I saw this over at Home on the Range and thought I would post it and compare the comments that LL gets on his latest post. I understand the resentment these people have, not owning the mineral rights and see it everyday in the job I have. BUT...... I bet they get in a vehicle (petroleum products) and drive it every day. I bet they go home to a cozy home (either gas heated or electrically cooled and heated(electricity produced by natural gas)) every day. I bet that they pick up the remote and turn on the TV (plastics produced using petroleum based products). Everything you touch every day has some sort of process used to produce it that probably isn't the safest, cleanest, soundest, most environmentally friendly way to do it.
Yada Yada Yada, you get the point. This picture sums it up well.
19 comments:
What you "Oil Field" people don't understand is that if I own my property, why do you get to tell me what I can and can't do with it? I own 10 acres in Wise County. An oil company drilled three wells on 2.5 of my 10 acres (25% of my property). They could as easily have drilled on the 300 vacant acres just 1000' to the south. Yet they took my property to do it because I am on the county road. I have the right to keep them off if they are not recovering the minerals under my property, which they are not due to horizontal drilling. Yet I still have no recourse other than going all the way to the Supreme Court and spending every cent I have to keep the 2.5 acres. I have no say what-so-ever about what happens to my property. I still have to pay taxes on that 2.5 acres (forever). I have to live next door to 9 tanks and a 24/7 compressor that never goes quiet. How is this fair? or even legal?
Big Ed
First of all, thank you for the comment Big Ed. Secondly, I stated clearly, that "I understand the resentment". As much as I would love to answer your question, I can't. I'm "Oil Field" people, yes, but I also come from family that has suffered through the same scenarios that you stated. I don't think it's fair (your specific scenario) to take 1 third of your land. I think with the ever more increasing demand on Natural Gas that new directional drilling procedures under these type of places, (your scenario) will become les and less a problem. I know, to late for you, but for others in the futuremaybe it's a start.
Now back to my post and read the first sentence over again. I'm not trying to start a war, just trying to see the difference in the two posts and what kind of responses they illecit.
You are right, we are dependent on oil and gas. But there are plenty of unoccupied acres to drill on that don't require complete disruption of someone's life. Perhaps if the oil companies wanted to share a little with the land owners? I received a damage payment that will amount to about $50 per month for the life of the well. You try to rent 2.5 acres of industrial property and see what it costs. I spent 20 years in the oil business and got out because of this institutional abuse. I had no bargaining power. Take it or leave it, but they were going to drill either way. You can't fight big (super big) money.
Big Ed
#countrypeopleproblems
#kissourasscityboy
Ok the sparring between you and Jarhead made me laugh out loud...
I feel for folks like Big Ed, and some friends who had about the same thing happen. Devon owned their mineral rights, and put in one of those stations where the trucks come and go to "collect", right below their house that sits on a small rise. They had no say what so ever, as to where it went. So not they have the noise and trucks etc. coming and going all the time.
I think most agree for the most part about the need for these resources, but the fact the land owner, who often is living on the property, has so little say in the situation. The owners of the minerals are often big companies like Devon, and I'm sure even the CEO would not want to live with the situations they can create.
We don't own ours, and they had been owned by an individual, but we recently got indication Devon now owns them. We just hope that our area is not found to be a prime section to drill on . We already have 3 pipe lines, power lines, and another larger power line coming through. Our property is so criss crossed in some parts I am not sure there would be a spot to ever build or develop on that section.
I don't blame the workers like you W, who work hard, and take pride in doing a good job, I blame "Austin" for not looking at the land owners rights too
Well said txtrigger. Just a little respect would go a long way. Instead, I am treated like a greedy obstructionist because I want to keep what I worked very hard to achieve. I have spent almost 25 years working on and paying for this land. Just a little respect is all I am asking for.
Big Ed
Another case of trying to move to the country and not reading your contracts. It is their own fault and they should just let it go. If I were the drilling company, there would be 3 more wells right through the middle of the house. Also I was unaware that Devon owned little if any mineral rights. Individuals own the mineral rights and lease them to companies like Devon to develop. Just read and understand your contracts.
I agree with you Big Ed, but the tone of your post i.e. you "Oil Field" people sound like you are blaming me, the common worker. Don't lump all of us in that batch. We are just making a living. I can't do anything about your situation or anyone elses for that matter as far as the land is concerned. Except make sure I try to leave it in a better shape than I found it, which my co-workers and I do every time.
4:24
Stupid comment in my opinion. Does nothing for the cause, either way.
Another question Big Ed. Did the same company that drilled the wells on your place lease the 300 acres to the south of you? Just curious.
My undestanding is the land owner can control where the oil companies drill. It is called platting for development. When this is done the land owner can no longer claim agricultural exemptions for their land and development must occur within a specified time period. If you buy land you MUST know what you are doing. If not there may be things happen that you do not agree with. I own my land and the minerals. Yes I want them to drill and they are going to. We have met and discussed locations and we have agreed to the best location for the both of us.
W Love your blog. It is upbeat and people don't take the personal cuts at each other like they do on other blogs.
THANKS
Yes they do have the mineral rights on all the land in my area. King Devon you know. And I am not blaming the workers. Unless they have the same attitude as the mineral owners, which a lot seem to do. I have heard workers talking very badly about land owners as if the land owner was some criminal. Some think just like 4:24. A little respect and common courtesy is all I ask. Instead I get "take it or leave it" or "you should have known better" or "just move if you don't like it". Never is the mineral owner asked to give up something. I paid as much for the surface as they did the minerals. And they need my doorway to get to their product, so a little cooperation would be nice.
Big Ed
Oh but they do make personal cuts all the time. Mostly towards me and Mr Answers, I just don't approve them.
Thanks for not posting the cutting comments toward me. One would think that saying them to me in person would be enough for Tina without also posting on your blog.
Let's also remember that without oil/gas Wise Co. would be a different place. Those gas checks keep at lot of people on family land that isn't good grazing anymore. Fort Worth is coming our way and I hope that the leases discourage some of the development that is creeping up 287.
Could be worse if we lived just a little west of here. This drought is going to take out a lot of ranchers.
LOL, Mr. Answers!!! Well played. =)
Here's the problem. People assume that when they buy a piece of land they have exclusive use. That is totally wrong. Unless you specifically have the mineral rights included in your deed you better expect that somebody is going to drill a well on your property at some point in time if you live on top of a formation.
You have to allow them access to the minerals the same as if your property completely surrounded somebody else's. You have to grant them access to their property (in this case oil & gas).
I will jump in and say Devon is by far the worst company that I have ever delt with. They pay about 1/3 of what others do for property damages and are complete jackholes about it.
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