Posted 12-2-10

Chesapeke contact:

Adair Hill - Two Rock, Inc.

Office phone: 817-386-9070

Cell phone: 713-857-3891

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Calculating a parcel of land's acreage is done by determining the length and width, then either figuring the acres long time acres wide, or figuring the gross square footage, and dividing by the area of an acre, 43,560 sq. feet.

StSteps

Measure or determine from property records or a survey description the length and width of the property you are calculating.

Multiply the width times the length in feet. This will give you the net square footage. 3

Divide the square footage by 43,560. This will give you the total acreage.

An example my lot would be a piece of land 75 feet by 150 feet. The net square footage is 11,250 square feet. 11,250 divided by 43,560=.2582 – which would equal .26 of an acre

For a using an internet calculator use either of the following links:

http://www.ez-calculators.com/land_acre_conversion_calculator.htm

http://www.land.net/calc_four.php

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Dec 2, 2010

Barnett Shale dominates talks about area compliance with ozone standards

Posted Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 3 Comments Print

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Topics: Barnett Shale, Energy Companies

Keep up with developments in the Barnett Shale

Have more to add? News tip? Tell us

By Bill Hanna

billhanna@star-telegram.com

As the North Texas Clean Air Steering Committee has tried to find ways to bring the Metroplex into compliance with federal ozone standards, the Barnett Shale has been the issue that has dominated those discussions.

Since the group began meeting last summer, it has wrestled with the proliferation of activity in the Barnett Shale and what effect it has had on the region's air quality.

At its Dec. 9 meeting, the committee is scheduled to make recommendations to bring the nine-county region into compliance with the 1997 EPA ozone standard of 85 parts per billion.

Whether any of those recommendations will be implemented by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality remains to be seen.

The environmental commission contends that the committee doesn't need to make any new recommendations.

"Preliminary modeling shows that controls already in place and automobile fleet turnover will decrease emissions enough to meet this standard," said commission spokesman Terry Clawson. "Therefore, no additional controls are expected to be needed to meet this federal standard."

But the steering committee's chairman, Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs, is considering asking committee members whether they should formally request more time from the commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The overriding reason would be to take into account the impact of the Barnett Shale on the region's air quality.

"We have not had sufficient time to make computer runs on the models to determine what potential outcomes are likely to have biggest impacts, which makes it difficult to come up with control strategy recommendations," Burroughs said.

Without time to obtain more data, Burroughs said "we are somewhat limited in coming up with new approaches" to reduce ozone levels.

Tougher standards

Clawson shot down the idea of an extension, saying that additional Barnett Shale modeling could be used for the newer, stricter federal standard that is expected to be released Dec. 31.

"Because the state has obligations and deadlines under the Federal Clean Air Act, it is unlikely that the TCEQ will plan on submitting the plan after the scheduled date," Clawson said.

EPA spokesman David Bary said that if committee members believed that the agency would grant more time for further study for the 85 ppb standard, they were mistaken.

"The context of the comments was that it might be desirable to take some additional time so control measures could be developed that might make additional progress toward the expected stricter ozone standard," Bary said.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has already delayed the announcement of the lower national ozone standard twice this year.

Speculation is that the new standard will be somewhere between 60 ppb and 70 ppb, which many industries say would cost jobs and be almost impossible to meet.

Whether or not the lower standard is announced, some steering committee members say they already have enough information to make recommendations on Barnett Shale activity.

Fort Worth City Councilman Jungus Jordan, who is vice chairman of the steering committee, said he believes that the commission's modeling has shown that compressor stations within the Barnett Shale are part of the problem and that the committee should recommend ways for compressor inspections to be conducted throughout the region.

"I think we're going to be in position to make recommendations immediately," Jordan said. "I personally feel we've got whatever information we need and we are able to make recommendations based on the data we've received. We have got to move quickly, but let's not act on misinformation."

