Oh for the days of simplicity when a wellbore tract meant just that—a piece of property upon which a well has been located, drilled, and touched down all within the same tract. Vertical wells were so simple for title examiners; although we certainly did not think so at the time. Little did we realize that horizontal wells would pose exponentially more title complications than we had imagined. We are all blessed in this industry that the technological breakthroughs which allow for the drilling of wellbores horizontally within producing formations have created a renaissance in energy production by dramatically increasing production rates from each well, thereby making old and abandoned fields once again energetic and economic.2 Life is a balance and as with all things, there is a price.

This paper is the lead in to a series of subsequent topics regarding title issues presented at the 32nd Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course on October 2–3, 2014.

Originally published for the 2015 Law School Homecoming CLE - March 2015.