All Posts by Date

312 posts found, showing 20 per page

Court to Weigh Appeal, Hearing Rights of Landowners Faced with Drilling
Press Release WVSORO September 24, 2012
On September 25th, the West Virginia Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that will decide whether a surface landowner has a right to an administrative hearing on, and an appeal of, the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) decision to issue a permit to drill a gas well on the surface owner’s land. More
Issues: Oil and Gas

WVSORO Surface Owners’ News – Summer 2012
Newsletter WVSORO June 29, 2012
Legislature Passes Weak Marcellus Bill | ‘M word’ avoided at capitol. Bills related to drilling held off until ’13 | Bill Would Increase Opportunities to Rejoin Split Estates | WV-SORO Focusing on Litigation and the Courts More
Issues: Floodplains, Land re-union, Marcellus shale

The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Pipeline Advice WVSORO June 24, 2012
The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation regulates safety for all pipelines but gathering lines (but delegates some of its duties to state agencies). For information on PHMSA’s activities click on their “states” page and go to “West Virginia”. Be aware that incidents are reported only if the pipeline operator considers them reportable. More

Bill would increase opportunities to rejoin split estates
News WVSORO February 7, 2012
In 1995, a man bought the rights to a mineral tract under about 80 acres of surface in Marshall County. The previous owner had failed to pay property taxes, and the buyer got a good deal: $45. Richard Sherman, owner of the surface since 1988, was unaware the minerals under him had become available. More
Issues: Land re-union, Legislation, Tax sales

Case in The West Virginia Supreme Court
Blog WVSORO January 16, 2012
Whether the Surface Owner Has a Right to Have a Hearing And/or an Appeal When the State Issues a Permit to Drill a Well on the Surface Owner’s Land. More

WVSORO Comments on Marcellus Draft Bill
Blog WVSORO December 9, 2011
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Issues: Legislation, Marcellus shale, Oil and Gas

Stronger Marcellus Shale Legislation Needed
Blog WVSORO December 9, 2011
In November the legislature's Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale recommended a bill to regulate Marcellus Shale drilling in West Virginia. Now that the committee has completed its work, a special session to adopt new drilling regulations now appears likely. More
Issues: Legislation, Marcellus shale, Oil and Gas

Battle for Wetzel County – Journey OnEarth documentary by Snag Films and Natural Resources Defense Council
Blog, Surface Owner Story WVSORO November 17, 2011
In the mountains of rural West Virginia, it’s a modern day gold rush. Breakthroughs in technology are allowing gas companies to tap a resource hidden deep in the earth, but at what cost? More
Issues: Marcellus shale

Surface Owners’ Responses to the Myths and Distortions Put Out by the Industry On the Dangers of Marcellus Shale Horizontal Drilling
Blog WVSORO November 7, 2011
Serious environmental concerns, plus concerns about abuses of surface owners are a result of Marcellus Shale horizontal drilling More
Issues: Horizontal wells, Marcellus shale

The experience of one landowner in Upshur County who signed a permit
Seismic and Geophysical Advice WVSORO October 20, 2011
Dawson did put the GPS for my animals in the helicopter navigation computers. However, at least twice they were headed my way, spotted me out doors, then changed course. They still come within a 100 feet horizontally of the animals but they will not fly directly over, unless no one is looking. More
Issues: Noise, Seismic testing

ION or some other company wants to do seismic testing on my land.  What should I do?
Seismic and Geophysical Advice WVSORO October 19, 2011
WVSORO first was asked about 3D seismic surveys in early 2010 when Chesapeake Energy hired Dawson Geophysical to do seismic testing there. It was a learning process for us. More
Issues: Seismic testing

WVSORO Surface Owners’ News – Fall 2011
Newsletter WVSORO October 4, 2011
Also see Earthworks Factsheet: Epa Hydraulic Fracturing Air Pollution Rules – Talking Points & Background Marcellus Shale Committee Making Progress on New Drilling Regulations, but Surface Owners’ Issues Remain Unaddressed | DEP Accepting Comments on Horizontal Drilling Rules More
Issues: DEP, Horizontal wells, Marcellus shale, Pollution

How Can I Get Ownership, Or a Chance at Ownership, Of the Minerals Under My Land?
Aquiring Mineral Rights Under Your Land, Buying Land Advice, WV Surface Owners' Guide Update WVSORO September 20, 2011
If you own the surface but not the minerals it is a very, very good idea to try to get ownership of the minerals. Even if the ownership of the minerals is divided up (often times in what people call “heirship”) and you can only get ownership of a fraction of the minerals, it is a very good idea to do that. More
Issues: Leasing, Oil and Gas

Breathing air near compressors, wells etc.
Gas Leaks Advice WVSORO September 10, 2011
Have you been smelling odors from, or just been living near, production facilities such as gas wells and compressors? Have you been having medical problems, like bloody noses, headaches or trouble breathing? More
Issues: Oil and Gas, Pollution

A gas company wants me to sign an amendment to an old lease! I own the surface and the minerals. Should I sign it?
Leasing / Amendment Advice WVSORO September 1, 2011
This article is only for people who own both the surface and all or part of the minerals of a tract of property. More
Issues: Leasing, Oil and Gas

Top 10 Tips for Surface Owners Before/When the Oil and Gas Driller Shows Up
WV Surface Owners' Guide Update WVSORO August 15, 2011
1. Get ready now! The driller will send you a copy of his drilling permit application with the well site and access roads already selected and surveyed less than 15 days before the permit can issue. More
Issues: Leasing, Oil and Gas

When commenting on a permit for a new nearby gas well, especially a horizontal well, maybe you should comment on existing gas wells in the area
WV Surface Owners' Guide Update don_alejandro August 1, 2011
If there are existing gas wells close to where they are proposing to drill the new gas well, especially if the new well is a horizontal gas well, then there is one way in which the frac fluid could work its way out of the target formation being fraced for the new well and into your ground water. More
Issues: DEP, Horizontal wells

See Chapter 9 of the West Virginia Surface Owner’s Guide to Oil and Gas
Buying Land Advice WVSORO July 15, 2011
We have one additional piece of advice since the publication of the Guide. You can use two state web sites to try to find if there are any wells near you and what their condition is. More
Issues: DEP, Oil and Gas

Look for springs when commenting on well site locations!
WV Surface Owners' Guide Update WVSORO July 7, 2011
If the well site is constructed over a spring, the water coming out of the spring will destabilize the site. More
Issues: DEP, Oil and Gas, Water

Outline of Legal Theories for Representation by Lawyers of Surface Owners/Small Mineral Owners
WV Surface Owners' Guide Update WVSORO June 13, 2011
Share via Facebook Like Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Digg Del Tumblr VKontakte Print Email Reddit Buffer Love This Weibo Pocket Xing Odnoklassniki iconOdnoklassniki WhatsApp Meneame Blogger Amazon Yahoo Mail Gmail AOL Newsvine HackerNews Evernote MySpace Mail.ru Viadeo Line Flipboard Comments Yummly SMS Viber Telegram Subscribe Skype Facebook Messenger Kakao LiveJournal Yammer Edgar Fintel Mix Instapaper Copy […] More
Issues: Leasing, Oil and Gas