Oil and Gas Law Question?
My family inherited about 50 acres when my grandfather died. Since then we have been pestered by two companies, a company that wishes to timber the land, and a company that wishes to drill for natural gas. We have always ignored their advances because my family enjoys visiting the land during the summer like a campground, and because it has intrinsic value from our grandfather. The problem comes from our neighbors there who do not feel similarly about their land and have allowed timbering companies to cut down trees on their land. Thats fine, however, the timbering companies wrongfully imposed on our land, cutting down several acres of our trees without contacting us. Now our neighbors have entered a contract with the oil/natural gas drilling company and the company has been harassing us to sign a lease on the mineral rights with them. This lease is unfavorable to my family, because it allows the drilling company to drill wherever on the land for up to 10 years, build any sort of temporary buildings or housing necessary for the drilling (confusing??), and generally provides no protection for the land. My family does not want to sign into this lease, but is scared that if we dont, they will just trespass on our land and drill as they please just like the timbering company did, since we are present there only a few weeks a year. Is there any way we can prevent the drilling company from trespassing on our land and drilling, thereby preserving my grandfathers land?
sorry for the long question
October 19th, 2009 at 1:03 am
1) You have legal recourse against the company that cleared your land without permission, contact an attorney.
2) If you don’t want them drilling, then don’t sign, if they trespass, then see #1
October 19th, 2009 at 1:03 am
sue SUE SUE!!
If they do not pay reperations for the trees cut down, sue them. and threaten legal action to the drilling companies if they do not leave you alone and stay off your property.
You should also get a restraining order or order of protection against them,
hope this helps and Dont let them bully you!