Landowner Stories

One of the best ways to learn about the potential effects and issues that may arise with oil and gas development is to hear or read about what other landowners have been through.  Landowners new to oil and gas are encouraged to talk with neighbors and community members who may have already had interactions with oil and gas companies.  Also, landowners should consult with organizations that work toward surface owner and environmental protection.

Below are stories that landowneres have shared with OGAP and other groups.  If you would like to contribute your story to this database, please contact OGAP.

The Stories

• CBM Destroys Retirement Dream. Ron Moss tells how methane in his water; noise; and air pollution destroyed his family's dram home in Wyoming.
• CBM Water Wreaks Havoc Downstream. Ed Swartz describes how CBM water has affected his cattle pastures and perhaps his longterm water supply.
• Hydraulic Fracturing and Water.  Peg Hocutt's letter to Sen. Bingaman documents how fracking affected her water, and the illnesses that resulted.
• The Long Road. Terry Fitzgerald shares lessons on leasing, surface use agreements and conflict with industry, which she's learned over a 20-yr period.
• Force Pooling in Michigan. Sue Falco shares what she learned about mineral leasing and force pooling in her home state.
• Rancher Not Informed About Mineral Leasing. This is Jeanie Alderson's story about the lack of ability to affect decisions on the leasing of federal minerals. 
• Reaching and Agreement: Luck of the Draw. Pete Dube managed to negotiate a surface use agreement, but this was not enough to prevent ongoing problems.
• One Ranch Family's Struggle with CBM. The Sorensen share the challenges in negotiating and enforcing surface use agreements.
• Business Owner Struggles with CBM.  Phil Hoy's story is a cautionary tale regarding surface use agrements.
• Why I FIght: The Coming Gas Explosion. Tweeti Blancett shares how landowners can stand up to the industry and win, despite the odds.
• Bellflower Well. Curt Swanson and his subdivision neighbors push to get adequate mitigation for the impacts from gas development.
• Hydraulic Fracturing in the Gas Field. Laura Amos tells how her family's water well became contaminated after gas wells were fracked near her home.
• Bond-and-Drill is Not Good Faith Negotiation. Bruce Thomson provides insight into the power imbalance between surface owners and oil and gas companies.
• Wyoming Landowners Face Condemnation of Loss of Home Insurance. The Renners share why they cannot win if seismic testing occurs on their land.