Below the Surface
Since 1996, a legal battle has raged between ExxonMobil and a powerful South Texas ranching clan that believes the oil company sabotaged wells on the family property. Even after a ruling by the state Supreme Court earlier this year, the bitter feud shows no signs of letting up. Maybe that’s because it’s about something far more important than money.
Leave a Comment
9 comments
Sunday, July 17th, 2011, 9:12 pm
GabrielaGrimes says:
Lots of specialists argue that personal loans aid people to live their own way, just because they can feel free to buy necessary stuff. Furthermore, various banks present small business loan for young and old people.
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, 2:58 pm
TommyD says:
What a mess! Just like the change Obama brings.
Monday, November 16th, 2009, 10:28 am
ronald says:
If anyone doubts what oil companies do to the environment, just go to Borger, where ConocoPhillips has created a stinking mess for the last 50 years or so. Just go there and look around where the town of Phillips used to be, and then see if you don’t agree with Mimi Swartz that the system in Texas is broken.
Thursday, October 29th, 2009, 12:13 pm
mark says:
mimi swartz deserves the pulitzer prize for this article. my hat is off to her !!!!!!!!
she makes a clear case for why we need term limits (and political contributions) for all of our politicians including our state (supreme court) judges who seem intent on changing well reasoned and settled opinions by former judges regarding the oil and gas law of our GREAT STATE of TEXAS.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009, 2:56 pm
oglogic says:
Very interesting story. Close but not completely accurate.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009, 7:42 pm
Freddy says:
The OConnors remind me of the Beals of Grey Gardens, crazy old cat ladies who sponged off the dying wealth of their ancestors, never accepting that each generation needs to create wealth of its own.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009, 11:48 am
Big Tex says:
As you read this story, remember that there are always two sides. I don’t doubt that there were some disgruntled Exxon hands that may have left some junk in the hole here and there. As an employee of a good operator, I can tell you that abandoning equipment in the hole happens. It is to be expected upon re-entering. Usually, however, this junk is encountered in wells that were drilled on, umm, less powerful Lessors’ land. Emerald got in a bind and called in a favor with (let’s face it) their O’Connor friends. Trust me - Emerald wouldn’t have even gotten the lease if they weren’t trusted allies of the O’Connors.
Let’s also remember that the O’Connors were receiving FIFTY PERCENT of the royalties from each well. 50%. That’s unheard of and ridiculous. At just 120 wells at a half million dollars per, that’s 60 million (in today dollars) that Exxon has to recoup before turning a profit. This doesn’t take into account Texas’ cut in the way of a 7/5% severance tax.
Looks to me like the O’Connors milked the Exxon cow a little too hard and long.
Friday, October 23rd, 2009, 8:46 pm
elizabeth burns says:
I live on a 38,000 acre south texas ranch with XOM. They leased the place in 1935 - they just let crap leak all the time. It sounds just like the O’Connors. I made a website and blog documenting the endless sloppiness of XOM.
RanchoLosMalulos.com
I wander around and film and photograph their operations. it’s shocking. They are so arrogant -- we have 1000’s of acres of contaminated groundwater and pipes are condensate bubbling out of our roads and fields. The RRC does nothing about it.
Friday, October 23rd, 2009, 2:47 pm
B. Sawaya says:
As a Texan, and the love for the environment - Peace and Love follow T. Michael. A person like this is born every 100 years . . . We are fortunate to have him . . . his footsteps will forever leave the mark that his presence was strong, that HE took what the Almighty gave him, and HE took care of it. I’m sure that while Exxon goes through this land and destroys - while T. Michael desperately trys to salvage - and our courts, that keep trampling over our laws . . .over and over again . . . the highest court - the one that matters - Gods Court - is surely on T. Michael’s side.
My Library
