Oil and Gas at Your Door? A Landowner’s Guide to Oil and Gas Development

This is an A-Z Primer on gas drilling on your own property. Includes chapters on exploration, drilling, production site abandonment, etc. Also includes anecdotes from landowners' perspective. The purpose of this guide is to provide information that will help you to better understand and deal with the oil and gas industry.

WHAT’S INSIDE?
Chapter I of this guide contains a description of the oil and gas development process, and information on issues related to development that may be of concern and importance to landowners.
Chapter II contains legal and government regulatory information that may help landowners to prevent serious impacts from oil and gas development on their lands and lives.
Chapter III provides additional tips on how to deal with the oil and gas industry, e.g., through negotiation of surface use agreements.
Chapter IV contains stories from landowners who have already experienced development on or near their property.
Chapter V contains lists of additional resources that may help to further prepare landowners for oil and gas development.
Because this is a guide for landowners, the content focuses primarily on on-shore oil and gas development, as opposed to offshore drilling operations. And it highlights issues with private as opposed to public lands.


Table of Contents
Introduction
What’s Inside?
Should you be concerned about oil and gas development?
If you are a landowner facing imminent oil and gas development
Chapter I, Oil and Gas Development and Impacts Terms and Concepts
Characteristics of Oil and Gas
Stages of Oil and Gas Development, 1.2.3.4.
Obtaining Mineral Rights
If you own the minerals
If you don’t own the minerals
1. Exploration
Seismic Exploration
Exploratory Drilling
Exploration Stage—Issues and Impacts
2. Field Organization
Well Spacing
Mineral Pooling
Unitization
3. Production
Well Completion
Stimulation
Well Testing
Oil and Gas Treatment and Conditioning
Production Enhancement
Maintenance Procedures
Oil and Gas Processing, Refining and Transportation
Production Stage—Issues and Impacts
4. Site Abandonment
Plugging Wells
Conversion to an Injection Well
Reclamation
Site Abandonment—Issues and Impacts
Development of Nonconventional Gas and Oil
Coalbed Methane (CBM)
Coalbed Methane—Issues and Impacts
Tight Sands and Gas Shales
Tar Sands and Oil Shales
Tar Sands and Oil Shales—Issues and Impacts
Impacts Associated with Oil and Gas Operations
Health, Safety and Quality of Life
Housing
Crime
Safety
Roads
Dust
Property Values
Noise
Contaminants Associated with the Oil and Gas Industry
Air Emissions
Hydrocarbon Wastes
Produced Water
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)
Alternative Technologies and Practices
Alternatives used during the drilling and completion phase
Alternatives used during the production phase
Chapter II, Legal and Regulatory Issues
What are the first steps a landowner should take?
The Legal Steps in Oil and Gas Development
Who Owns the Minerals Beneath Your Land?
Split or Severed Estate Property
Reconnecting the Surface and Mineral Estates
How to Determine Ownership
Mineral Versus Surface Rights
Surface Owner Rights and Protections
Legal Decisions
Surface Use Agreements
Regulations and Surface Owner Protections
State Regulations
Leasing
Exploration
Drilling and Production
Site Reclamation
Financial Assurance
Other Protections
Filing Grievances and Complaints
County and Municipal Regulations
Federal Regulations
Exploration
Drilling
Reclamation and Abandonment
Special Situation: If You Lease Land from the Federal Government
Chapter III, Tips for Landowners
What to do When the Landman Comes Calling
Surface Use Agreements
Before You Negotiate a Surface Use Agreement
If You Negotiate an SUA
Powder River Basin Resource Council SUA Checklist
Surface Use Agreement Provisions to Consider
Industry Perspectives on SUAs
How to Determine Reasonable Compensation
Examples of Surface Use Agreements
Leasing
Before Leasing Your Minerals
Lease Provisions to Consider
Other Activities Landowners May Want to Consider
Organize
Push for Reform of Oil and Gas Regulations
File Lawsuits
Landowners and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP Suits)
Landowners are Winning Some Important Legal Battles
Chapter IV, Landowner Stories
1. CBM Destroys Retirement Dream
2. Coalbed Methane Water Wreaks Havoc Downstream
3. Excerpts from a Letter to Senator Bingaman
4. County Officials Say Residents Ignored
5. The Long Road
6. Threats and Intimidation: This is Called “Negotiation”?
7. State Could Force Property Owners to Allow Drilling
8. Rancher Not Informed about Mineral Leasing
9. Reaching an Agreement: Luck of the Draw
10. One Ranch Family’s Struggle with Coalbed Methane
11. Business Owner Struggles with Coalbed Methane
12. Why I Fight: The Coming Gas Explosion in the West
13. Bellflower Well
14. A Firsthand Account: Support for Bill Comes From Experience
15. Laura Amos: Hydraulic Fracturing
16. Company’s Threat to Bond and Drill is Not Negotiating in Good Faith
17. Wyoming Landowners Face Condemnation or Loss of Homeowners’ Insurance
Chapter V, Sources of Information
Resources on the oil and gas development process
Resources on “Best” or Alternative Technologies and Practices
Coalbed Methane Resources
Resources on SLAPP Suits
Non-profit Organizational Resources for Surface Owners
Government-Produced Landowner Guides and Resources
Other Landowner and Mineral Owner Resources
Nonprofit Organizations working on Oil, Natural Gas and CBM Issues
State Regulatory Agencies
Glossary of Oil and Gas Terms
Endnotes
Index

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