All landowners, including homeowners, civic groups, city governments, and school districts will benefit from the Barnett Shale. The purchase of mineral rights and the subsequent royalties will benefit our children, our businesses, and our communities as the prosperity flows from one person to the next. And most importantly, natural gas found is a clean way to meet our country’s energy needs
Many people throughout Tarrant County and surrounding areas are already benefiting from urban gas drilling. Until now, this silent majority has been without the opportunity to voice its opinion of how urban gas drilling funded a special project at a church, gave the family an added bonus for a vacation, or funded a new park.
CUBS offers you the opportunity to speak out! Some groups are against urban gas drilling. We believe this occurred due to the public’s lack of knowledge about urban gas drilling. CUBS believes that the majority of informed and progressive citizens see the benefits of this economic boom, and we want to provide this majority a communication platform.
By addressing the frequently asked questions and doubts about urban gas drilling, and by providing a wealth of information about all subjects related to it, CUBS helps you speak out.
FAQs:
Economic Development
How will the Barnett Shale impact North Texas?
According to the Star-Telegram, over 100,000 landowners -- homeowners, city governments, churches, civic groups and school districts -- signed leases in 2007. The sale of mineral rights in 2008 continues to escalate and terms of recent leases range from $15,000 per acre with 25% royalties to a high of $25,000 per acre and 26.8% royalties.
Additionally, by 2015, the Barnett Shale is expected to be responsible for more than 108,000 jobs as the demand for drilling, transportation and infrastructure expansion grows. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce estimates that the Barnett Shale contributes $5 billion annually to our local economy. Over 20 years, it also expected that lease bonuses and property taxes will bring will bring in more than $1 billion to the City of Fort Worth’s coffers.
Natural Gas
Is natural gas a cleaner fuel?
Compared to other fossil fuels, natural gas is the cleanest. As it is used (combusted), it releases very small amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other reactive hydrocarbons and virtually no ash or particulate matter into the atmosphere. Coal and oil release higher and even harmful levels of all comparable emissions.
What is natural gas used for?
Natural gas is used for heating, electricity and as a transportation fuel. It is also used as a raw material in plastics, medicines, fertilizers and dyes. Plentiful in the United States, natural gas can play a key role in reducing our dependence on foreign countries that provide the US energy.
Barnett Shale
What is the Barnett Shale?
The Barnett Shale is an extremely large pocket of 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas that sits under 17 counties in North Texas (Tarrant, Denton, Wise, Bosque, Comanche, Cooke, Ellis, Erath, Jack, Johnson, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Somervell and Clay Counties). In fact, it is so large that it is now considered the largest onshore natural gas field in the United States.
Why is it called the Barnett Shale?
The formation is named after John W. Barnett a settler in San Saba County in the late 1800s. He named a local stream the Barnett Stream and when a few years later geologists noted a thick black organic-rich shale close to the stream, the name the Barnett Shale was born.
How did the Barnett Shale form?
It all began over 100 million years ago when North Texas was actually the floor of the ocean. As the sea waters dried up and the sea creatures died, the mud hardened into rock and the organic matter decomposed and produced methane. A major component of natural gas, the methane was trapped in the porous shale rock.
How much gas is being produced in the Barnett Shale?
The Railroad Commission of Texas confirmed that in November 2077 there were 7,170 natural gas wells in the Barnett Shale and they produced over 3.1 Bcf per day. At that same time, there had been a total of over 3.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas produced in the Barnett Shale since 2000.
Neighborhoods
How will my neighborhood be affected by an urban drill site?
Depending on your city, there are ordinances in place to help ensure that any inconveniences or issues are minimized. For instance, some cities require 8 foot mortar walls to conceal the equipment as well as muffle noise. Additionally most cities have additional ordinances related to well set-back; noise requirements; road repair agreements; truck routes on private or public roads; fencing and landscaping; leasing and zoning requirements.
Urban Drilling
What is urban drilling?
By definition, urban drilling is boring into the earth to extract oil or gas in the midst of a city or urban area. Unlike drilling for oil, drilling for natural gas is more environmentally friendly, quieter and has less impact overall on the community thanks to directional and horizontal drilling technology.
Urban drilling has been occurring all over our country for many years, but thanks to the Barnett Shale, North Texans are just now aware of the process.
How do companies decide where to drill?
Engineers, geologists and land negotiators work hand in hand with landowners, neighborhood associations and other interested parties to determine the best location for a well. Because of horizontal drilling, the actual well site may not be near your land. (However, please note that if you own the mineral rights to your property, you must grant permission for someone to drill under it.)
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