Martin V. Saffer, Pocahontas County Commissioner
 
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Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Author Message
Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
1:21 pm
Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

From the County Clerk's Office, a first count of acres leased for gas drilling in Pocahontas County is:

40,429.56
Forty Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Nine and Fifty Six Tenths.

That is a very large number to me.

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
1:51 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

There was also a Deed recorded today of 42,110.23 acres to an oil and gas partnership.

Janet
Sep 12, 2011
2:01 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

A deed for 42,110 acres IN POCAHONTAS COUNTY??!!

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
2:13 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Now at 640 acres per well pad which can house up to 8 wells that would be as follows:

40,429 acres /640 pooling sites .....is 63 drilling pad sites times 8 wells each....540 wells

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
2:15 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Yes a single Deed recorded today of minerals, oil and gas interests totaling 42,110.23 acres.

David Fleming
Sep 12, 2011
2:25 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

According to U.S. Census data, Pocahontas County is 940.29 square miles in area. The figure of 640 acres is the number of acres in 1 square mile. So 940.29 * 640 = 601,785.6 acres in Pocahontas County.

If some 40,429 acres are leased, then the percentage of acreage leased is:
40429 / 601786 = 6.72% of total Pocahontas acreage leased.

If you are saying that it is an additional, separate 42,110 acres, then the percentage is:
(40429 + 42110) / 601786 = 13.72% of total Pocahontas acreage leased.

This does not account for private land only. If one factors out Forest Service and State Park land, then the privately held acreage is about 35%. 601786 * .35 = 210,625 acres privately held. The percentages then become:

40429 / 210625 = 19.2%
(40429 + 42110) / 210625 = 39.19%

Questions:

  1. Is the total acreage leased 40,429 acres, or 40429+42110 = 82,539 acres?
  2. Regardless, at most around 40% of private land has been leased. Does this mean that 60% of privately held land has not been leased?

DF

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
2:31 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

The one large Deed recorded today of gas and mineral interests conveyed them to a partnership. The "fate" of those mineral and gas 42,110 acres is not known as of today. The other 40,429 acres were all leased for drilling. These drilling leases were entered into in the fall of 2007 and early winter of 2008.

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
2:42 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

And they all come up for renewal consideration in fall 2012 and winter 2013.

Stump
Sep 12, 2011
2:46 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Grantor and Grantee on the mineral rights for the 42,110 acre tract? Since they already recorded it, it would be public. Just trying to save a trip to the courthouse.

Martin Saffer
Sep 12, 2011
3:07 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Straw party Grantor and Grantee was Windsor Oil and Gas Partners

Stump
Sep 12, 2011
6:11 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Thanks Martin.

freeholder
Sep 12, 2011
9:36 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Permanentfund4pfd.state.ak.usa or telephone907-465-2300 Bruce Tangeman Alaska Dept. of Revenue to get information about the division of royalties for oil and gas between all citizens . In Alaska, the people voted for the law and the legislature passed it. Call your reps and make us as progressive as Alaska.

The above posts indicate that the horse is out of the barn and the heavy equipment is on its way.

Martin Saffer
Sep 13, 2011
5:45 am
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Not necessarily. First, land owners who leased can chose not to renew their leases which come up for renewal in fall to winter 2012-13. Second, drilling requires large support infrastructure which is not in place and third, although the shale is in the county it seems thinner than elsewhere and may be less desirable than places above Route 50. So we still have time to do the right things.

normanalderman
Sep 13, 2011
11:08 am
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Marty, the operative term is "straw". A straw person is supposed to be a close trusted personal friend or confident. Is this what these companies are?

normanalderman
Sep 13, 2011
11:10 am
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

The pending expiration of these leases are why they would like a ban put on so that their leases will be automatically extended until the infrastructure is available. Read Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch.

normanalderman
Sep 13, 2011
11:13 am
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

The Federal and state owns about 74%. If 40% of the balance is leased, there is very little private land left to be leased.

Remember, we cannot ban forest service or state land from being used. So basically, this issue is a fly speck on a turd.

Janet
Sep 13, 2011
11:27 am
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

What conversations have County Commissioners had with the Forest Service? As Norman points out, their position makes a huge difference in this county. I have heard rumors of testing just outside the Cranberry Wilderness, with implications that gas could be extracted from under Forest Service property. Reportedly, some of the property sold to the Forest Service was surface only, with someone else retaining mineral rights. I have also heard rumors of a Forest Service ban on all roads to gas wells. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has the real scoop.

freeholder
Sep 13, 2011
12:08 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

In case the drilling cannot be stopped,then make certain that the royalties are divided as

Alaska does. www.pfd.state.ak.us/

Martin Saffer
Sep 13, 2011
12:11 pm
Re: Count of Gas Leased Acres in Pocahontas County

Janet, The Forest Service replied to a Commission letter expressing grave concerns with what I would characterize as a "milk toast" response indicating a washing of hands of responsibility and otherwise deflecting the problem. The best way to deal with the Forest Service is to forge a united community and have a house not divided; otherwise political will is weak.

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