Electric compressors

Taking Barnett Shale activity into account is essential, said Jim Schermbeck, director of the local environmental group Downwinders at Risk, who is also a member of the steering committee.

Schermbeck said volatile organic compound emissions have dramatically increased in recent years. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, as well as nitrogen oxides are the two main causes of ozone.

"Unlike almost every other major source category of D-FW VOC pollution, shale VOC emissions have risen dramatically and will keep rising unless checked," Schermbeck said.

"Unlike every other major source of D-FW VOC pollution, shale VOC emissions are unregulated and untouched by past clean-air plans."

Schermbeck said federal rules require the commission to show 3 percent annual reductions in volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. Under commission modeling, he contends that there is a "shortfall" in volatile organic compound reductions in 2011 and 2012.

"This tonnage is what TCEQ must cut each year, even though they say their modeling shows D-FW in attainment" by 2013 with fleet turnover and other measures in place, Schermbeck said.

Possible methods to reduce Barnett Shale emissions include electrification of compressors, vapor recovery on condensate tanks, prohibiting venting or flaring, and extending new engine rules outside D-FW.

Without more modeling, the committee's advice to monitor the Barnett Shale could be largely guesswork, said Burroughs, the committee chairman.

"We don't know what the impact is because we haven't run models for those kinds of activities as control strategies," Burroughs said.

He said that any recommendations will come from the committee as a whole but that "it doesn't make much sense to shoot blindly, in my personal opinion."

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October 18, 2010

· Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter Announcement Request from TCEQ Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010‏

10/18/10

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr.

mepowell@barnettshalenews.com

To Libby Willis, President - Fort Worth League Of Neighborhood Associations, Will Brackett, Managing Editor - POWELL BARNETT SHALE NEWSLETTER

From:

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr. (mepowell@barnettshalenews.com)

Sent:

Mon 10/18/10 4:29 AM

To:

Libby Willis, President - Fort Worth League Of Neighborhood Associations (president@fwlna.org)

Cc:

Will Brackett, Managing Editor - POWELL BARNETT SHALE NEWSLETTER (wrb@barnettshalenews.com)

Libby -

We were very disappointed at your lack of leadership as the President of the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods not to contact all your members in Fort Worth Thursday and Friday and advise them of the very important meeting for DFW citizens at the free Open House of sponsored by the TCEQ last Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Arlington with over 35 experts from four agencies to answer any questions concerning air, water or health concerns involving the Barnett Shale development in north Texas. Although you have expressed anti-drilling sentiments, we did expect you to fulfill your office’s responsibility and forward the TCEQ notice of the meeting to all the neighborhoods associations in Fort Worth so they could alert each of their members.

Below are the last several weeks covering, we believe, the news of the regulatory agencies in the Barnett Shale and significant news. It would seem, from the lack of response to the great presentations and open house of the four agencies: the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Railroad Commission of Texas; Texas Department of State Health Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented here this past Saturday, that the very small anti-drilling activist groups (who did not take advantage of this opportunity) have caused adverse news in print and on television on air and water pollution publicity to which those of us who live in the DFW area have not believed, resulting in a small turnout of about 100 concerned citizens in the Metroplex.

Those of us who were there are very appreciative of all the 35+ experts from the four agencies who gave up their weekends to make all the information available at this free open house at the North Central Texas Council Of Governments offices in Arlington.

Sincerely,

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr.
Publisher/Editor

Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter^©

P. O. Box 470157
Fort Worth , Texas 76147-0157

Office: (817) 924-1900
Mobile: (817) 614-6979
E-Mail: mepowell@barnettshalenews.com

Web: http://www.barnettshalenews.com

NOTE: The newsletter issues have been split into two sections. Click the blue links underneath the date to open the two volumes of the newsletter issue.

