Jim, you posted your second one while I was writing the first!
Do you have a copy of the lease in effect? May be from “the olden days”. For a modification, there has to be something to modify. There may be something in the original lease that isn’t good, and your only chance to get it changed would be a modification. However I don’t think they are fond of changing wording. That is where a good attorney earns his fee: knowing what is likely to get approved, what is DOA and what might be negotiated.
OK, here goes. In the last six weeks I have signed two leases with Antero in Doddridge County, both for 8ac, that’s my net. Both were signed for $2000 an ac, at 16 percent. Let’s see some others.
Nacy, Does Antero provide you with depletion deduction information at the end of the year? And what is a bonus payment?
Nancy, the old lease is for a vertical well there that they want to drill as horizontal. I assume it is a pretty old lease, probably from the 60’ at the latest! And thanks for the info. But you mention that $400 per acre is good, but others on here talk about getting, like Arnold’s recent post, $2000 per acre. What would the difference be and why so much less for ours?
My royalty percentage is 15% and I have received net proceeds after post-production costs which I figured to be around 23%. I have no idea if I can negotiate that down on a signed lease, Kyle? If you know how to figure my royaties per acre (a formula) let me know and I will do that for you. I have a 1/24th interest.
Re Depletion allowance: the law allows 15% depletion on oil and gas production. It goes on Schedule E with other expenses. Just calculate 15% of the gross royalty. If you have deductions taken out for transportation or other post production expenses, those can be put on schedule E also. Schedule E
Taxes go there also, I put the WV county property taxes here. I think if you have severance taxes etc taken out, those would go there too I think.
If you paid postage to mail a certified letter for example, that would be there. At least that is how I do it.
Thanks so much Nancy. I suspect my accountant knows this but am waiting to bug her until after tomorrow:) I do believe that royalties are taxed as regular income and not capital gains, Stephanie
Stephanie and Jacqueline, I think Jacqueline is correct: royalty is regular income not capital gains. I think that would apply if you sold your minerals at a profit. And fees for maps are deductible, at least I have!
Jim that sounds like they really want to drill. 3/10 = 0.3 or 30%. A good acreage! That sounds like a good fee, but often it is advisable to ask a good attorney to go over the paperwork you are asked to sign. An attorney’s fee for that would be worth knowing that the company isn’t trying to put something in the modification that should not be there. And usually the first offer is not the best offer. That is how I understand it. I figure that offer to be $400 an acre, not bad.
Hi Jim, About renegotiating the current lease: maybe. If I had to do it I would consult an attorney (mine is Kyle Nuttall). Never hurts to ask.
Re the companies who are drilling in Doddridge:
WV Office of Oil and Gas Permits
go there and choose Doddridge, and maybe the last 2 years. You will get a list, and can look at it and see who shows up.
I think Antero is the biggest one.
$400 / acre for a modification is good. $400/ acre for a new lease (like Arnold’s) is not good, at least not in Doddridge.
They need the modification to allow pooling and unitization to drill the horizontal well which it probably not allowed under the old lease. But they are not required to give you a new lease since the old one is still in effect because of the vertical well on it.
Does anyone know what all gas companies are drilling in Doddridge Co.? I know of Antero, CNX, and Noble Energy.
Hope everybody finished the taxes successfully.
Ahh, got it! Thanks again! So we probably couldn’t renegotiate the percentage rate (I assume it is around 12%) then either?
Arnold, Nancy…thanks for the tax info. I used Schedule E and took the 15% depletion allowance.
Hi, today I was given a Hot-line to call in Denver for well info, for what it’s worth here it is 303 357 6475. Good Luck
Hi Darin, I might be able to help, maybe not. You said your acreage is within the Zellerback unit. Do you know that from seeing the unit map?
Stephanie P, I think to get a copy of the leases (if you have the book and page numbers) call the Doddridge county clerk and see how they do it. Maybe somebody here has done it. Well worth getting as much of the original documentation, both deeds and leases, as possible.
They are probably busy. May be worth another call.