Looking south across Hwy 67
the line nears J-W Operating's completed J.C. White and Segar's wells
Custom Search
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Pipeline winds through northern Hill Co.
Looking south across Hwy 67 the line nears J-W Operating's completed J.C. White and Segar's wells
Sights of Hill County
Ranch entrance off Hwy 174 near Energy Transfer's pipeline activity.
There are several other piplines in the area. These valves look fairly new.
Of course Atmos can be found just about everywhere.
Hate to be stalled out here.
Riding the rails NE around the curve towards Rio Vista.
ETP Pipeline Crosses HWY 174 near Blum
Looking north towards the Nolan River from Hwy 174. Cleburne is 12 miles ahead.
The bore under the RR is complete on the southside of 174.
Can't a fellow get some rest...
Looking across 174 from Phillip Nolan's Historical marker.
Friday, February 09, 2007
China Spring ISD Taking Lease Bids
China Spring schools hope to benefit from lucrative gas deposit
Monday, February 05, 2007
By Mike Anderson
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The China Spring Independent School District is looking to tap into a large natural gas field that has made millions of dollars for some North Texas schools.
The district, in northwest McLennan County, is taking bids to lease about 100 acres to gas companies for possible drilling in the natural formation known as the Barnett Shale. Bids are due into the district later this month.
China Spring sits on the southeastern edge the formation that has been the site of a huge natural gas boom, as thousands of wells have been drilled into the gas-rich shale lying west of Interstate 35.
The gas field has made hundreds of people rich overnight near the epicenter of production in the counties near Fort Worth. Individual property owners and school districts alike have made millions from signing leases on a few hundred acres, and that doesn’t include future royalties as gas is pumped from the ground.
For instance, Fort Worth schools made $1.3 million in May for leasing out about 160 acres, a fraction of the land the district is considering leasing for drilling.
Though drilling has not yet begun in McLennan County, dozens of property owners have signed leases, many around China Spring. The first McLennan County gas drilling permit, approved by the state in December, was for a piece of property that sits a few miles from China Spring ISD property.
“There’s quite a few people in China Spring who are getting very excited about this,” said Jim Gleason, China Spring ISD board president.
He added: “It’s hard to say what this could actually mean for us. If we hit the mother lode, well, that just produces and produces — it could really be a benefit.”
Officials in other districts near China Spring, including Crawford and Bosqueville, said so far they have not been approached about signing gas leases.
Because China Spring ISD is in the bidding process, officials would not speculate on what types of offers the district might get for a gas lease. In Arlington, the district leased school property to a gas company for $5,700 an acre, and Mansfield schools leased for $7,875 an acre, officials with both districts said. But in McLennan County, most property owners have been offered leases for no more than $450 an acre.
Whatever income a lease or well might bring, China Spring certainly has the need. The district recently completed a demographics study that shows the area’s population is growing, and that will mean extra expense to handle additional students.
“We are going to look at all avenues for funding and any more income would be greatly appreciated,” Gleason said.
However, school officials are aware that a well would not produce an endless revenue stream, so no income from gas will be used to obligate the school to any additional long-term expenses, CSISD Superintendent George Kazanas said.
Property owners living in the district likely shouldn’t expect a tax break if gas money starts rolling in, said officials with other districts that already have benefited from the Barnett Shale.
Mansfield Independent School District has gotten about $3.5 million in bonuses for signing gas leases, said Lou Spiegel, the district’s associate superintendent of business and government affairs. And though property values are going up in the district because of the underground wealth, the district is not expecting to cut its tax rate, she said.
“The increase in property values will mean more money coming into the district from landowners, but then the state would cut back that amount of its funding,” Spiegel said. “That’s what you get with the state’s funding formula. The state would end up saving money in the long run, but not the property owners.”
China Spring officials also said no drilling will take place close to schools or areas where children gather.
“We are going about this very cautiously, and we are going to keep the interests of the schoolchildren first and foremost,” Gleason said.
manderson@wacotrib.com
Monday, February 05, 2007
By Mike Anderson
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The China Spring Independent School District is looking to tap into a large natural gas field that has made millions of dollars for some North Texas schools.
The district, in northwest McLennan County, is taking bids to lease about 100 acres to gas companies for possible drilling in the natural formation known as the Barnett Shale. Bids are due into the district later this month.
China Spring sits on the southeastern edge the formation that has been the site of a huge natural gas boom, as thousands of wells have been drilled into the gas-rich shale lying west of Interstate 35.
The gas field has made hundreds of people rich overnight near the epicenter of production in the counties near Fort Worth. Individual property owners and school districts alike have made millions from signing leases on a few hundred acres, and that doesn’t include future royalties as gas is pumped from the ground.
For instance, Fort Worth schools made $1.3 million in May for leasing out about 160 acres, a fraction of the land the district is considering leasing for drilling.
