Eighth Ave. Waiver Process “Dead in the Water”
by Steve-OThe on-again, off-again saga of the proposed Eighth Avenue Drilling Site seems to be — for now at least — off again.
Last week, Chesapeake Energy sent out a letter to get waivers signed from affected parties in the high impact area around the proposed Eighth Avenue drilling site. But the Ryan Place, Fairmount, Berkeley and Mistletoe Heights neighborhoods also got organized and sent out teams door-to-door to ask their neighbors to sign a commitment not to sign the waiver.
“I have been told by people in these neighborhoods that of the approximately 22 affected households in these neighborhoods, only one has indicated that they would sign Chesapeake’s waiver,” said Joel Burns, the District 9 City Council representative.
According to the city’s gas drilling ordinance, Chesapeake needs 100 percent of those 22 homeowners to sign waivers in order to drill.
So where does that leave the waiver process?
“It appears — for all intents and purposes — to be dead in the water for now,” said Burns. When I asked whether he thought Chesapeake would go back to the Council to get a variance, Burns had no comment.
But even if that happens, 21 out of 22 homeowners seem to agree they don’t want this drilling site in their backyard. I hope the City Council remembers that if Chesapeake comes knocking yet again.
Still, I don’t think this whole thing is over. Chesapeake seems to have a Captain Ahab-like obsession with this drilling site. It’s relatively small bit of the Barnett Shale, but they want to make a point — they can drill anywhere they damn well please. I think they may even be crazy enough to sue the City of Fort Worth over this.
13 Comments, Comments or Pings
Kevin
Freakin’ yeah, baby. A great show of force by the neighborhood.
Mar 14th, 2008
Adam S.
This comment has been moved to the correct post…please view it here –PG
Mar 14th, 2008
John Peter Smith
To me that simply means that Chesapeake wasn’t offering enough money.
These wells are projected to generate tens of millions of dollars over the life of production. Chesapeake may simple buy all 22 properties and get waivers from themselves.
Mar 14th, 2008
Charles Tandy
HEH!
I can’t wait for Chesapeake to spend more and more money. After they’ve offered big bucks for leases and buy up loads of property then pay their employees and subs big bucks to buy pimped out trucks and homes, and after all that they’ll likely get stuck with road repair fees and, hopefully, pollution mitigation fees and required costs for recycling contaminated water, they’ll be broke and go home.
10’s of millions…….could JPS be an accountant for the city.
Mar 14th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Mr. Tandy:
The “10’s of millions” figure came from a business associate. I would assume he is in a position to know since he in fact has several producing gas wells on his property and has seen the production data.
But hey, don’t take my word for it, Google it yourself. The Barnett Shale has 2.5 trillion (that’s trillion with a T) cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. Estimates of the total amount of gas run much higher. Multiply that by the current price of natural gas. Then divide by the number of wells you’d guess will eventually be drilled (hint: there are currently about 7,000). The number you get will have a lot of zeros.
Mar 15th, 2008
Charles Tandy
The folks running haphazard across the city, bating community against community, claiming not to be capable of recycling waste water, ruining green space, putting the already challenged Trinity River at risk…………in my book, there are your zeros.
As for your associate, he has a vested interest to sell his product. He surely wants this community to think that things are going to be rosy for years to come. All you have to do is to read the paper to see how accurate the experts are when it comes to dollar figures. Think TRV. The experts are not too often right.
It would be wise to remember not to look a gifr horse in the mouth.
Mar 15th, 2008
Beverly Humphries
What kind of horse is that? Do you have a photo?
Mar 16th, 2008
Beverly Humphries
Authors, your change the name thing will not work.
Mar 16th, 2008
brandon
It is a little early to cheer, Kevin… This isn’t anywhere near over.
This will be over when and only when Chesapeake exhausts all avenues to get a permit to drill on the tract and sells it. And I’d argue that it still is not over until the land is put to use (built on) in a way such that this issue can never be rehashed again.
Mar 18th, 2008
brandon
Also, I’d be very concerned about Joel Burns’ “no comment”
[When I asked whether he thought Chesapeake would go back to the Council to get a variance, Burns had no comment]
He knows good and well the answer is yes. As sure as the sky is blue, Chesapeake will be seeking a variance. And if you are an interested party, you’d better be on the lookout for last minute scheduling changes for the hearing.
Mar 18th, 2008
Belle Starr
BH would like to say Thank You to all of you who thanked her for
posting the Chesapeake Letter to the property owners on 8th ave
in the star telegram blog for all to read. It took the star 3
days to decide to post it in the blog or not. They finally did
and we are sure it is one of the reason’s this issue is dead
for now. Your welcome. She also explained how the bonus would
be paid out to these people and what a rip off it was. Your
welcome. The S*T Barnett blog has more reader’s than this site.
Again, she appreciates your feedback.
Mar 19th, 2008
Steve-O
Um, Belle, BH, what you are referring to is a complete reposting of a West and Clear post and comment thread. Complete reposting of West and Clear content on ANYONE else’s Web site is essentially theft of copyrighted material. I spoke with Rick Press at the Star-Telegram and he deleted the comment. Thanks, Rick.
If you find something you find readable here, I’m glad. However, you should post a paraphrase and a link. The same goes for our comment threads. Don’t repost other people’s material. Provide a paraphrase and a link.
Most Web sites make their money off of pageviews and this one is no different. Please use hyperlinks to send traffic to interesting content and please use hyperlinks to send people back here.
Thank you,
Steve
Mar 19th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Mr. Tandy there is one big difference between the experts investing in the Barnett Shale and the “experts” estimating what the TRV will cost. In the case of the Barnett Shale they are betting their money, in the case of the TRV they are betting ours.
Mar 19th, 2008
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