[samtheman]

Above Ground Land
______________________________________________
         |
         | (vertical
         |  hole)
         |
        _____________________________ (horizontal bend)

Do you have to own all the land above the horizontal bend to extract oil/gas from it?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Do you have to own all the land above the horizontal bend to extract oil/gas from it?

Basically, yes. The lease on my property includes any drilling/extraction that occurs under my property regardless of whether an actual well is placed on my property.

[BooBoo1000]

No.

[6ppc]

Do you have to own all the land above the horizontal bend to extract oil/gas from it?

No, but you do have to secure royalty agreements from all of the mineral rights owners.

[thackney]

Do you have to own all the land above the horizontal bend to extract oil/gas from it?

Area around the entire horizontal section must be leased. These are very well tracked and permitted. You don't have a chance to take you liberal neighbors minerals.

[T-Bird45]

You have received excellent answers from other posters on surface ownership and mineral ownership. One other matter as it relates to the horizontal portion: the hydraulic fracturing is done over several “zones” of the horizontal portion in order to open the formation to maximum production. Since the horizontal portion is where there is the likelihood of multiple owner involvement, that is why rights and leasing agreements may cover several different mineral owners even when only one well bore is drilled.