TV News LIES

Friday, Mar 29th

Last update07:52:02 AM GMT

You are here News Environment How the Kings of Fracking Double-Crossed Their Way to Riches

How the Kings of Fracking Double-Crossed Their Way to Riches

E-mail Print PDF

Chesapeake energyThanks to a series of shady deals with former subsidiaries—and massive cuts in royalties to unsuspecting landowners—the controversial shale gas firm is now awash in cash.

At the end of 2011, Chesapeake Energy, one of the nation’s biggest oil and gas companies, was teetering on the brink of failure.  Its legendary chief executive officer, Aubrey McClendon, was being pilloried for questionable deals, its stock price was getting hammered and the company needed to raise billions of dollars quickly.

The money could be borrowed, but only on onerous terms. Chesapeake, which had burned money on a lavish steel-and-glass office complex in Oklahoma City even while the selling price for its gas plummeted, already had too much debt.

In the months that followed, Chesapeake executed an adroit escape, raising nearly $5 billion with a previously undisclosed twist: By gouging many rural landowners out of royalty payments they were supposed to receive in exchange for allowing the company to drill for natural gas on their property.

In lawsuits in state after state, private landowners have won cases accusing the companies like Chesapeake of stiffing them on royalties they were due. Federal investigators have repeatedly identified underpayments of royalties for drilling on federal lands, including a case in which Chesapeake was fined $765,000 for “knowing or willful submission of inaccurate information” last year.

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


In a boost for EVs, EPA finalizes strict new limits on tailpipe emissions

EPA sets new rules on car tailpipe emissions After nearly a year of frantic lobbying and debate, the EPA has finalized strict new rules...

Massachusetts town grapples with sea rise after sand barrier fails

Mass. town grapples with sea riseOn the border with New Hampshire and Massachusetts – about 35 miles north of Boston –...

The U.S. bans most common form of asbestos, after decades of pushback from industry

Asbestos banned in US The Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that it is banning the most common form of asbestos,...

A Florida neighborhood says an old factory made them sick. Now developers want to kick up toxic soil

Florida residents in toxic areaKristen Burke and her husband, Harold, moved into their home in Russell Landing, a rural suburb...
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!