[FLDBRED]

I own 30 acres in Bradford County,I like every one else have been offered good money for the gas/minerals.I know next to nothing about all of this.How would this effect my land if they were to start drilling?Would it effect the hunting seasons?Would it leave a permanent scar?
It looks like my nieghbors are all doing this,will they be taking the gas from under my property anyway?

I love this land and saved all my life to buy it,I would like to leave it to my kids!

 

[47studebaker]

what "kind" of lease are they offering? If they are NOT drilling on your property or placing a pipeline or access road there should be no disturbance to your property. If they drill on nearby property there may be some disturbance "noise" best to contact your neighbors to see how their lease reads or some attorney with gas lease experiance.

 

[buckhill63]

Everyone is drilling around my property, and I am torn as to what to do. I have consulted with an attorney, and would strongly suggest anyone considering selling or leasing their gas/mineral rights to go through an experienced attorney. I don't want to ruin my land for hunting, or ruin my water well, etc., but I suppose if there is enough money involved, my kids and I will be able to afford to go out West and hunt every year. You can count on whatever gas company drills, if it is on your land, to "disturb" twice the acreage as what the gas company tells you, between access roads, drilling site, any ponds needed, etc. Make sure you review everything...where you want your topsoil stored, what is to be re-seeded, who gets any lumber, runoff protection, etc. Good luck!

 

[FLDBRED]

I really don't want to do this!I wish my nieghbors hadn't done it!I am a blue collar guy,but if I thought it would hurt my land I would tell them to stick it.

 

[gutlucky]

i also hunt bradford county stevensville area .there is a drilling operation off of 367. there is orange ribbion everywhere in that area .from my hunting stand is a wood stake with ribbions all around it about 40 yards.owner said they are checking for gas may run a line .good luck!!!

 

[stackbarrel]

Drill, baby drill! Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. We were told up to 2 acres for the pad work, and max acreage they've been using is 2 acres for the huge Paterson rigs. Upon completion, they will landscape the effected area and all that will remain is their maintained access road and a 1/8 to 1/4 acre fenced in area to monitor the well. As for your well, the casing for the wells are 3000', your water well is maximum 300'-350'. The company must test your water before and after drilling. Have your lease drawn up that they are responsible for your water. If they damage the well they are responsible. You can also have your lease state there will be no drilling or disturbance to your property. But if you go that route, you may want to allow them access to run the pipeline across your land if they need to. It'll speed up the process and get the wells from your unit connected online and then the $$ starts coming in. You may lose some time hunting there, depending what time of year they drill near you, but I wouldn't worry about it. They're drilling all around us and it hasn't effected my hunting at all. I've seen more deer while on stand in the 4 days I hunted this week than I did during the first week of any other archery season.

 

[OneLongShot]

Having done a lot of work on our lease and researched a lot I can only tell you to contact an attorney. It may cost you a few hundred dollars up front but the protection of your property is your first concern. We have a clause in our lease that states no drilling from the start of Bow season until the end of the late season. You can also have a no drill clause in your lease, where they can't drill for the gas on your property but you get money if they take it from your zone (I think each one is 360 acres....I think) You want to protect your property and rights as much as possible....don't rush into any lease without a full understanding of what you are getting into. An experienced attorney who has experience in gas leases could help you a lot.....make sure they are experienced with these leases...PM me if you want the name of the guy we went through and I'll pass along his number to you. Protect your land......

 

[OneLongShot]

Drill, baby drill! Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. We were told up to 2 acres for the pad work, and max acreage they've been using is 2 acres for the huge Paterson rigs. Upon completion, they will landscape the effected area and all that will remain is their maintained access road and a 1/8 to 1/4 acre fenced in area to monitor the well. As for your well, the casing for the wells are 3000', your water well is maximum 300'-350'. The company must test your water before and after drilling. Have your lease drawn up that they are responsible for your water. If they damage the well they are responsible. You can also have your lease state there will be no drilling or disturbance to your property. But if you go that route, you may want to allow them access to run the pipeline across your land if they need to. It'll speed up the process and get the wells from your unit connected online and then the $$ starts coming in. You may lose some time hunting there, depending what time of year they drill near you, but I wouldn't worry about it. They're drilling all around us and it hasn't effected my hunting at all. I've seen more deer while on stand in the 4 days I hunted this week than I did during the first week of any other archery season.