October 18, 2010 issue:

Editorials, Research, Statistics, National/Industry News, Calendar

· Editorial: Cluck Clucks Against Barnett Shale Arlington Activity At Council Meeting

· Editorial: TCEQ Alleged Violation Against Carrizo UTA Wells Needs Further Research

· Editorial: In this Week’s Issue – Event Recaps, more Regulatory Updates

· Event: YPE Fort Worth Breakfast Speaker Series with John Pinkerton, Oct. 26

· Event: 2010 Dallas E&P Forum: The New and the Unusual, Nov. 3

· Event Recap: 2010 Marcellus Shale Summit: Building a Sustainable Future

· Regulatory: TCEQ Oil & Gas Workshop and Open House on Barnett Shale Monitoring

· Regulatory: TCEQ Barnett Shale Area Special Inventory, Phase One 2009 Summary

· Regulatory: National Groups to Coordinate Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Registry

· McClendon: Don’t Expect any More Significant U.S. Shale Discoveries

· Questerre, Talisman Delay Quebec Shale Development Citing Costs, Opposition

Shale News - Barnett, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus

· Flower Mound’s Latest Air Quality Tests Again Show No Problems

· TCEQ Initiates Enforcement Action against Carrizo for Odors from UTA Site

· Southlake Officials Suggest Requirements for XTO Permit Request

· Unlike Other Cities, Mansfield has Plenty of Land for Drill Sites

· Colleyville P&Z Commission Approves Titan’s Permit Request

· EOG Building Frac Sand Plant Near Refugio, TX

· Eagle Ford Land Rush on in South Texas

· Denbury to Sell Haynesville and East Texas Natural Gas Assets

· Southwestern: No Factual Basis to Water Contamination Lawsuit

· PA’s Proposed Tougher Casing Regulations Clear Procedural Hurdle

· DRBC Says It Needs More Time to Draft Gas Drilling Regulations

· PA Senate Ends Session without Vote on Severance Tax

October 11, 2010 issue:

Editorials, Research, Statistics, National/Industry News, Calendar

· Editorial: Speaking Openly Without the Press

· Editorial: RRC Barnett Shale Well Inspections

· Editorial: TCEQ Oil and Gas Workshop, Fort Worth, Tuesday, October 12, 2010

· Editorial: In this Week’s Issue – Events Recap, Barnett Regulatory Updates, Eagle Ford JVs

· Editorial: Upcoming Symposium to Focus on Oil & Gas Insurance, Risk Management Issues

· Event: TCEQ to Hold Open House on Barnett Shale Air Quality Monitoring Oct. 16

· Event: SPE Fort Worth Fall Kickoff Luncheon, Oct. 27

· Event Recaps - Hart DUG Eagle Ford, PennWell UGI, TCEQ, AESC

· Regulatory: EPA Real-Time Enforcement at DFW Area Energy Extraction Facilities

· RigData Drilling Rig Counts at Major U.S. Shales to Sept. 17 2010

· Drillers Testing Niobrara Shale around Cheyenne, Wyoming

Shale News - Barnett, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus

· Chesapeake Sells Future Barnett Production

· Arlington Mayor Calls for Required Air Testing for All Future Wells

· Judge Dismisses Anti-Drilling Activists’ Lawsuit Against Flower Mound

· Lewisville Strengthens Drilling Ordinance

· Boyd Doubles Drilling Permit Fees

· Talisman, Statoil form JV, Acquire 97,000 Eagle Ford Acres

· Chesapeake Announces $1.08 Billion Eagle Ford JV with China’s CNOOC

· Speakers: Shortage of Frac Crews a Bottleneck for Eagle Ford Development

· Penn State Maps Show Acceleration of Marcellus Development

· Tests Show Water Wells Already had Some Contamination before Gas Drilling

· Lycoming College Poll Finds Public Supportive of Marcellus Shale Development

· Gov. Rendell Calls for Summit on Severance Tax

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October 14, 2010

· Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter Announcement Request from TCEQ‏

10/14/10

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr.

