Urban drilling in Fort Worth, Texas

by Jason Sanders | August 20, 2008 at 04:32 pm

963 views | 9 Recommendations | 12 comments

The largest natural gas field in the United States was discovered in Fort Worth, Texas back in 2006. This find turned into a boon to many of the residents, including the First St. John Missionary Baptist Church, who have put much of the money into church renovations.

Urban drilling is the result of increasing energy demands and decreasing reserves, and energy companies have chosen Fort Worth to be the “guinea pig” in this city experiment.

Energy companies in the Fort Worth area are going door-to-door, negotiating with people for access to mineral rights under their homes. That means residents are offered a bonus check and future monthly royalty checks.

[The] church received a $32,000 bonus and receives between $3,000 and $10,000 a month in royalty checks. The money is helping pay for a multimillion-dollar expansion and a new sanctuary.

While this windfall is a offering an amazing source of revenue (for those that can negotiate), 72-year-old Jerry Horton has refused to allow Chesapeake Energy to tear up her lawn and lay a pipeline in her property.

"I wouldn't sell my front yard for a million dollars," said Horton, a retired artist who has lived in the same house for 53 years.

Chesapeake Energy recently sued Horton for access to her front yard, claiming eminent domain. The company says pipelines are crucial to keep the natural gas flowing and allow people to cash in the profits under the ground.

"I understand we need to pump our own oil, our own gas," Horton said. "But we don't need to destroy our homes, all of our trees and blow ourselves up. Who's going to be here to enjoy the gas then?"

In response, energy companies argue that it's safe and clean, but other opponents bring up a very good point:

"We're guinea pigs," [Don] Young [community activist] said. "We're the first large metropolitan area ever to have intense natural gas drilling going on in our neighborhood, right in the heart of the city."

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Lee Chapman

at 03:46 on August 21st, 2008

This is a car filling up with natural gas at a service station in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Lee Chapman has contributed a photo to this story.

The Piper...

at 05:43 on August 21st, 2008

The wait to sign was a long one...at least the hosts were extremely accommodating and courteous.

The Piper... has contributed a photo to this story.

Jason Sanders

at 14:58 on August 21st, 2008

A silver lining :) Thanks for the photo! It's helped the article a lot.

dunkelberg

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:53 on August 21st, 2008

Chesapeake Energy recently ran a series of television ads with Tommy Lee Jones talking of the great advantage the Barnett Shale field will bring. Mr. Jones, not an area resident, said "we" will all benefit and there never will be a bust from the development. While the former may be true, the latter seems a gamble to be famous last words.

In Texas, and perhaps elsewhere (check your local listings) commercial pipelines do enjoy eminent domain. This power usually reserved to governments for such projects as roads and other public projects means if Chesapeake wants a pipeline in your front yard, there will be a pipeline in your front yard. The only question remaining is how much they have to pay.

Disclosure: My folks have signed a gas lease, received and signing bonus and are waiting for drilling to commence any day now. However, their royalties might cover their own monthly natural gas bill.

Jason Sanders

at 10:10 on August 21st, 2008

Thanks for the GS and info dunkelberg. It's definitely a trend that we should be watching.

jdt

at 07:34 on August 21st, 2008

As added information, the type of drilling being done is not the typical straight down hole we all imagine. The drilling goes straight down for 5 to 8 thousand feet and then is turned horizontally through the shale stratum for up to several miles. Thus, property owners are often paid for extraction under their land with the actual drilling rig being some distance out of sight. The technology is quite amazing and after the original drilling is most unobtrusive.

Jason Sanders

at 15:00 on August 21st, 2008

That's very interesting. I didn't realize that. There must be some intrusion, though, if some residents are against it. Right? Or is it mostly misunderstanding on their part?

glencumbie

at 15:20 on August 23rd, 2008

The "Haunted" Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Tx. We were doing a seismic job in the area, and I had a chance to take this picture. If I remember correctly this particular snap shot is of the pool area. There is an attached catwalk or bridge that runs from the hotel directly to the pool. Of course the pool area is all dried up now.

glencumbie has contributed a photo to this story.

glencumbie

at 15:26 on August 23rd, 2008

My name is Glen Cumbie and I am a seismic permit agent. Back in 2007 we completed a big job in Parker County. I was fortunate not only to be working close to Mineral Wells, but also had one of my fellow workers who grew up in the area. Therefore took full advantage and spent some time driving around the infamous Baker Hotel and snapping some pictures. My friend was also giving me the history of the hotel at the same time. Later that day when I got home it was time to see how they turned out. I was surprised how good some of the pictures turned out, especially since I was using an expensive $100 off brand camera... lol. -Glen C.

Woodman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:44 on August 25th, 2008

Jason Sanders, I like this story. It's good stuff.

sierra roberts (not verified)

at 18:33 on November 13th, 2008

hey

whiskeyboytx

at 23:12 on December 15th, 2008

Good Stuff... But the Barnett Shale was actually discovered YEARS ago, but the technologies did not exist until more recently to allow for cost-effective exploration of this field. Most Wells in the Barnett Shale are drilled to a depth of 10 or 11,000 feet, with 7 - 8,000 of that being straight down and then turning and drilling out laterally to maximize production from the well.

Most of the people opposing the drilling are opposed to the temporary environmental impacts; like noise, traffic and removing trees in some areas. But, most of these drill sites are recovered in better condition after the energy company leaves then when they started their operation.