Antero, like other drilling companies, often allows independent land men to do their dirty work of initially tying up a collection of mineral interests. Confusion is often just part of the tactics used by such land men. They may be giving you one story and giving Antero another story. Fracking done right appears to be a great way to get to the gas with the least damage to the environment, on paper, in theory, anyway. Problem is, I’m not sure anyone actually does it the right way.
Ms. Gray, the heirs who do sign as soon as they are contacted are the ones who are usually not very informed or could care less. The oil companies smile ear to ear when they come in contact with unassuming mineral owners. Get as much info as possible and ask questions from people other than a land agent. This site is a good start. This process can be frustrating, stressful and time consuming. If you do not want to do the homework then you can sign a lease that has everything for the company and little for you. The bonus upfront money causes some to sign but, the royalty and changes in language make for a good lease. We have been waiting to talk to Antero for almost a year after negotiations broke down. They finally called again saying this matter was of the utmost of importance. Do you think I buy that?? Every time I think about trying deal with them again I have to take Tylenol.
I think that building houses and driving cars damages the environment, but the trade-off is considered worth it. I certainly don’t live in the wild and walk everywhere I go. And no constructive process is 100% risk free. However, in harmony with your point Mr. Kennedy, I also believe that drilling is not held to as high a standard as it reasonably could be and that there is a lack of data-collection and monitoring and accountability. It is how the overall process of a fracked well is handled that I consider “not done the right way,” not just the fracking itself. Thing is, an interst-owner can put himself or herself in a disadvantaged bargaining position by mentioning reservations about fracking to a land man or driller, in my opinion. That isn’t the best arena for discussing overall approaches. Modern drilling techniques are going to take place somewhere whether a good contract is negotiated or not in any particular instance. So if one has decided to negotiate for a favorable lease, reservations about fracking become immaterial at that point, in my opinion, other than giving the other side of the negotiation ammunition for later painting the interest-owner as being radically opposed to drilling as a whole for unfounded reasons. Just one man’s business opinion.
Jnk, I don’t think fracking is the problem, I think it is the cement job that is to isolate the fresh water zone that fails. I have read in the well logs where operators did not use enough concrete and left fresh water unprotected. Funny, the state did not make them fix it, just required monitoring. I would think that it would be too late to do anything after something happened and it should be fixed now or plugged. I think our public servants are bought just like the judges. Sad.
Lula: Back to your lease, the 67 acres could be the total acreage and the 16 is what you actually own or have royalty interest in. I know it can be confusing. Look at your " statement of taxes due" and it should show you what part of 67 ac you own.
I don’t have a statement of taxes due. We don’t own the land…just the mineral rights. I am thinking I really don’t want to negotiate with people I can’t trust. Good faith negotation is just that. Antero has told different people in our family different things and have taken advantage of some of our elderly relatives. Some signed on right away…others like myself, wanted and needed to know more. I have a married son and they even contacted him to persuade us to sign a lease. Hard ball tactics…that is how they play…I am just not interested…Two years ago, I didn’t even know I owned mineral rights. If I don’t want to sell them, why should I have too. Leaving threatening messages on my phone and involving other family members, attempting to pit brother against brother is a sorry way to attempt to get what you want.
I have read that the WV Legislature is studying a Forced Pooling bill where if they get 67% of the net mineral acreage in a planned pooled unit leased, they can lease everybody else, at 1/8 (12.5%) royalty, and change lease terms. If you already have a lease that does not allow pooling, or a pool the size they want, they can force you into the pool. If they pass it it will be a big problem for WV mineral owners. The proposed changes to the WV code is here
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4…
So I quess my question is this. Do I call the Doddridge tax assessor’s office and will they tell me who has been paying the taxes on the mineral rights?
In my case, I had probated my dad’s will and communicated documents to Doddridge Co. Make a long story short the taxes were not sent to me and therefor not paid. The mineral rights were sold on the courthouse steps. A kind stranger contacted me and I was able to pay the then late taxes and get the mineral rights back.