mepowell@barnettshalenews.com

To Libby Willis, President - Fort Worth League Of Neighborhood Associations, Will Brackett, Managing Editor - POWELL BARNETT SHALE NEWSLETTER

From:

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr. (mepowell@barnettshalenews.com)

Sent:

Thu 10/14/10 7:55 PM

To:

Libby Willis, President - Fort Worth League Of Neighborhood Associations (president@fwlna.org)

Cc:

Will Brackett, Managing Editor - POWELL BARNETT SHALE NEWSLETTER (wrb@barnettshalenews.com)

Libby -

As President of the Fort Worth League of Neighborhood Associations, it would be appreciated if you would inform all the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods of this very important free open house this coming Saturday.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requested today that the Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter^©remind our readers of their very important Open House this Saturday, October 16^th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. showing residents in the Barnett Shale how air quality is monitored and providing a first-hand look at all the equipment used, up close, with experts explaining how it is used. It is FREE to the public. Details are below and representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Railroad Commission of Texas and the Department of State Health Services will be there to help answer any questions you may have.

Take the time to drive by and visit the open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the offices of the North Central Texas Council of Governments located at

616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas, 76005-5888

. For more information, contact Terry Clawson at the TECQ at 512.239.0046 or at her pager at 512.657.0738. More detail is below.

Best regards,

Gene & Will

Michael E. (Gene) Powell, Jr.

--- On Sat, 10/31/09, President of FWLNA <president@fwlna.org> wrote:

From: President of FWLNA <president@fwlna.org>
Subject: Latest on Gas Drilling Impacts on Neighborhoods
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009, 12:40 AM

Dear Neighborhood Leaders,

Channel 8, WFAA, ran a story Thursday evening, Oct. 29 on the effects of gas drilling emissions in the Barnett Shale. The story is entitled "Cancer-causing toxin found in air near gas facilities." You can find the video and the story at www.wfaa.com. ; This is important reading with new information from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. We encourage you to view and read the story.

Also, see the Friday, October 30, 2009 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for Mike Lee's latest story on the issue of gas pipelines in residential front yards in Carter Avenue in East Fort Worth. What happens in this case is potentially precedent setting not only for Carter Avenue residents but for many other neighborhoods and residential areas in Fort Worth. The League supports Carter Avenue residents and all Fort Worth neighborhoods which do not want pipelines in front yards or neighborhoods.

Finally, on Tuesday, November 10, the Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to consider a change to the City's gas drilling ordinance which would allow for review of gas drilling sites and frac ponds within the boundaries of the City's 16 urban villages. These urban villages are scheduled for dense development and will be neighborhoods soon (some already are) -- review of drilling activities within these districts could also be precedent setting in the ongoing challenge of drilling/heavy industry within an urban context. We will encourage the Council to allow review of drilling activities within Urban Villages.

Stay tuned for more League of Neighborhoods News on these topics in coming days and weeks.

..

President of FWLNA
Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods

Posted August 15, 2009

Summary - BHTTNA/Chesapeake Meeting

Date: August 13, 2009

Place: Burton Hill Baptist Church

Guests: Kevin Strawser, Public Affairs Supervisor

Chesapeake Energy

kevin.strawser@chk.com

817-502-5611

Steven Borum, Petroleum Landman

Steven.Borum@yahoo.com

817-386-9070

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the drilling process in the area represented by BHTTNA. The following is a summary of the presentation by Chesapeake as well as information furnished in response to questions from those in attendance.

Kevin Strawser made a Powerpoint presentation which included maps of the area and the drill sites pertinent to residents of BHTTNA. He noted that because of the down turn in the economy this last year and the fluctuation of the price of gas, Chesapeake curtailed much of its leasing and drilling activity in order to assess its current leases and determine which drill sites to develop. Two drill sites of interest to BHTTNA residents have been established, one to be known as Westworth Village and the other as River Oaks. Drilling is scheduled to begin in two months at the River Oaks padsite and is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2010 at the Westworth Village padsite.

