Barnett Shale

Hurst homeowners look for best deal

Here's S-T staffer Jessica DeLeon's story about gas offers in Hurst and homeowners' campaign to organize and get the best deal.

-- Scott Nishimura

Having a meeting on the Barnett Shale? Publicize it here, on our new Community Calendar !

Watauga homeowners seek better deal from Harding

Pete Beierschmitt thinks Watauga homeowners can get a better deal from Harding Co. and leasing agent Petrocasa and invites his neighbors in Summer Hills to join him. Harding, which has a joint agreement with Exxon Mobil in the Barnett Shale, has filed to drill a well just south of Hightower and west of Rufe Snow Drive. Beierschmitt says Petrocasa first offered $1,500 an acre and a 20 percent royalty, and since has come up to $3,000 and 22 percent. But the city has gotten $3,000 and 25 percent, he says, and figures residents should get at least that. A North Richland Hills reader earlier reported receiving the $1,500/20 percent offer from Petrocasa earlier.

Beierschmitt invites residents to call him at 817-281-4142 or Marty Leicht at 817-577-3561. He says he has about 150 homeowners with him so far.

Petrocasa/Hardin leasing in North Richland Hills

North Richland Hills resident Michaela Starrett, who last week received a lease offer from Petrocasa on behalf of Harding Co., wants her Foster Village Addition to get organized, and has taken the first step to do just that: a Yahoo Groups page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRHMOA/.

"I called this weekend and found out that the offer is $1,500/acre bonus, 20% royalty, and 3-year primary term," Michaela tells us. She invites all interested neighbors to check out the page "to join and discuss."

In a related note, another NRH resident tells us he has received a similar offer from Petrocasa, which says its drilling site is on the Graham Ranch on Hightower Drive. Incidentally, Harding has a partnership with Exxon Mobil in the Barnett Shale, so you might occasionally see the Exxon name as well.

Click here to read all of Blogging the Barnett Shale's posts about North Richland Hills.

-- Jim

(Photo: First graders at Foster Village Elementary in North Richland Hills)

Lone Star Park leased by Dale

Dale Resources has signed a lease to drill under Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, which will put it among the easternmost well locations in the Barnett Shale in Dallas County. Dale is paying $1.14 million and a 25 percent royalty for the 317-acre property. The money goes to the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp., a city entity. Dale just Wednesday hit total depth (that's TD for you insiders) on a well immediately west of the racetrack. Chesapeake Energy and Harding Co. also have a presence in western Dallas County.

-- Jim

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