Mineral rights for gas drilling???

My wife and I just spent the last 1 1/2 weeks culling old records (business, personal, and family).
One of the items we came up with were several receipts mixed in with distant relative's paperwork that dated to mid 1950's.
Apparently, they (the relatives) were leasing oil rights to Standard, and Standard paid a percentage.
Basically, the pump would move (as an example) $120,000 worth of oil. Relatives would get a check for $35.
We never found a contract, but just looking at the numbers, I would guess that somebody didn't get a very good deal.
Get an attorney.

 

I've had 2 different leases for gas & oil. One for 2 years expired before they drilled. Next 1 they hit gas pretty good. Paid well for 3-4 years, then slowly went to nothing. They say they'll get the pump jack out when they need it somewhere else. 20% is a normal property owners share around here. I could not see this from my house and asked that the site be designated in the lease. One thing I missed was the lease gave them the right to run pipe wherever they needed. No worries now. Talk of another one to the north that they will need a new lease for.

Here the Dept. of Natural Resources, Div. of Oil & Gas regulates drilling. Call an inspector. They will know of the company. The history of wells in the area and lease info. Since leases are recorded as an attachment to your deed, the state will have records.

 

Methane gas wells? If this is the case and I was in your shoes, I would be walking in the other direction.

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=6046
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