Airport land could be sitting on a large oil deposit

Huntingburg — A local energy company approached the Dubois County Airport Authority about leasing land for oil exploration.

Rusty Robinson with Sovereign Natural Resources, a full service energy company, is working with landowners around the airport to create a lease for oil drilling to a depth of over 4100 feet. Robinson proposed the airport could join the collection of landowners and he will act as an agent in the acquisition of a lease on the airport property.

The area has been explored for oil in the past but Robinson explained those oil companies that leased land in the area did not drill deep enough. He says that a potential large field of oil lies deeper and oil land leases could be valuable to local owners.

Airport attorney Phil Schneider explained that oil or gas companies will enter into a lease with the landowner and pay a signing bonus based on the number of acres; from a low of about a dollar per acre upwards around $150.00 per acre. The landowner can also earn royalties (usually 1/8th) that are paid based on the unit of oil or gas that is produced.

Robinson told the board that $100 per acre leased is the going rate in Warrick County right now.

The board took the proposal under advisement.

Also in the meeting last night, the board heard an update from Woolpert Engineering on the land that contains the trees preventing Runway 09 from being used for night approaches.

The authority learned in June that the runway was no longer approved for instrument approaches from the west at night due to trees and three towers considered to be obstructions. The towers and trees will have to be removed to bring the runway back into compliance for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Woolpert presented plans that would require an easement for a block of land measuring 2.02 acres with .9 acres containing the actual trees and towers.

After the meeting, Airport Board manager Travis McQueen said that they hope to get the removal of the trees done before the end of the year, so that runway 9 can be returned to service for night landings.

The land would be cleared of the trees along with the roots so that the land could be farmed afterwards.