The drilling companies typically acquire leases with landholders who have access to oil and mineral rights below their land by using a landman (either an employee of the company or an independent agent), who offers a fixed price per acre for the right to drill, plus a royalty percentage of the value of the produced hydrocarbons.

FORBES: Shale Leases: Promised Land

Mr Finlay said he met with the land agent in spring 2010 to discuss renting one of the Buchanan Trust farms, who said a property would be available in six months.

BBC: Buchanan Trust trust 'fails' ex-servicemen