Leases

Most owners of property within BHTTNA signed a lease in or close to May 2007. In addition to Chesapeake Energy, Four Sevens and other companies offered leases. Regardless of which company initially held the lease, Chesapeake eventually acquired control of all the companies involved and now holds 95 % of leases in this area.

The standard lease entered into by BHTTNA property owners provided for a primary term of 3 years and another bonus payment with the extension of a 2 year secondary term if an extension is needed. If Chesapeake does not exercise its right to drill within the three years or, at the conclusion of that time, exercise its option to renew, the lease will be released back to the owner of the minerals. A lease becomes active; i.e., no longer subject to expiration or an option clause, as soon as drilling commences. It remains active as long as the well is active.

Directional drilling cannot pass under property that is not leased nor can a drill site be within 330 feet of the property. In the case of directional or horizontal drilling, a path must be found around the property not leased. This can result in blocking, or greatly increasing the cost of, drilling. The purpose of the surveyors seen in the BHTTNA area during the last few weeks is to mark property boundaries so that drilling can be tracked by GPS. In this way, property/mineral rights of individuals are protected and appropriate distribution of royalties insured.

.If a property owner has not yet signed a lease, Steven Borum is currently seeking to enter into leases on behalf of Chesapeake and can be contacted at the above email or telephone At this time standard leasing terms are $1,000 dollars per acre throughout the city. Chesapeake, however, has been cleared to give a $2,500 dollar per acre bonus for the remaining leases in BHTTNA units. Terms also include a 25% royalty.

Drilling

To date Chesapeake has drilled 1,517 wells in the Barnett Shale at a cost of approximately $3.5 million per well. Of this number, 1,100 are producing wells. It takes about a week to put down a padsite. A well is drilled to 1.5 miles below the surface with lateral drilling ranging anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 feet. Drilling takes three weeks and is done 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It costs approximately $25,000 a day to drill a regular gas well. To mitigate against the noise of drilling, Chesapeake uses sound blankets to surround the drill site. Chesapeake currently has 18 rigs operating in the Barnett Shale.

Wells are drilled through the water source for the Trinity River. To protect against any possible contamination of the water supply for Fort Worth and surrounding areas, surface casing is cemented in place to 250 – 500 feet below the Trinity water source. After the drilling is completed, production of a gas well must be stimulated by pumping a mixture of sand and water into the well. This procedure, referred to as fracing, causes tiny fractures in the rock which allow the gas to escape. Fracing is typically conducted only during the day and takes from 3 – 5 days to complete.

The water used in the fracing process, as well as water naturally released from the rock as a result of production, comes to the surface and is stored at the padsite in tanks. It is very salty and must be treated as a contaminated product. It is disposed of in various ways such as trucking it to salt water disposal wells. The Texas Railroad Commission oversees and regulates salt water disposal wells. There is also a test program currently being considered whereby the waste products of wells can be treated so that it can be recycled.

After drilling is completed, the rig is removed, a small wellhead (referred to as “Christmas Tree”) remains, as well as tanks to store salt water. The site is fenced and landscaped.

Flaring a well is done to determine the presence of natural gas and to ascertain how much gas is initially in the well. This is one of the methods used to determine whether it is economically feasible to put in a pipeline. Pipes can be laid underground or in trenches. If trenched, they must have at least 4 feet of coverage. No production can occur until the pipeline is in place.

Wells are monitored electronically from Chesapeake’s office in Oklahoma City. They are monitored around the clock seven days a week and can be shut down instantly from that location.

Gas does not seep out into the atmosphere. Unlike oil, there is very little pressure. Further, when gas is removed from the shale, it does not create a void or pocket nor is there any connection between gas well drilling and the earthquakes recently experienced in Cleburne. Earthquakes occur from a much deeper layer than that affected by drilling for gas. Earthquake activity is not uncommon in and around Cleburne and is believed to result from a fault line, identified years ago, running from Oklahoma.