Each pad consists of 4 acres of used land, not including any land they need for pipeline, roads, etc....the upfront money is tempting to many but I think with 30 acres I would go with a no drill clause and no pipe line clause in my lease. He may get less money up front but preserving his hunting property seems to be most important....plus if they sink a well in the zone he's in he will money for that.....look at all the oil spills and water issues they are having in Susquehanna Co......protect your land...

 

[Bluetick]

Start reading on this website:

http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/AboutUs.htm

Educate yourself. I agree, get a experienced attorney to represent your interests.

Good luck.

 

[Fleroo]

30 acres under lease for 5 years would have gotten you an instant $75,000 here last August. For that kind of money, and royalties, I can put up hunting a Gameland till they're done.

 

[FLDBRED]

Thanks for all the info and opions,I really wish I didn't have to consider this!
OneLongShot,PM sent!

 

[BrownTrout]

I'm with fleroo on that one.

 

[cold creek road]

i signed a no surface lease . they have to get the gas from underground laterally . i too was in your position. im glad i waited and now i got good money for bonus and a better royalty. go for it

 

[FLDBRED]

budcar,Who did you sign with?Thank You.

 

[OneLongShot]

The leases when we signed were going for around 2-2.5k an acre last year in Bradford Co, they are now going for about 5-6k an acre......but alot of the wells they drill now will be capped until they see and increase in natural gas prices. By capping the well they gaurantee that they don't have to resign a lease in the 5 years and you won't see royalties until they actually start pulling gas from that well....it could be now, it could be in 10 years....depends on the market. The price they pay you an acre for maintaining that well on your property after the lease expirs is around 15 to 20 bucks an acre per year. Also if your property is split between drilling units you may not get full royalties....lots of but ifs when you deal with these guys....tread lightly and get informed....

 

[OneLongShot]

Thanks for all the info and opions,I really wish I didn't have to consider this!
OneLongShot,PM sent!

I'm diging through my office looking for the lease info. I will PM you it when I find it......someday I'll get organized...

 

[FLDBRED]

When you sign a no surface lease is it alot less per acre?Thank You.

 

[denangme]

Wish I had the decision to make. I sure could use the money, but, I'm too far south and only have 2.9 acres....

 

[FLDBRED]

Like I said,I am a blue collar guy without a pot to tinkle in,so I could sure use the money...but I don't want to harm this land.I sure hope this doesn't change Bradford County.

 

[Doubledog]

"By capping the well they gaurantee that they don't have to resign a lease in the 5 years and you won't see royalties until they actually start pulling gas from that well....it could be now, it could be in 10 years....depends on the market."

In most cases they don't have to drill a well on your land to tie it up almost forever for very little in revenues. Alot of people don't delete the "pooling" provision of the lease that allows them to extend the term of the lease for so long as your land (even without a single well on it) is "pooled" with other land upon which there is an operating well. So, the simple way they get around losing the lease on your land is to pool it with another parcel(s) upon which a gas well is located (doesn't even need to be a marcellus well, any old shallow well will do). So, if you own 100 acres and they pool you with another 400 acres, you get only 20% of the royalty paid on the one well that they are using to tie up the 500 acres almost in perpetuity.
They also retain the right to change the pool definition. Many that signed up in recent years thinking that they are going to either get a marcellus well or their gas rights back within the 3 or 5 year term of the lease are going to be sorely disappointed in a few years when they get neither and instead wind up with their land tied up for a pittance. Consult a good lawyer that is knowledgeable and skilled in negotiating gas well leases. In gas leasing there is a very fine line between getting a great deal and preserving your land and throwing it all away for change.