Gail -
I am not any more familiar with Mississippi law than Scott is, but do not think he is correct about the company's only needing permission from the Surface Owners to perform seismic testing.
It is my understanding that when they are performing seismic testing, it is for oil and gas purposes. Oil and Gas are Real Property, just as Surface Ownership is, therefore the company has to have permission to test the potential of such rights from at least some of the Mineral Owners.
All they are required to do with Surface Owners is negotiate a settlement for surface damages. They lay cables everywhere and drill holes to certain depths to lower the microphones into, sometimes damaging crops or cutting down trees and that sort of thing.
I know that in the State of Louisiana, because of it's laws being based upon the Napoleonic Code, they have to obtain Seismic Permits from at least 70% of the Mineral Owners and then settle with the Surface Owners for damages. In shooting a 100 square miles of 3D Seismic that can become quite expensive, so you don't see as much seismic testing in Louisiana as you do in other states.
The rest of the country is based upon English Common Law, which allows for much less expensive initial testing.
I would imagine that it varies from State to State, but I know that in Texas you can have the smallest smidgen of mineral interest permitted and you can test all you want (every Mineral Owner - no matter how small the interest - has the right to have his or her minerals tested in any way they want).
Unless the company has information from other sources, such as Well Logs from prior drilling or earlier 2D Seismic testing to identify specific lands with the potential for successful development, the company will frequently obtain Seismic Permits from the smallest percentage Mineral Owners they can successfully negotiate Seismic Permits with in order to minimize their expenses before they perform their Shoot.
For someone in your position, it's what they do after they complete their Shoot that is the interesting part.
When the company studies the results of their seismic testing, they can very accurately determine which specific lands have the potential for successful well completions from whatever formation or formations they are targeting.
In 100 square miles, they may only determine a 40 acre tract here, an 80 acre tract there, maybe a Section here and there - that sort of thing. Those are the lands they are going to want to lease and drill.
If Renaissance is reviewing title to your lands to determine all of the Mineral Owners after they have completed their seismic testing and review, that indicates to me that they have determined that your lands have extremely high potential for successful development.
That puts you, as an unleased Mineral Owner, in a very powerful position when it comes to negotiating a lease.
With only 30 net mineral acres in a 60 acre gross tract of land, you might never be "Rich", but you may have a very interesting next few months. And, if they are successful in their drilling efforts, a nice, tidy royalty income for years to come.
Hope this helps -
Charles
PS: If you share ownership in your 30 net mineral acres with other family members, it would be advisable for you to negotiate your lease together.
Thank you …