Beck Energy Corporation

Ohio Gas Association

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:40:43 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 26, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ — The Ohio Gas Association (OGA) announced today that State Senator Jimmy Stewart, of Albany, has been named president of OGA, effective July 1, 2011. Stewart has announced plans to resign his 20th Senate District seat at the conclusion of his obligations during the current session. Stewart will take the helm of OGA as the organization enters its 40th year of service to the natural gas industry.

Prior to serving in the Ohio Senate, Stewart was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2003, and also served on the Athens City Council.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Marshall University and a master’s degree in taxation from Xavier University.

“We’re fortunate to have Jimmy Stewart as the new leader of OGA,” said Robert Black, chairman of the Ohio Gas Association. “With the many issues and opportunities facing Ohio’s natural gas industry, his legislative and administrative experience, as well as his commitment to our communities, will be tremendous assets to our members, our industry, and our entire state.”

The Ohio Gas Association (OGA) is a natural gas trade organization which represents more than 30 local distribution companies and cooperatives. The member companies of OGA serve more than 3.6 million customers in Ohio. Additionally OGA represents the vast majority of all intrastate and interstate gas transmission firms, as well as more than 10 natural gas commodity marketers whose customers include residential, commercial and industrial gas users.

CONTACT: Louis Bonasso (614) 659-5990

SOURCE The Ohio Gas Association

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/05/26/3146112/stewart-to-lead-ohio-gas-association.html#ixzz1NZ1QzL8O

Who is primarily responsible for regulating Ohio’s natural gas and crude oil wells?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:01:05 +0000

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management (DMRM) primarily regulates the industry. DMRM does not get involved in contractual differences between the landowner and the producer. The primary function of DMRM is to ensure the responsible development of Ohio’s energy and mineral resources in a safe and environmentally sound manner. It is mandated by Chapter 1509 of the Ohio Revised Code and Chapter 1501 of the Ohio Administrative Code to protect correlative rights, the environment and public safety. Trained and experienced professional staff review permit applications, enforce the state regulations for drilling and plugging wells and gather and provide oil and gas well information to the industry and public.

What rights do I have if the company does not fulfill its terms of the lease agreement?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:00:42 +0000

Any dispute concerning the lease is a private matter between the lessor and lessee. Communication between the parties is always strongly encouraged. Most leases have a notification provision that must be followed to try and settle any conflict that cannot be otherwise resolved. If all else fails, legal assistance should be sought.

What rights do I have as surface owner if someone else owns the minerals?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:00:20 +0000

The lease agreement defines the conditions that apply between the company and the mineral interest owner. Any other conditions relative to surface activity (i.e., location approval of wells, roads, tanks, damages, etc.) also have to be declared in the lease. Unless specifically declared otherwise, the interest of the mineral owner takes precedence over the surface occupant in cases of mineral severance.

What if my neighbors lease their property and I don’t want to?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:59:57 +0000

Ohio has spacing requirements, unlike many other states, that protects the correlative mineral rights of property owners. In the case that your property is needed to complete a drilling unit (typically 20, 40 or 80 acres), and you elect not to lease, there is a provision in Ohio law that allows the producing company to apply for a mandatory pooling order to meet state spacing regulations, and to provide the majority of the landowners in the proposed unit the right to development their minerals. If approved, the mandatory pooling includes your property in the unit and you receive your proportionate share of the landowner royalty as though you had leased, but there is no lease agreement between you and the company. Simply put, it is mandatory compensation. Historically, less than 2% of drilling applications request mandatory pooling consideration. The picture shown with this section illustrates well activity in Ohio prior to spacing requirements in the early 1900′s. Without mandatory pooling, there would be no spacing requirements.

Could my water well be harmed?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:59:32 +0000

Each drilling application is examined on an individual basis by trained technical staff at Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management (DMRM) to identify the deepest source of underground drinking water. A casing plan is then designed to protect the aquifers. Steel casing is installed in the well and cemented under the supervision of highly trained industry experts as well as inspectors from DMRM. In the rare instance that a water supply should become contaminated or diminished as a result of drilling, Ohio law requires that the Operator of the well replace the water supply.

Is drilling a well noisy and disruptive?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:59:10 +0000

While the well is being drilled, the rig must run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There could be noise from the equipment, light from the rig at night, and some temporary dust or mud from the well site. Once the drilling is completed, there will be some daylight-only operations to put the well into production, Once the site has been restored, the area is essentially returned back to normal.

How long does it take to drill a well?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:58:48 +0000

Most Ohio wells can be drilled with rotary rig in 10 days or less. Cable tool wells may take up to a month or more. After drilling, it may take several weeks to complete the well for production. Reclamation work should take place shortly thereafter, and may depend on applicable seasonal weather conditions.

Will there be any changes to my lease if the operator sells the well to another producer?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:58:21 +0000

The terms of the original lease agreement applies. However, most leases have a clause that makes them binding on any successor company. The same applies should the lessor sell his property.

What are the different types of leases?

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:58:02 +0000

Leases can be either development or non-development. A development lease will include access to the surface of the land for drilling and operating the well. A non-development lease is for use of the subsurface minerals only. Both leases share in the landowner royalty of the well, but a non-development lessors typically does not receive free natural gas