http://blogs.forbes.com/christopherhelman/2011/01/21/chesapeake-ene...

 

http://morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2011/01/05/leader_and_kal...

 

It worked so well in Louisiana, they decided to do it in Michigan....  The entire articles can be read in the links above, but an excerpt is here:

 

Most of the plaintiffs are landowners in Texas and Michigan who agreed to lease their land to Chesapeake (often at prices more than $5,000 an acre) for oil and gas exploration. They signed contracts with Chesapeake, or one of its agents and received orders for payment in amounts totaling millions of dollars. So imagine their surprise when a few weeks later instead of getting cash the landowners instead got letters from Chesapeake claiming to void the leases and stating “we will not be funding the order of payment.”

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I thank God every day I don't have to deal with Chesapeake.  I would have rather leased my minerals for FREE than dealt with them for 20+ years.
I second that. Have dealt with Petrohawk and Encana and both have been great to deal with.
Lesson learned, when you deal with CHK make sure you get a certified check contract the day you sign any lease!
Heck, Checkmateking, require cash plus two forms of ID.

Did Chesapeake do this in Louisiana?

 

CypressKnees, the answer to your question is YES.  Many folks wouldn't spit on them if they were on fire.
I would really like to see the decision on this one. CHK has proven by previous behavior that the only one bound to that lease is the property owner until money actually is paid 45 days later. But they also have to do the complete and exhaustive title work to make sure its all straight before they pay the bonus. It seems they only give the title a quick look before the lease is signed. Obviously they are not thorough initially because of cost and time involved. You cant necessarily blame them for setting it up this way because its smart business on their behalf but it does leave exposure to litigation. So does a court say the leases in question are not binding until paid and if so you open the same door out for the property owner?

"give the title a quick look before the lease is signed. Obviously they are not thorough initially"

 

?????    No, don't come with your papers for me to sign until you're ready to stand behind your word. 

 

If I were the man doing the record search and keeping my ducks in a row, while the guy next to me flashes through the filed deeds and then spreads out like fire ants to 'lock' in leases, that is not smart business.  

 

That is what I call dishonest and greedy.  That same guy would also entertain the ideal that maybe he should be the only one who is allowed in the clerk's door and then lock it behind him to keep everyone else out.  

 

Another very good read on this entire topic is here:

http://blogs.forbes.com/christopherhelman/2011/01/31/chesapeake-ene...

It all starts at the top.

Great read.....thanks.  You know, it's one thing to irritate a mom and pop land owner yet another to infuriate a big billionaire land owner.  These potential lawsuits will be interesting to watch.  I would imagine Chesapeake is use to pushing around the little guys but have made a mistake on this one....although the legal rangling will take years in court.

In real estate, offers are generally accompanied with a deposit, ernest or good faith money that is held in escrow..

Why shouldn't mineral lease offers be handled in a similar way?

 

That's a great idea P.G.  Maybe if they had to do that, they'd think long and hard before trying to back out of a deal, and/or they'd think long and hard BEFORE they made the deal!!!

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