Texas is the latest in a growing number of states to tackle the issues related to ownership and severability of the pore space underneath land as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) remains a relevant tool in CO2...more
Dans le cadre du contrôle judiciaire dont faisait l’objet l’affaire Imperial Oil Resources Limited v. Alberta (Minister of Energy) (en anglais seulement), la Cour du Banc du Roi de l’Alberta (la « Cour ») a annulé plusieurs...more
If you drive around Pennsylvania, you are likely not going to encounter a “For Sale” sign offering a cavern in the ground. But the voids, pore spaces, and cavities in the subsurface can be quite valuable now and in the...more
Does the Texas Supreme Court’s Decision in Cactus Water Services v. COG Operating Provide Guidance About Lithium and Rare Earth Minerals Ownership in Pennsylvania? Lithium demand is expected to continue to increase as...more
Dow Construction, LLC v. BPX Operating Company resolved a bundle of issues arising out of a drilling unit established by the Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation: who has the right to a drilling cost report, the operator’s...more
In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policy update designed to expedite the oil and gas leasing process on public lands. Through a newly issued...more
On the President’s first day in office, January 20, the White House released Executive Order 14153, titled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” (the “Alaska EO”). The Alaska EO states that: The State of...more
The American Land Title Association (ALTA) is considering approval of a new Energy Project Endorsement for owner's and loan policies at its spring session. The endorsement (proposed as the ALTA 36.9) Energy Project – Minerals...more
In re: EP Energy E&P Company, LP considered three lease maintenance provisions in several oil and gas leases. The federal district court ruled that the leases were maintained in force after cessation of production despite...more
Who has standing to challenge abandonment of a mineral interest under the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act (“DMA”)? Earlier this year in two cases, both styled Cardinal Minerals, LLC v. Miller, the 7th District Court of Appeals of...more
Author Paul Yale* In the summer of 2022, the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the American Association of Professional Landmen approved the first ever Model Form Participation Agreement to be approved by the...more
Leases for solar energy facilities offer property owners the potential for a predictable, long-term revenue stream. But, because of the potential decades-long duration of a lease for solar energy facilities, things like...more
Are unpaid royalty payments for oil-and-gas leases subject to simple or compound interest? Simple, the Texas Supreme Court said in Samson Exploration, LLC v. Bordages on June 7, 2024....more
In Ammonite Oil & Gas Corp. v. R.R. Comm’n of Tex., the Texas Supreme Court held that the Railroad Commission (the “RRC”) did not abuse its discretion in denying a “muscle in” application under the Texas Mineral Interest...more
After two years of continuous behind-the-scenes work, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va), who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), released S. 4753, the Energy...more
Montgomery Trustee v. ES3 Minerals and Echo Minerals is another Texas fixed or floating royalty case. Before diving into the details, perhaps it’s best to describe the pattern the courts seem to fall into to resolve these...more
In Carl v. Hilcorp Energy Co., the Texas Supreme Court—addressing certified questions from the Fifth Circuit—held that producers may subtract the volume of gas powering post-production activities from “at-the-well” royalty...more
The Texas Supreme Court has clarified Texas law concerning how to calculate interest that is being paid pursuant to an agreement or statute. Samson Exploration, LLC v. Bordages, No. 22-0215, 2024 WL 2869049 (Tex. June 7,...more
The Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (FMLLP), which was announced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on April 12, 2024, represents a significant update to the Federal onshore oil and gas leasing framework....more
The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) released a final rule that will protect millions of acres of Alaskan wildness from the development of oil, gas and minerals. Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which...more
On March 20, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia dismissed Sonda v. West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for lack of standing. The lawsuit was brought by mineral interest owners...more
The modern producing gas well is a sophisticated and complex piece of equipment. The basic well head itself consists of several meters, valves and other components, each of which is under constant stress and pressure. In...more
Le 21 avril 2023, la Cour du Banc du Roi de l’Alberta (la « Cour ») a rendu sa décision dans l’affaire Terra Energy Corp (Re). Elle a rejeté la tentative du gouvernement de l’Alberta de recouvrer les arriérés de redevances...more
On April 21, 2023, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta (Court) released its decision in Terra Energy Corp (Re). In this decision, the Court rejected the Government of Alberta’s attempt to recover oil and gas royalty arrears,...more
A dual purpose oil and gas lease transitions into its secondary term, and remains in its secondary term, if oil and gas is produced from the leasehold or if the leasehold is used for oil and gas storage. See, Smith v....more