My mineral rights are to 80 acres in La Plata County, Colorado. 40 acres are in one section where the well has been shut-in for over 20 years. In May 2008 I signed a three year lease and received a bonus. When the lease expired, I contacted the same production company about renewing the lease. He seemed anxious to get the paperwork to me, but after waiting nearly a month it still had not come. I finally made contact with the land technician and was told that production is taking place on the section where the other 40 acres is located and curative measures would need to be taken. He expressed shock that that this could have been overlooked. I found out that the shut-in well will be abandoned and a permit has already been approved for drilling 4 wells in its place. Now they are saying I will have to wait and see how the Title Opinion reads before they will consider a new lease. My question is, when they signed the lease in 2008, would that not have voided the previous one lease(the one that kept going as a shut-in for years and years)? The section already producing, had been since 2003. I hope this isn't too complicated to understand. I'm starting to think I am the only one this has ever happened to. I think they made a mistake and they are hoping it will just go away.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.