Catherine,
Do you own the surface or was it sold? I am wondering IF the surface was sold, did it have a clauses that you keep the mineral as long as a well produces, then it reverted back to the surface owner. If the surface is sold, go to the county clerk office and see what is in the deed.
As far as the lady at “do you have a question”, she was probably very busy and didn’t know anything regarding this case. The oil company employees and their attorney’s are real jumpy nowadays. Even if she doesn’t have a clear title and they don’t pay you within the 6 months window, she is still entitled to 6% interest till the title is cleared and the first check issued. Hopefully you didn’t sign a lease that you would clear the title. Did the lady say what was wrong with the title? I would call her back, be nice and ask to speak to the attorney that is handling this. Ask him what is wrong with the title, may be just a simple thing. Lots of todays oil and gas attorney’s are making sure all the “I” are dotted and “t” cross. It’s getting harder to proud title then it used to be as things are getting so divided up into small acres. Used to be everyone owned 160 A mineral under the farm, then they sold the minerals or G-grandpa had 4 children, so it divided into 40 acres each. Then Grandpa 40 A divide again between his children, then a few divorcees along the way. Now it’s down to 3 to 5 acres apiece. So, it’s getting harder to prove what you own. It’s a big paper trail or should I say, computer trail.