Where's my well? My royalties? Next big questions

After traveling the world for much of his life, John Beaman is now happy to be touring Texas, thanks to the Barnett Shale, S-T staff writers David Wethe and Jim Fuquay report in Sunday's Work & Money section.

But the Johnson County resident, who spent 21 years in the military, is still a little perplexed why it took so long to get the flow of natural-gas royalties streaming into his bank account. His first check didn’t appear until almost a year after drilling began.

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David and Jim report it’s a gripe that’s starting to pop up more and more as the Barnett Shale begins to write to a new chapter. As landmen continue to hand out bonus checks and lease mineral rights from property owners in the urban core of Tarrant County, the earlier wave of lease signers are starting to move onto the next phase – royalties.

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Early Barnett Shale signers are starting to see just what those mysterious royalty checks look like, David and Jim report. It’s one of the biggest unknowns property owners face when they first sign their lease.

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Check out the Star-Telegram's Work & Money Section E on Sunday for the full story, or watch for it at star-telegram.com. It's part of our annual look at oil and gas production in Tarrant County and Texas. The Sunday paper, by the way, is available Saturday in grocery stores.

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-- Scott Nishimura

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(Photo: John Beaman and wife, with the travel trailer they bought with Barnett Shale money)

Comments

[Tom Swaim]

There is a REAL boom going on in the Barnett Shale. Curative work (additional title work) has to be done before "checks are cut".
These people need to be patient! Maybe they could go on diets while they wait for more money!!!
Be patient and BE GRATEFUL! Stop whining!

[one more well drilled today]

CRY ME A RIVER, FORT WORTH CRY BABIES THICK AS TICKS ON A DOG BACK

When should I expect a check I live in southwest fw,and signed last year before the bonus boom?

[Show Me Da Money!!]

We signed nearly two years ago and haven't seen a check yet (and there are at least 3 active wells in our vicinity).

???

[Pamela K H]

I live in Southeast Arlington and I received my signing bonus check in mid April 2008. Does anyone know when I can expect the royalty payments to begin? Also, if I wanted to sell the rights to my lease who should I contact?