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Permalink Reply by J Bachman on January 25, 2009 at 11:50

Thanks Buck. More of the story:

the company came through with public meetings about 2 1/2 yrs ago........."here's the plan" and "we'll get back to you". Now they have gone to the neighbors and made a per acre offer. What I've been told is it is common to approach people one at a time for them to get a cheaper deal.

I would like to go to a seminar to learn - but found out about the one in Shreveport - after the fact.

I'm wondering if there is something else coming up - where I could attend and benefit from understanding more of the lingo etc.

J

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Permalink Reply by Two Dogs, Pirate on January 25, 2009 at 12:23

Buck, a lot of companys buy it in acres because that is what the landowner understands and besides it sounds like a smaller area.

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Permalink Reply by Bobi Carr ("parker") on January 25, 2009 at 12:09

J,

Go to the upper right hand corner and enter Pipeline in the search menu. Or ROW.

But it sounds like you are on the right track, learn the details BEFORE you sign anything.

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Permalink Reply by Bobi Carr ("parker") on January 25, 2009 at 11:51

J Bachman,

Are they replacing an existing line? They replaced one on my farm last year.

The right of way agreement was granted about 30 years ago.

You need to check into your "chain" of title and see if anyone has granted them authority to do this. It could have been granted a long long time ago.

GOOD LUCK!

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Permalink Reply by J Bachman on January 25, 2009 at 17:09

Dear All,

Thank you for your generous responses!
There is a new pipeline - 30" coming from Canada down the middle of the US to OKlahoma......
this is the pipeline. Apparently there is a surface oil pool in Canada that was in National Georgraphic years ago - it is miles and miles long and wide. The idea is to pump it from Canada to OK. It goes through KS - where I am and ends up north of Ok City.

What I have been told is that they condem the land/or "buy" it from you. But that land depreciation, interruption of normal business, the land itself, clean up from the work and any "spills", ongoing maintainace etc. are all concerns. I am wanting to learn about the negotiation itself..........make sure my list of concerns is complete, that I have the lingo, etc.
I will check out the ROW as mentioned above.

Is this your line of business or are you land owners who are being interrupted/invaded by energy uses?

thank you so very much

j

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Permalink Reply by Raybies on January 26, 2009 at 0:50

Well, it comes down to this, if they want to go through your property, they will. As bad as that sounds, if you play your cards right you'll make a good amount of money on the deal and have a lot of say in how it is done. First you need to do is speak with your neighbors, adjacent land owners, etc. Find out what they have done regarding this. The pipeline is coming from somewhere and going to somewhere. Find out and talk to those people.

Second you need to speak with the company's 'right of way' (ROW) agent or coordinator. Ask questions, "how wide?" show me an "exhibit" of your easement, "I won't sign until I see an exhibit showing the length and width." "Why are you going through the middle of my property? Don't you know that will interfere with my building plans? Why don't you go around the edge of the property, or along the roadway where I can't build anyway?" It costs them significantly more to condemn your property than it is to settle with you, keep that in mind. You do hold some cards in this situation. They need something from you. Additional questions to ask, "how long will construction last? what measures will you have in place to keep impact to my property a minimum? to what extent will you rebuild the land to the original condition? what about trees that die as a result of construction within the next year? Will you replace those as well? During what hours will construction take place? What will you do to protect my livestock?" These are all questions that I've dealt with in working for a pipeline and would ask regarding my land.

It will also come down to what company with which you are dealing. Some are more easy to approach than others. Some are VERY willing to negotiate, others are not. We can provide more insight if you know what company you are dealing with.

Educate yourself about your property. If you've purchased recently, chances are you have a good description of your property. Regardless, a simple trip to the courthouse or location of land records for your area, will reveal a great deal of useful information. You should know more about your property than they do. There may be an existing easement across your land you're not aware of, building isn't allowed in the easement and "useless" to you, force them to run adjacent to that easement.

Do you know the name of the pipeline? A quick search on google found "the cushing pipeline" and the "keystone pipeline project." These may even be refering to the same line. Check out
http://regulations.vlex.com/vid/transcanada-keystone-wetland-involv...
and/or
http://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2007/HP07-... for more information. If you know what people are calling it you can conduct a couple of searches on google to find more information. The more you know the better. If you and your neighbors can partner together, you have more to bargain, meaning a better deal for everyone.

If this seems a bit confusing you may want to speak to an attorney that deals with land matters. Or even a local land surveyor that deals with pipelines. Not being from KS it is hard to recommend anyone.

Hopefully this helps with your questions and gives you a basis of how to pursue this topic. Goodluck!

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on January 26, 2009 at 4:17

The oil in Canada you refer to is probally the Tar Sands. The sands are mined and oil is extracted from the sand. The process is very expensive and requires a large volume of nat. gas. These low prices may slow development of the sands, but there are very large estimates of oil in these tar sands.

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Permalink Reply by Sandstone on January 26, 2009 at 4:43

It is my understanding there are two pipelines to be built to carry oil/gas from Canada to Mexico. Here are two links to check:

www.transcanada.com/keystone/kxl

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentI...

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Permalink Reply by J Bachman on January 26, 2009 at 6:48

TransCanada is the line coming through my property.

they made an offer to a neighbor but have not even dropped me a note or a call.

I will check into all that "ya'll" have written. Wow!

thank you!

Julie

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