Can someone steal oil from a property that someone owns mineral rights on from tapping into it offof property?

Question

My parents neighbor sold his mineral rights and now an oil co. is drilling to get the oil. A large chuck of oil is on my parents land and don't want it mined because it would damage/distroy the new house that my father built by himself. My parents own mineral rights but if the oil is drained off there land they think there is nothing they can do...i want to help them out but don't know how...someone help please!!!!

Answer 1

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Whoever lives at the bottom of the stream gets all the water?"

They are not sucking it off your parent's land...oil will "flow" when a tap is placed in one adjacent to the land, and that is a legal means of getting it.

Now, if they ran a pipe underground that crossed the perimeters of the property, then that is a different matter.

Natural gas is the same way.

PS:  Anytime an oil company comes knocking on your door, new house or not, you need to negotiate with them..if you have a valuable mineral, such as oil, it will always be worth about 10 times (or more) whatever house you built.

Answer 2

They will have to drill today before the oil is gone. /

Answer 3

It's called "slant drilling" and it use to be very common (probably still is). I don't know how you could go up against an oil company and prove such a thing. But, removing oil from beneath residential property would not under normal conditions damage the property (it is not "mined"),

The best thing would probably be for your patents to lease their oil rights and get some money out of it, especially if it is being removed, at least they will be paid for it.

Answer 4

   if they drill from there property.i dontr think there is any thing you can do.find out all you can about your rights if any.when an oil co. drills on some ones property.they have no respect for it.they will get every ounce out.they couldnt care if your house sunk into the ground.they will make millions.then if any thing happens to your property.they will pay you damages.do your homework.it may be smart to also sell your mineral rights.like i said.check it out.they may need your permision.you just dont know.