lease/lease memo lookup so you can check out how many leases energy companies are filing in Tarrant County, and where.)

ROYALTY CALCULATOR

Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods gas resource drilling page

CONTINUING EDUCATION

TCU Energy Institute's Petroleum Land Practices Program

KNOW OF A GREAT LINK THAT'S NOT LISTED HERE? Let us know about it! snishimura@star-telegram.com

Community Calendar: Having a meeting? List it here

Having a meeting on the Barnett Shale? Publicize it here. There's no charge! Just be prepared for the response. Please send us an email to snishimura@star-telegram.com. Be sure to include your contact information, so we can verify your meeting.

THURSDAY MARCH 20

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post. 

MONDAY MARCH 24

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SWAPO2 (SW Arlington), community informational meeting, 8-9 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 5181 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington.

TUESDAY MARCH 25

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

THURSDAY MARCH 27

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Northside Community Center, 1100 NW 18th St., Fort Worth.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

FRIDAY MARCH 28

• Barnett Shale Expo, 11:30 a.m. registration, noon Expo luncheon: State of Energy Update, Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth. Tickets: $55 individual, tables of eight, $800. Group's web site.

SATURDAY MARCH 29 

• Barnett Shale Expo, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth. Admission: Free and open to public. Group's web site.

MONDAY MARCH 31

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources,9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

TUESDAY APRIL 1

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

THURSDAY APRIL 3

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

MONDAY APRIL 7

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

TUESDAY APRIL 8

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

THURSDAY APRIL 10

• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 8 a.m.-noon, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Road, Arlington. Recent blog post.
• SEAPO (SE Arlington), lease signing meeting with Paloma Resources, 9:30 to 5 p.m., Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church, Mayfield and Collins, Arlington. Recent blog post.

THURSDAY APRIL 24

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Deborah Beggs-Moncrief Garden Center, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Recent blog post

THURSDAY MAY 29

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Handley Meadowbrook Community Center, 6201 Beaty St., Fort Worth. Recent blog post

THURSDAY JUNE 26

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., R.D. Evans Community Center, 3242 Lackland Road, Fort Worth. Recent blog post

THURSDAY JULY 31

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Deborah Beggs-Moncrief Garden Center, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Recent blog post

THURSDAY AUG. 28

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Riverside Community Center, 3700 East Belknap St., Fort Worth. Recent blog post

THURSDAY SEPT. 25

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Southwest Community Center, 6300 Welch Ave., Fort Worth. Recent blog post

THURSDAY OCT. 30

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Deborah Beggs-Moncrief Garden Center, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Recent blog post

THURSDAY NOV. 20

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Greenbriar Community Center, 5200 Hemphill St., Fort Worth. Recent blog post

THURSDAY DEC. 18

• City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Public Meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., City Council Chambers, Fort Worth City Hall. Recent blog post