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A family living near Sapulpa recently learned a tough lesson about drilling rights. Now, they've taken their fight online.
It's a story we've been following for weeks. An oil company using its drilling rights, even though the land owner doesn't want them there.
The family fought drilling in court, but to no avail. The law is clear -- the oil company with mineral rights can drill. Now, the family is turning to the Internet to get a message out.
"It's Sunday, June 15th. It's Father's Day. And, they've begun drilling on the property. Do they have no shame," the online video proclaims. "Out here on a holiday."
Mark and Rachel Hall didn't want the oil company to drill on their land near their house. After months of digging in and losing the fight in court, their 17-year-old son is now making videos for the web, documenting lessons learned in mineral rights.
"If it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone who owns property in an area not zoned against drilling."
"Are you trying to be a pest?" we asked Mark Hall.
"Oh yes."
Caylx Energy says the decision to drill on the Hall's land is a matter of geology. The right to do it is a matter of state law.
"We think that law needs to be looked at," Hall says. "And, I'm fine with other people having their mineral rights. It's not a problem. But, drill where there are no homes."
"It is actual people that have lives, that have emotions that have been affected in a dramatic way by everything they've been doing," adds Rachel. "And, we are just letting them know we are here."
We spoke with a representative from the oil company by phone. He declined to go on camera, but did say the company intends to repair damage to the land once they are done with drilling.
That, too, is a matter of law, giving landowners a chance to recoup the cost of damage.
If you live outside the city limits, this is a good time to brush up on your mineral rights. Just because you own a piece of land, does not mean you own the mineral rights.
I would imagine the law goes back way further than that.
Really, this is a clear case of someone not liking the way something is, but not willing to do anything unless it happens to them.
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