Oil & Gas Pro

The Curious Case of SAMSON CONTOUR

Recently several members have asked me about Samson Contour. I originally ran across SC while researching my blog post on the history of the Haynesville Shale. The first recorded Haynesville application that is in the core area of the play, and therefore shale as opposed to sand, was filed by SC on January 9, 2007 for 3 Drilling & Production Units in the Martin Field, Red River Parish. That application hearing was "Not Held". I see no other SC unit activity related to the Haynesville Shale until Sept. 30, 2008, twenty months later. Fourteen months after other operators had begun applying for HA units.

Since Sept. 30, 2008, Samson Contour has applied for HA unit designation covering 69 sections scattered over the play. It would seem they are making up for lost time. The question on the minds of many landowners and GHS members is one of capability. Technical and financial. Does SC really plan to be the operator in these units? Or is this unit application process an attempt to lure a larger, more capable join venture partner(s).

If you will excuse the amateurish cut and past job and hand written notes which follow in the attachment, review some of the information on SC that is available on SONRIS. The top portion of the list are wells by SC since Nov. 2007. There are fifteen total. I have noted three as status code 03 (Permit Expired), one as status code 18 (Temporarily Abandoned Well) and one as code 29 (Dry & Plugged). Of the remaining ten, three are not within the bounds of the Haynesville Shale prospective area. Of the seven left, five are permits though probably drilling and two are completed and producing wells. Samson Contour has one producing Haynesville vertical well and zero completed horizontal Haynesville wells.

I invite the members to join in a little group research project to find out more about Samson Contour. The parent company is Samson Energy and a division, Samson Lonestar, is active in the E. TX. portion of the play.

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Oil & Gas ProPermalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 14, 2011 at 12:42
You're welcome, Gale.  Good Luck.

landownerPermalink Reply by S P L on July 12, 2011 at 14:56
I recently received a unitization notice for Samson Countour to form 4 - 320 acre units in Sabine Parish, in S36-T9N-R14W, S29 & S32 T9N-R13W, for Fredericksburg Lime, Reservoir C. In view of information in this discussion, does anyone know their intentions? Or can offer any ideas? I represent an elderly relative who owns property in one of the units. Her land is HBP from an early 1960's lease with unfavorable terms typical of that time. Thanks.

Oil & Gas ProPermalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on July 12, 2011 at 15:13
S P L, though Samson Contour is not noted as much of a Haynesville Shale operator, they are active and more successful developing other formations.  I am only vaguely familiar with the Fredericksburg Lime and not at all with any prior Samson Contour development of that formation and until the unitization application is available on the database, I have no means to answer your question further.  I would however offer my opinion that your relative is along for the ride as they are HBP unless their is some basis for termination of the old lease.  I suggest you seek the counsel of an experienced Oil & Gas attorney if you would care to investigate that possibility.

landownerPermalink Reply by S P L on July 12, 2011 at 15:31
Skip, Thanks. I did have an attorney pull & review the lease when the Haynesville play reached our area. He did not believe we had cause to seek termination. Just hope that if SC operates the unit, they do so responsibly. Her land is also in a Chk unit that has a well currently being drilled. She'll be 98 next month. Her memory is not great, but she does get excited each time I tell her she's getting a well!

Oil & Gas ProPermalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on July 12, 2011 at 15:35
You're welcome.  And best of luck to her.

Oil & Gas ProPermalink Reply by Robert mcintyre on October 22, 2026 at 8:13
Skip, I have a question. If a unitized well ceases producing and the underlying leases expire, does the unit also expire. If so what state action if any is required.
McIntyre

Oil & Gas ProPermalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on October 22, 2026 at 9:05

The unit designation is effective indefinitely unless a later application seeks to dissolve it.  This has happened a few times where an older single section unit is replaced by a later multi-section unit.

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