Though drilling has not yet begun in McLennan County, dozens of property owners have signed leases, many around China Spring. The first McLennan County gas drilling permit, approved by the state in December, was for a piece of property that sits a few miles from China Spring ISD property.
“There’s quite a few people in China Spring who are getting very excited about this,” said Jim Gleason, China Spring ISD board president.
He added: “It’s hard to say what this could actually mean for us. If we hit the mother lode, well, that just produces and produces — it could really be a benefit.”
Officials in other districts near China Spring, including Crawford and Bosqueville, said so far they have not been approached about signing gas leases.
Because China Spring ISD is in the bidding process, officials would not speculate on what types of offers the district might get for a gas lease. In Arlington, the district leased school property to a gas company for $5,700 an acre, and Mansfield schools leased for $7,875 an acre, officials with both districts said. But in McLennan County, most property owners have been offered leases for no more than $450 an acre.
Whatever income a lease or well might bring, China Spring certainly has the need. The district recently completed a demographics study that shows the area’s population is growing, and that will mean extra expense to handle additional students.
“We are going to look at all avenues for funding and any more income would be greatly appreciated,” Gleason said.
However, school officials are aware that a well would not produce an endless revenue stream, so no income from gas will be used to obligate the school to any additional long-term expenses, CSISD Superintendent George Kazanas said.
Property owners living in the district likely shouldn’t expect a tax break if gas money starts rolling in, said officials with other districts that already have benefited from the Barnett Shale.
Mansfield Independent School District has gotten about $3.5 million in bonuses for signing gas leases, said Lou Spiegel, the district’s associate superintendent of business and government affairs. And though property values are going up in the district because of the underground wealth, the district is not expecting to cut its tax rate, she said.
“The increase in property values will mean more money coming into the district from landowners, but then the state would cut back that amount of its funding,” Spiegel said. “That’s what you get with the state’s funding formula. The state would end up saving money in the long run, but not the property owners.”
China Spring officials also said no drilling will take place close to schools or areas where children gather.
“We are going about this very cautiously, and we are going to keep the interests of the schoolchildren first and foremost,” Gleason said.
manderson@wacotrib.com
Monday, February 05, 2007
ETP Pipeline Moves Northward
A backhoe clears an area for equipment to bore under Hwy 174 near the Nolan River bottom just NE of Blum
.Looking southward
from 174. Thelarge 42" pipeline will also make it's way under the adjacent RR tracks. Looking northward towards the Nolan River bottom, the line will continue under the river, traveling about 12 more miles before completing it's long run near Hwy 67, just west of Cleburne.
The operator of this large forklift rises early each day to drive from Groesbeck to Hill county, to work on the 90 mile pipeline. Desi, like so many other workers in the Barnett is being well compensated for his grueling drive, long hours and physically demanding work.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Johnson Co - Where did Nighthawk go?
This 'injection' well site on the outskirts of Cleburne, once served as the home for Nighthawk Transportation Services.
Apparently Nighthawk has relocated. Not a truck in sight this afternoon.Chesapeake Tanks gleam in the late afternoon sun at the junction of Hwy's 171 and 174
. 
Rain or snow, the show must go on. Patterson rig drilling on a Chesapeake lease off Hwy 171, just south of Cleburne on CR 312.
ETP's Pipeline Moves On, and On....
Winding and snaking it's way across
wide open pastures......occasionally disappearing through large stands of oak, pecan and mesquites...
wallowing in the mud like a dead pig in the sunshine.....
Every section penned like a herd of Red Angus, waiting to join the next in line
as far as the eye can see.Most of the current activity in Hill county seems to be concentrated between Osceola and Blanton, crossing FM 934 from south to north.
And On!
Open WIDE!
This welding crew ran out of refreshments and raided Cordell's in Osceola, snapping up boxes of candy bars, chips and gallons of soda and water. 
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Put Out to Pasture - Job Well Done!
I've plowed many a row, straight and true. I'll bet with a fresh coat of paint, some air in my tires, and a minor bit of mechanical work, I could still bust up that back-forty.
Same goes for me -
Let's HAUL!I believe I've heard of this place.
These names look very familiar.
Glad to see some water in the stock tanks - wherever this is.
It's Miller Time!
Unless you're familiar with the area, it's hard to tell a lot about the pipeline activity. Where it's going....
Where it's been.....
But, it really doesn't matter - It's ALL Good!
Infrastructure takes shape in Hill Co.
Nice seam job. Looks like everything is 'coming together' with smaller lines that parallel FM 934.
Pipelines along and across FM 934.
Hill Activity Continues to Heat Up
Heightened activity in these areas of Hill County.
EOG Resources Kimbrell #2H
Kimbrell Unit #2H
Gathering and flowlines awaiting instructions at EOG's Kimbrell #2H.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)