Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Henry on November 6, 2011 at 4:02

Surface owner.  The seismic company cannot come onto your surface, without your permission.  Presumably they will pay you for that right.

Permalink Reply by Tom Hough on November 6, 2011 at 9:56

Surface owner. The payment is for a right to tresspass and for surface damage. When I was doodlebugging if we didnt get a surface permit we did what is called an undershoot where we set the energy source on one side of the property and recorded the reflection on the other side. Then reversed it. We didn't get reflections right near the suface but we did down where we were looking. Because we were able to do that I decided the mineral owners were only protected from people wanting to extract and not from people wanting to just look at the potential.

By the way back in those days the companies paid by the hole and not by the acre. When a surface owner wouldn't permit the neighbors would make twice as much money than they would have due to the extra holes on their property.

Permalink Reply by Shaleeee on November 6, 2011 at 11:12

Thanks Henry & Tom - Tom can you explain what a 3D seismic does - Have you ever heard of CGG Veritas? Is there much damage from this type of seismic work?

Permalink Reply by Tom Hough on November 6, 2011 at 13:16

Three D shoots allow the geophysisicts to map a formation in 3 demensions. I used to do 2D shoots which were like looking at a cross section of the earth as if it was cut open with a knife. 

3D seismic was made possible by improving the technology of seismic instrumentation so that they can record 1000s of geophone stations at one time. My old operation could only do 48 or 96 at a time. Because a 3D operation uses so much equipment they have started moving the equipment by helicopter rather than buggy and there is very little damage. CGG surveyed our land and did very little damage. The drills, the only buggy equipment still used on a seismic operation were kept as much as possible on roads and trails and I found almost no damage to the place. They no longer pay by the hole but by the acre. That is because there is no longer a single line but a grid pattern used and there will be activity on the whole property. They paid us $15 an acre but we demanded an additional $10 an acre damages in advance.

Permalink Reply by Shaleeee on November 6, 2011 at 15:26

Thanks, we have the same offer - $15 per acre and $10 per acre prepaid damage - did you use the contract they have or have an attorney draw up one?

Permalink Reply by Henry on November 7, 2011 at 1:11

I used their contract, and attached an addendum.  If I recall, the main points in my addendum were:

- put an end date on their right to your land (give them 18 months or so)

- damage protection beyond the pre-paid $10, if they do more damage than that

-indemnity clause (protects you, if they go and screw up things for other people, workers, etc)

- You can ask for other things (depending on if it matters to you), such as they notify you before they come on the land, they don't go on certain parts of the land, no warranty of title, no conveyance of mineral interest, etc.

Permalink Reply by Shaleeee on November 7, 2011 at 2:51

Thanks Henry for the good info. Will this type of seismic activity do damage to the water wells or buildings on the property? Will cattle have to be moved before they do the shoots?

Permalink Reply by ken hatcher on November 7, 2011 at 6:45

The acreage they did for me no one lived on. I could not tell they were ever there. Every thing went well.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Shaleeee on November 7, 2011 at 16:10

Thanks Henry, Tom, & Ken - we met with a rep of CGG and added a couple of things you mentioned Henry and signed the dotted line. Rep was very nice. Now we will see how it goes from here.

 

Permalink Reply by Belmont Boy on November 7, 2011 at 18:15

Shaleeee......To expand on other comments.  CGG requires permission from at least 60% of the minerals ownership prior to testing on a tract.  I hold 50% on a tract and the other 50% owner refused to sign a release.  CGG paid for a permit to come on the property, but ultimately "blocked out" the tract because they didn't get the required 60% of minerals owners.  My experience with CGG was first-rate in every respect.  Very minimal damage, save for one road that broke down due to wet weather.  They did have one slip up, but once they inspected and confirmed situation, immediately paid for damages.  Wish all of my experiences associated with the various companies were as good.