Don Shaw purchased his 10-acre Clam Gulch property on the Kenai Peninsula in 2003 for $9,000, using an inheritance from his mother. He is a self-described techno-hermit and can stay on his property up to two months. He leaves only for cigarettes.
He’s also a member of the Exxon Valdez oil spill class-action lawsuit from 1994. He stated that he is deeply upset at the impact of oil companies on Alaska.
“It killed my life and I have never recovered. He said that he was out in the woods running his own business. “I hate the way the state manages the oil industry.”
Shaw uses both a Wi-Fi hotspot on his phone and an older laptop to keep up his fight against Hilcorp, the oil and gas company that he has been fighting for over five years.
He is located near some of Hilcorp’s wells. Shaw took me to Frances 1 on his property, a well that produces high amounts of water, and shot two shots from his property. They were heard four seconds later.
Shaw is among those Kenai Peninsula residents who are receiving offers from Hilcorp as the company grows. Shaw stated that Hilcorp would like to lease the land beneath his property in order to search for natural gas. He stated that they have made offers to him in exchange for the lease, such as this one.
He said that his boss might allow him to come down and they could go on a deer hunting chart and you can sign an agreement. Or maybe we can go fishing charters and you can sign leases.
Hilcorp would not confirm or deny this interaction. The company is expanding its presence to the Ninilchik region as it searches for more gas.
Hilcorp is the largest producer of natural gas in the peninsula. The company is looking for more natural gas and will be exploring private land parcels such as Shaw’s to find the source. The company leases the land beneath private property owners and pays royalties for the gas produced.
These deals have been accepted by the vast majority of people. Shaw is one of those people who hasn’t yet signed up. Shaw is concerned that it will devalue his property, and that any payments would be insufficient.
Shaw isn’t the only one who stands up against the company.
A Nov. Two Hilcorp officials spoke out at a Nov. A current rule restricts oil and gas producers to keeping 1,500 feet from private property.
McKibben Jackinsky resides on a homestead that is so close to Hilcorp’s pad, they share a driveway. McKibben Jackinsky protested the first Hilcorp move in and stated that she refused to sign three leases offered by the company. She stated that Hilcorp should not be granted an exception due to their history of noncompliance.
Jackinsky says it’s not about the money.
She said that she was not refusing to sign up based on dollar value. “I don’t want to be harmed by this intrusion on land which has been in my family for… my grandsons are now the fifth generation.”
Jackinsky is concerned about drilling’s impact on wildlife and the safety of her family. While Southcentral Alaska was under a burn notice in order to avoid wildfires, Jackinsky said Hilcorp performed flaring. This is a process where natural gas is burned while production sites are set up.
Jackinsky, who was close to the well, testified at the hearing about her fears.
She stated that “the disturbance their activity has already caused — and they haven’t even begun to produce — was immense.” “The noise from their flaring, the noise of it all, the disturbance that they cause to wildlife and the surrounding area is immeasurable.”
Another resident was present at the hearing. Patricia Wagner, who lives less than a mile from three Hilcorp pads spoke out against any future drilling and decreased spacing because of the impact drilling noise has had on her life.
She said, “I am impacted by all 3 sides, multiple years worth of sleepless nights.” “I commiserate with the neighbors at three in morning.”
She also expressed frustration at the lack of opportunities for the public to comment on drilling.
Even though property owners may not sign leases, they cannot control the actions of their neighbors.
Jackinsky claimed that she was told by a Hilcorp representative to expect gas production at the Pearl Pad in Ninilchik before the end of this year. Hilcorp spokesperson refused to confirm this.
Hilcorp did not answer questions regarding how far they would go to obtain leases. Sean Clifton, with the Department of Natural Resources Oil and Gas Division, said that those who refuse to lease can’t stop their neighbors from developing their resources.
Subsurface resources such as natural gas are not subject to the property lines. Instead, the company must pay the royalty due for their share of the production from their properties to an “escrow account”. The holdouts, unlike lease-signers who receive a monthly royalty check and are entitled to their money until production ends, will not be able to access their money.
Jackinsky stated that she is steadfast about her decision to not sign a lease but is concerned about the impact of living near the well on her home’s livability.
She said, “I don’t know if it will come to a point where it’s too aggressive.” “My daughters and me have discussed this: How much change will it take before this piece land loses its value? We can’t think of an answer because it’s so sad.
Shaw also stated that he will never board the ship.
He said, “I don’t care if they’re a Stay Puft Marshmallow Oil Company, I would still fight them equally diligently.”
He said that he learned from his grandfather not to sign any contract.