Does Doddridge Co. not have a separate tax slip for mineral rights? I can not imagine the county not taxing both. Ritchie Co. taxes minerals and surface. I would say someone is paying the taxes on the minerals.
If mineral rights have NOT been removed, drilled as of yet…would you still receive a tax bill on just owning the mineral rights on a tract of land. If the owner or Owners in my case didn’t know they even own them then what happens in that case. I know that the property taxes have been paid and I have talked with the land owners. I wanted to talk with them before I even considered negoiating with Antero. I figure they would be the ones that drilling and fracking would affect the most. It matter to me how they felt about.
Lula Mae Gray, West Virginia counties tax mineral rights. Perhaps your tract is not on the tax books. That happens. Or is still in the name of your ancestor. Perhaps one of the heirs is getting a bill. I think that when the companies start leasing people when the tax record is not up to date, the company has to tell the county assessor’s office that the property is leased and the assessor’s office eventually gets the owners of the mineral rights in the tax books and then the bill is sent. You could check with Doddridge’s Assessor and see what they do.
Lula, yes I would call the courthouse, but as busy as they are, they might not be willing to help you, so you may have to go there yourself and do the work, but be prepared to stand in line and take a number, for it is a busy place, lot’s of people trying to find out the same thing as yourself (Title). Courthouse Tele #304 873 2631, Good Luck.
Brannon: My Mother paid the taxes for several years on what we owned after my Grandfather died, since I was a minor all title was in her name, When she died I signed an AFFIDAVIT that she had died, sent it to the Courthouse and all Property and Royalty was than transferred and recorded in my name. You were lucky that you had a kind stranger.
There has been so much discontent on this forum about Antero Resources that I thought that I would relate some of my experiences with them. I signed my first lease with them in 2009, and have signed 18 total with them all for Mineral Interest in Doddridge County, all but one have been directly with Antero Located in Bridgeport Wva. Not once have I been pressured, hounded, threatened, or coerced into signing a lease, once the negotiations over Bonus money and Royalty % was over, lease notarized,and returned to Antero, I have received my Bonus Check no later than 30 day’s, all done very professionally. Now perhaps some of you are receiving leases through a Broker representing Antero and that might be the source of some of the problems, so I called Antero in Bridgeport yesterday and told them about our forum and some of the complaints.they sounded sincere when they heard about this and said “anyone being treated unfair should contact Antero” at their main office in Denver Co. that if they are receiving leases from a Broker, that represent Antero’s integrity this should not be happening, Antero’s Telephone # is 303-357-7310. I MIGHT ADD, I AM IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH ANTERO OTHER THAN SIGHING LEASES. Unfortuntely In today’s world we are becoming more dependent on other people, but my mama always said stop crying, that if you want something done and done correctly >DO IT YOURSELF. MAKE THAT CALL PEOPLE.
Absolutely call Antero and give them the landmans name and tell them you are looking for anyone but Antero who will match Antero’s offer to lease. Since when is a company not responsible for the people they employ, even when they employ another company as their agents? If you feel badly used, make a real difference for yourself and others. Hit them where it hurts, their business. They hire these yahoos because their tactics are effective. It’s bullstuff that they don’t know what their agents do, Antero LIKES what they do or they would not employ them. Tell all your friends also.
Hi Jacqueline, I went to Doddridge County Grade School in 1946 and hung around with a Eddie Gum, other friends were Tommy Mossburg and Shelia Kay Kenny, any relation? I know I am OLD.
I read your message and thank you for the information on Antero. Antero in Bridgeport WV never contacted me. The landman that THEY employed did. I think Antero is and should be responsible for the conduct of the landmen they employ.
Thanks Nancy. I will contact the Doddridge Assessor to see what I can find out. Thanks again.
Ms. Gray I am curious what you will find out. They might not have an easy answer. Please let us know what you find out if you don’t mind. It might help others who have this situation to deal with.
In response to Arnold…I too have had a positive experience with Antero in Bridgeport. They have been upfront and responsive during the execution of my 4 leases. Although, not so much when it comes to progress. To be fair, they may not have the information. But I’m pleased to be dealing with them by and large.