Drill Sites

Multiple wells, up to twelve, can be drilled from each padsite. Every time a derrick goes up, a new well is being drilled. The following two drill sites will be drawing minerals from leases held by BHTTNA residents.

Westworth Village: This site is located on Hwy 183 across the street from the Westworth Village Fire Station

River Oaks: this site is at White Settlement and Roberts Cutoff. Drilling at this site is expected to begin September 29, 2009.

Residents of BHTTNA participate in one of three unitized or pooled areas. The units are designated as Doug A, B and D, with Doug A being the east-most unit A map showing the area covered by each is attached. [Note: This will be posted as soon as it is received from Kevin] The size of a pool/unit is determined by the unitization provision stated in the leases. The lease states the number of acres that can be unitized. The most restrictive lease in the unit determines the maximum size of that pooled area.

Doug A: This unit is made up of 220 acres on the east side of BHTTNA. In total, Chesapeake plans to drill four gas wells in this unit from the River Oaks padsite.

Doug B: This unit is adjacent to and west of Doug A. It is made up of 150 acres and current plans call for two well to be drilled from the River Oaks padsite.

Doug D: This unit is adjacent to and west of Doug B. It is made up of 150 acres; current plans are to drill four wells in this unit from the River Oaks padsite.

[Note: Additional wells may be drilled on these padsites but will not draw minerals from BHTTNA property owners]

Production from a well can only begin once a pipeline is in place. Currently, Chesapeake is in negotiations with the Corps of Engineers for a permit to install a pipeline under the Trinity River which will service the River Oaks and Westover Village padsites. Chesapeake will notify lease holders when a well goes on line and will keep BHTTNA updated with regard to the various stages of drilling, fracing, and connection to the pipeline.

No trucks or pipeline will go through the BHTTNA area.

There was some discussion in 2007 of locating a padsite across the street from Quick Sak on a lease identified as the Van Cliburn Addition. This property is under the jurisdiction of Westover Hills and subject to restrictions that make it unlikely that any development will occur at this location. It is expected that this lease will be allowed to expire.

Production/Payout

Wells drilled to date in the general vicinity of BHTTNA have been strong producers. Such wells can be expected to produce for 20 to 30 years. The best production and, hence, the most payout will be in the first five years. A very complicated and detailed formula is available for calculating payout, but the amount of monthly distribution depends almost totally on the market price of gas and, of course, the cubic feet of gas produced per day. A ballpark estimate of monthly payout is $25- $75 per well. Individuals can expect to start receiving checks approximately three months after the wells are connected to the pipeline.

Mineral Rights

In buying or selling property, ownership of the mineral rights is negotiable. Persons who purchase or sell property must specifically purchase or sell the mineral rights. A lease of mineral rights relating to that property follows the minerals; i.e. whoever owns the mineral rights has the gas lease.

A purchaser of property who acquired the mineral rights should contact Chesapeake in order to update the records so they will receive correspondence relating to the lease including royalties on any production resulting from drilling activities. A seller of property who retained ownership of the mineral rights should contact Chesapeake to update the address to which correspondence and/or royalty payments should be mailed.

Except for property bordering on Burton Hill, mineral rights of properties under lease extend to the middle of the street(s) on which the property is located. This is reflected in the calculation of the amount of land under lease contained in the lease contract. Mineral rights of the land under Burton Hill Road were retained by O.B. Leonard, the original owner and developer.

Playground

At the current time, there does not appear to be a written record of an agreement by Chesapeake to make a donation of a playground to BHTTNA. They, as well as BHTTNA, are searching their records for information about whether an agreement was entered into and, if so, the terms of such agreement.

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Burton Hill Trinity Trails Neighborhood Association

Barnett Shale dominates talks about area compliance with ozone standards

· Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter Announcement Request from TCEQ Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010‏

· Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter Announcement Request from TCEQ‏