I am a surface owner in Grimes County, TX who owns 100% of the minerals on several tracts and 75% of the minerals under a couple of other tracts. There is a current oil and gas lease but I retained the seismic rights. A company is offering a low ball amount of $12.50 an acre for a sesimic survey and I believe that $25 an acre is a fair price. They claim they have to do shot holes because of the waterway and have only offered a paltry amount of $20 a hole. It seems that $100 a hole would be reasonable and if my memory serves me correctly, my parents were paid $50 or more a hole 40 years ago.

I am concerned that the dynamite charges may damage my water well since they are only proposing performing their operations 300 ft. away from any improvements. What is a safe distance away from my water well? I spoke to a water well man and he advised me that he has seen wells ruined that were 1-2 thousand feet away from their operations.

I am standing firm on the $25 an acre. What amount is reasonable for the shot holes? Do they have to use dynamite for shallow waterways?  Thanks.

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Hopefully someone else will chime in. First off, since you own minerals, its probably in your best interest for them to do the shoot, as long as your interests are protected.

I can't give any specific distance on what is safe or not safe for a water well. I'd guess the answer there is, it depends. I'd tend to demand that they pay for pre shoot testing (elevation, water yield, water quality) and post shoot testing of the well, and agree to drill a new well of similar quality if there is evidence the shoot disturbs the well.

It's always been my impression these seismic brokers get paid a fixed price per acre and per hole. If they can get it for less, they pocket the difference. The invariably use the ploy that you are shafting your neighbors by holding out for more. Here again, they usually hold the most cards.

I have no idea about safe distances.  But I will recommend that you have an attorney create an addendum to whatever agreement you sign with this company that explicitly calls out repayment for damages.  You can be much more specific than the language in their bare-bones agreement.  You can set rates, process and timeline for repair, etc.

Thanks to everyone for your replies and advice.

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