Lease roads. Why? Why? Why???!!!

Whoever built the road ( oil / gas outfit ) is likely responsible for the upkeep of it , and supposedly after the lease is up its to be returned to the natural conditions prior to the road being built .

 

Lot of it depends on who owns the land. Most I drove on were nice for a mile or more. Then they would turn to ducus real quick. Lot of these places out in Rankin, Big Lake , and even down your way are huge tracts owned by some family who never goes there. I had one in Rankin that we drove over 20 miles to site. Reminded me of Afghanistan. I think if someone lives on them they are more likely to get maintained.

 

Sounds like the roads to my house. It takes 10 minutes to drive the last 2 miles or so(depends on how muddy), but I like the fact there are no yuppies moving in. All the neigbbors out here are the type that know how to get things done. Except build a road, I guess. Oh well, that's what the 4 wheel drive is for.

 

oil company is responsible for maintaining lease roads

 

The county is responsible for as far as they go. Most leases are set up where oil company takes care of roads. I have friends that have had wells for yrs. Anytime they have a problem they get on phone and within a week or so road fixed. Same with cows . If they have spill that causes death or problems with animals they will send then a check. Hard to keep them up on newer plays. With all the traffic from drillers, cementers , fracers, loggers, caterers, and all the rest. One well is finished and bam they are onto another on the same road.

 

also depends on how the lease was written up, how many times that lease has been sold, changed hands....

as an example, Anadarko still holds the lease rights to the land, and can drill new wells. The older wells have been sold to another operating company, and the operating company is not responsible for the upkeep of the roads, anadarko is, but they have no incentive to maintain the roads. So most of the road base from 20 years ago has been ground down, and the fine bentonite powder has become the top surface of the road.... very slick when wet.