Y'all have all been great about helping out, so here's another question/issue we need help with. As I mentioned in a previous post, our land surrounds 2/3 of a well on a 10 acre track. The attorney general said we were probably right and that the minerals were probably being sucked out from under us and suggested we talk to a lawyer. River Rouge operated the well to the first 1000 feet, but Chesapeake has leased the next level (I think to 2500?). Chesapeake is refusing to discuss a lease/settlement with us because they say that it is River Rouge who owes us, not them. I want to avoid a lawyer if possible because my husband is a teacher (and y'all know how rich that makes us.) So, sorry for the long story, but is River Rouge a part of Chesapeake (I thought they went out of business)? Any ideas other than to get a lawyer? Who should we talk to?
Olivia. Some pretty smart members will likely give you their opinions. Mine is that foregoing the advise of a qualified O&G attorney is quite possibly the biggest mistake that you could make. Especially if your land/minerals are in excess of 20 acres. The honest and experienced O&G attorneys will offer an initial consultation at no cost to you. And they will charge you by the hour if you should choose to engage their services, not a percentage of your bonus or royalty. Over the life of your lease, your royalty income could be quite substantial. And scrimping on the front end doesn't usually work out too well in the long run.
I'm not a part of the "get a lawyer for everything" crowd, but you probably won't get much traction on this without a lawyer. It doesn't hurt to get a little information first, though.
I remember hearing that there are time limits on a lot of this stuff. This might be one of those things where, even if you're in the right, you can't get more than 3 years worth of royalties. I don't know if this is one of those cases, but that's the kind of landmines you have to look out for.
Have you looked up how much the wells are producing? How much money is potentially involved? SONRIS will show you how much they're producing.
Read more carefully. I said she "probably won't get much traction on this without a lawyer." i.e., she probably needs a lawyer on this problem.
It doesn't hurt to have an idea of the issues, rights, possible gains and losses, etc. before getting with a lawyer. You can save a lot of time and money with the lawyer if you have a lot of your info lined up for the lawyer ahead of time.
I agree that the MO needs to do their homework first. Mineral rights issues in Louisiana can get so complicated. But I do admit that I usually have a good landman do all of my research before I take it to an attorney.
Olivia - re. your question about whether River Rouge is a part of Chesapeake and whether they went out of business ... IF (big IF) this is the same company this may help. From the Sec. of State's database.
Louisiana Secretary of State
Detailed Record
Charter/Organization ID: 28513980D
Name: RIVER ROUGE MINERALS, INC.
Prior Name: NATIONAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION ( 6/18/1970)
Type Entity: Business Corporation
Status: Not Active (Voluntary action)
Last Report Filed on 07/01/B-84
Mailing Address: 504 TEXAS, SUITE 404, SHREVEPORT, LA 71101
Domicile Address: 504 TEXAS, SUITE 404, SHREVEPORT, LA 71101
File Date: 02/28/1969
Registered Agent (Appointed 5/30/1972): R. T. MONTCALM, WASHINGTON STREET, MANSFIELD, LA 71052
Registered Agent (Appointed 5/30/1972): JOHN S. TURNER, JR., WASHINGTON STREET, MANSFIELD, LA 71052
President: R. T. MONTCALM, 4 NORTH HILLS DR., MANSFIELD, LA 71052
Secretary/Treasurer: JOHN S. TURNER, 1038 E. 70TH STREET, SHREVEPORT, LA
River Rouge Minerals, INC. was a DIFFERENT CO. established in the early 70's to facillitae a large lignite explorration project. It ended in the mid 80's IT WAS DISSOLVED... In 1987 purchased the old stripper gas wells at Red River-BUll bayou Field from Sun Oil... named the company River Rouge Minerals without the INC.... so it is a different company....
Nice Folks? My family held some old O&G royalties. When I had to do my Aunt's estate about six years ago, I found "River Rouge" in her royalty payments, but nothing recent. Went and talked to them (they have an office in Naborton), it seems that they had quit paying any kind of royalty to family members for about seven years. They were just keeping the royalties ("escrowing"?) although most family members had never moved or changed addresses. You may call them 'nice', but "unethical" is the nicest adjective I can think of.
Zydeco - Just curious. Would Gary Montcalm be related to the R.T. Montcalm in the above SOS filing? Also, would you happen to have a physical address ( building number & street) for a business office? This could further help Olivia out.