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BEDFORD MINERAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
The Bedford Mineral Rights Organization is a growing group of neighborhoods that
are teaming up to acquire better mineral rights leases with the gas companies.
There is proven power in numbers; you can sign away your rights for a mere few
thousand dollars per acre, or you can join the coalition and expect results
closer to what other people are getting. Citizens in neighborhoods in Arlington
and Burleson recently got over $25,000 per acre.
Bedford Mineral Rights Organization Map
and Boundaries:
CLICK
HERE
The Organization:
The Bedford Mineral Rights
(www.BMRO.ORG) was formed to represent property
owners within an area generally bounded by Bedford West
City Limits, South of Harwood Road, North of Pipeline
Road. It also includes
the area North of Harwood Road and West of Brown
trail to north and west Bedford boundary
Purpose:
The BMRO will attempt to negotiate a
common oil and gas lease agreement containing attractive
economic terms, while ensuring that protective covenants
dealing with quality of life, environmental and other
concerns are adequately addressed.
Costs/Benefits:
The BMRO is composed entirely of
volunteers living within our area.
There are no costs to join, and no ongoing
obligation on the part of any owner to accept any lease
or pay any future costs.
Reports have shown that neighbors who band
together have been able to obtain much better terms than
individuals negotiating on their own behalf.
Our coalition also offers centralized resources
and expertise not otherwise available.
Leasing
Activity:
The Barnett Shale is a geologic formation
covering over 5,000 square miles and 19 counties.
Experts believe it may be the largest onshore
field in the U.S., with over 30 Trillion cubic feet of
natural gas resources.
Leasing and drilling activity has increased
exponentially in recent years as technological advances,
cost reductions and natural gas price increases have
made drilling economics significantly more attractive.
Initially focused on rural areas, activity has
now reached urban areas such as ours, and the size of
the BMRO offers companies one of the few remaining,
attractive tracts available in what is referred to as
the “core” area.
XTO Energy and Chesapeake Energy have been particularly
active in surrounding areas, and both have offered a
bonus of $18,500 with a 25% royalty, with their standard
lease provisions, to owners in certain areas near the
coalition boundaries.
The purpose of this website is keep everyone informed of the announcements and
news that will be headed your way as we move through the various stages of the
mineral-leasing process.
Indeed, this can only be done if all the members of our coalition are aware of
the goings-on. Will Bedford allow gas drilling? What other companies wish to
compete? How will you know when and where to sign the negotiated leases? Keep
checking back here for all the details!
While this coalition grows, we need volunteers from every neighborhood to help
spread the word. Remember, the larger the number of members in the coalition,
the better off our deal will be with the gas companies.
Lots of people want to know why they need to join the Coalition. Aren't the gas
companies going to sign who they want, at whatever payments are prevalent?
There are two things in play here. First is that what is prevalent is what has
been negotiated. That will be better if property owners bargain collectively.
Second, and more complicated and crucial, is the concept of whose mineral rights
will be leased. Get out your tape measures and surveying equipment. But before
mentally using them, realize one thing. The gas companies do not have to sign
everyone in the 640 acre area around a well site. So who do they lease from?
Simple answer: By law anyone whose property is within 330 feet of their drill
bore. How? By either obtaining a voluntary lease, or having the Texas Railroad
Commission dictate one. The latter method is onerous for property owners because
it requires an appearance before the Commission in Austin to argue unfamiliar
concepts. Additionally no signing bonuses, only royalties, are awarded by the
Commission.
Gas flows in the Barnett Shale, especially when the rock is fracted - injected
with high pressure water and sand to expand the fissures. If the gas flows from
beneath Property A to under Property B where it is collected, property B is the
only one that matters.
Back to the reason to join this Organization. Collective bargaining can defeat a gas
company's ability to lease as little land as possible to drain all. It cannot
simply lease 330 feet from its bore and collect from thousands of feet away if
property owners leasing patterns don't allow it. A coalition cannot per se force
a gas company to sign everyone. But it can make that the easiest thing to do.
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WHO ARE OUR LEADERS AND WHAT ARE THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS?
The leaders of this organization are the members from
each neighborhood that have stood up and are bringing
you the information to stay united and are helping to
make sure that
all of their neighbors are active and involved with the
coalition. Their qualifications are being interested in
their
community and wanting the best terms that can be
reached for all of us. Gas drilling is here, it's going
to be a part of our lives, we need to make sure that we
all do this in the
best possible manner. |
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How can I join and learn more about the BMRO?
Our website at www.BMRO.com has an online form to complete to join, and
electronic and paper LOIs (letters of intent) are available.
The website will be updated as new information is added,
so check back frequently. Although membership in the coalition is not required,
the more people we have as members, the
better our negotiating strength and results will be.
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