Mr. Dunn, as for negotiating with Antero…the best thing to do is let a WV oil and gas lawyer take care of it, because there are so many ways that the contract can screw you over that only a lawyer can truly protect you from them. Keep in mind that every WORD in the contract that Antero presents you with benefits THEM and not you. It only appears like it is benefiting you, but in the long run, if you sign the contract as is, you will not get what you could have out of the royalties, etc, unless you had a lawyer protect your interests in a revised contract that Antero will agree to. I spent a LOT of time researching this site and other sites in order to “do it myself” when we got our one lease for my husband and his two siblings, for a small interest in a few tracts. Besides negotiating a higher bonus and royalty percentage, we also made some other changes to the lease, but if we ever get offered another lease, I am committed to hiring a lawyer. I do not feel comfortable with my final take on whatever our lease turned out to be. I know that it was better than what they offered, but I keep thinking, “how much did I miss in protecting our interests because I just didn’t know enough?”. I highly recommend hiring a lawyer. Anyway, the first step is negotiating a higher bonus/acre and higher royalty percent. I think there are people that have gotten $4000/acre and 18% - but I also think they had lawyers. Antero will give more easily on the bonus than they will on the royalty %. My two cents! 
Mr. Dunn, for your question about contacting other companies, I think the companies sort of divide up the counties, and concentrate on certain sections and not others. But the advantage of having the tax map and seeing where your tracts fit with other wells and permits in the area, you can see which companies are drilling in the area and perhaps contact them. From what I have been reading the last few days, there is likely to be less rather than more leasing activity for awhile until the oil and gas prices rise (gas is going up a little now with the cold snap in much of the country). The experts say that almost always you get a better deal when the company comes to you rather than you going to them.
For your question about Antero: it would be the Land Department that would have that information.
Nancy, I found 2 affidavits on the death of my cousins related to Melvin Burton’s name but nothing concerning my Grandfather personally at 30.22950. Do you know what department Antero found the information on my Grandfather and my other relative heirs?
I have actually researched other counties that I know he lived in.
Thanks for your help.
Stephanie is right! before you sign anything, have it checked by a lawyer, or better yet if possible have a WV oil and gas attorney negotiate it for you.
Amen to Stephanie—pay for the lawyer…it will be worth it!
Thanks for the link about Antero landmen, Stephanie P. Really sad for them, and for those of us who are not yet leased.
Antero is “laying off” landmen
http://www.theet.com/news/local/antero-official-more-than-contract-…
Kaitlyn at Antero told me they had to lay off around 600 people (at least I think that was the number she said; it sounds like a lot!). She said it could affect how much we get from royalties as they may not be able to get as much money for their gas sales!
I suspect what Mr. Greaver means is that future leases may not have the negotiating power that previous leases had with regards to setting higher royalty percentage rates. If the money is tight, Antero is going to hold back giving it away. Leases that are already negotiated and signed are bound by the contract agreed to. It may also affect how much they will give away in bonuses, as well.
Hedging bets. Sorry. Talk to text isn’t always the greatest
Feel bad for the families of any laid-off workers. And I believe that the amount of royalties paid will always be subject to market price of the commodities.
Being a royalty ower myself YES Jacqueline, I beleive you are right, it has nothing to do with the landmen, but what the condensate, Oil and Gas are bringing at that particular time. I also have a lease with Antero to drill in July.
DT is probably right. The drop in crude prices is a good reason to cut ties w folks and build up some reserves. Especially considering the article that I posted that was on NPR a week or two ago. If you listen to that article you will hear that and the oil companies and Texas in particular are bound to produce from Wells per the leases despite the price of crude. If they’re having to invest there at a loss, then releasing the people heading bets for them would make sense.
Yes, Stephanie, I was just repeating the jist of what I was told. She may have meant that or even something else. But she said what was happening could affect our royalties.
Jacqueline, so you were one of those pesky peddlers that was always trying to get in my door. I was a purchasing agent for years, (Just kidding of course) You name it I purchased it, but mostly I was a Mechanical Buyer. Regarding the amount of Royalty we receive based on price of Nat’l gas, since there is a delay of six to 12 months from the time of sales to the time one receive there first check, do you think the royalty will be based on price of Nat’l Gas 12 months ago around $4.00 or the price that it is now $2.81??? Just wondering.
Schopp from Antero said the layoffs will only affect contract land brokers and not Antero’s employees. Huh, Antero employees not affected just contract employees… Almost all the work done from start to finish is not done by Antero. That way they just sign the checks and you as a contract worker take care of the rest. Lot’s of companies do this, that way, they do not have to pay into pensions, insurance, maintenance and so on. Throw in all the charges the royalty owners “pay” them in deductions I’d say Antero is ok. As far as letting land agents go they are like car salesman and work on commission and Antero owes them nothing. I believe most of you have heard the phrase “farming the work out” Just a thought.
Agreed Stephanie. And they also said they want to concentrate on drilling for the leases that they have already signed…concentrate more on production than acquisition given the market conditions. Makes sense. I was an independent sales rep in another industry for years… I represented 12 different manufacturers. Indy reps have been around for years in all industries…not exactly a new concept:)
Arnold, I think there should be a breakdown by month, with production volume MCF listed, and price received per MCF. Also of course your amount received for that months production. At least there should be a listing per month. And you should be paid your share of what they were paid, so higher amounts when prices are up, assuming volume is constant which it won’t be haha so it is complicated. But that is the idea.
Arnold, Unless your you purchasing heavy duty restaurant equipment like HVAC and refrigeration, it’s likely that I didn’t darken your door:) I think Jim is probably right… bonuses will be affected as well as leases that have not yet been signed, though they mostly have 5 year leases. And I think Nancy knows from what she speaks…she always does!!! So I hope that is the case and we get paid based on what they were paid. I just wish it was easier to check? Arnold, I would have thought you had been paid by now…as I recall, weren’t you expecting some mail box money around Christmas?
Jacqueline, I finally received my first DO last month, no money yet. Nancy, just wanted to hear someone else say what I thought would be the case, thank you. Jacqueline, I was having fare collection equipment fabricated for subway and transit systems, so in essence our task was similar.