Hey, Media!

Enough with the fluff already - WHERE YOU at?

If you live in Texas, read the letter from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  YOU can't afford not to. 

Brutal tactics

Mike Norman's Thursday column speaks mildly of the gangster-like tactics of the oil and gas operators in Fort Worth and other communities in the Barnett Shale. (See: "Don't understand oil and gas? What's wrong?")

The industry many times ceased negotiations after the July 2008 crash of the gas boon. Industry representatives, now with partial but not fully developable lease tracts, are back in neighborhoods offering not only paltry bonuses, but leases with reduced royalty shares, unfair charge-backs against royalties, pre-waiver of all activities they deem necessary to operate, and pre-agreement to support variances to city and other governmental rules or laws, including setbacks and pipeline easements. Want that on your property?

The landmen have been bold and say if you do not sign this one-sided, inequitably paid lease then they will file a Rule 37 against your property and will take your gas minerals anyway. Envision a gun held to a property owner's head.

These are brutal tactics supported by the Texas Railroad Commission. The fact that a Chesapeake spokesperson used the word "generosity" is nothing but a perverse statement. Chesapeake and the others need to be exposed by the media for what they really are.

-- Gary Hogan, Fort Worth

Rule 37

Great Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Rule 37

People fighting Rule 37 harassment by the oil and gas players should contact their state representatives and senators. Please tell them your stories of underhanded dealings by these operators and your concern for the unfairness of the process.

This issue is one greater than the drilling issue. Mineral rights go to the basic fact of personal private property rights. We will have a stronger fight by making legislators understand and defend that issue vs. the energy industry's issue of gas is an economic boon to the state. Property rights are an easier concept for them to wrap their hands around.

Theft is theft, and even they will have a hard time defending themselves for doing little or nothing to address that aspect of it.

-- Gary Hogan, Fort Worth

Gas Drillers follow Water Board lead

If they want it, they'll take it. Read about it in the Fort Worth Business Press.
You have to read it to believe it.

Fort Worth attorney Jim Bradbury got a letter in the mail from XTO Energy Inc., informing him that he could lease his minerals to the gas exploration and production company or, if not, they’d take them anyway.

“There’s almost an eminent domain essence to it,” Bradbury said, “where an operator can come in and say, ‘Through this Finley decision we are going to put you under a lease or get hold of your minerals by force of law.’”

And we have to ask - SAYS WHO?
Mineral owners are well-protected by the Railroad Commission of Texas and its requirements that gas companies must meet before applying for a force pool situation.