News & Analysis as of

Oil & Gas Royalties

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Federal District Court Sends Pennsylvania Royalty Dispute To Trial

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

On September 6, 2024, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania denied dueling summary judgment motions concerning the interpretation of a royalty provision in Chambers v. Equinor USA Onshore...more

Gray Reed

“Free of Cost” Royalty Includes Post-production Costs

Gray Reed on

Fasken Ranch Ltd et al v. Puig et al featured a reservation in the sale of a ranch of an undivided 1/16 non-participating royalty interest “free of cost forever.”  What does that mean? In particular, does it mean that the...more

Gray Reed

Louisiana Supreme Court Issues Major Post-Production Cost Opinion

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In Self v. BPX Operating, a case with significant implications for Louisiana operators and royalty owners, the Supreme Court of Louisiana ruled that the doctrine of negotiorum gestio in La. Civil Code art. 2292 does not allow...more

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Form SD Deadline Approaching for Resource Extraction Issuers: Reminder and FAQs

Baker Botts L.L.P. on

As previously discussed in our Client Alert issued on December 18, 2020 (available here), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) adopted its final rule (the “Final Rule,” available here) requiring...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

Bona Fide Victory: How a “Void” Deed Can Confer BFP Status in New Mexico

Oliva Gibbs LLP on

In Koch v. David Fam. Oil & Gas Ints. P’Ship, the Court of Appeals of New Mexico held that the grantee in a deed of distribution executed by the foreign personal representative of an estate can be a bona fide purchaser in the...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Pennsylvania Court Rules That Shut-In Royalty Provision Had No Connection to the Duration of an Oil and Gas Lease

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

In its May 22, 2024 non-precedential memorandum decision in Frye v. Penn View Exploration, Inc., 919 WDA 2023 (Pa. Super. Ct. May 22, 2024), the Pennsylvania Superior Court found that an oil and gas lease’s shut-in royalty...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Royalty Class Actions: The Rise of Class Certification and Defenses to Avoid It

McGuireWoods LLP on

The recent rise in royalty class action lawsuits brought by the plaintiffs’ bar, that generally coincides with the ebb in crude oil prices, is a growing risk for oil and gas companies. Class action certifications in royalty...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

All Means All, Y’all: The Fifth Circuit Addresses CAFA Exception

Oliva Gibbs LLP on

The Fifth Circuit recently rendered a decision in Cheapside Mins., Ltd. v. Devon Energy Prod. Co., L.P. concerning a class action that arose from Devon Energy Production Company’s (“Devon”) alleged underpayment of royalties...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

Elections Have Consequences – Why Oklahoma’s Amended Horizontal Pooling Rule May Prove to be Difficult to Apply

Oliva Gibbs LLP on

t is well established that forced pooling under Oklahoma law is done on a “unit-wide basis rather than on an individual wellbore basis.” However, never has it been the case that an election made under one forced pooling order...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

The Texas Division Order Statute: How It Works and Who It Serves to Protect

Oliva Gibbs LLP on

A division order is a statement executed by all owners of interests in an oil and gas well.  The division order’s essential purpose is to “authorize and direct to whom and in what proportion to distribute” proceeds from the...more

Gray Reed

Floating Beats Fixed in Another Royalty Dispute

Gray Reed on

Recent Texas royalty cases seem to feature litigants on the fixed royalty side trying, more often than not in vain, to escape the clutches of Van Dyke v. Navigator and Hysaw v. Dawkins. See those decisions for the history of...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

The Neale Rule – Who Really Owns the Oil and Gas Under Railroads?

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

Since the early 1900’s, your family has owned a 105 acre farm in Greene County, Pennsylvania. In 2024, you and your siblings sign an oil and gas lease with XYZ Drilling Company. The language in the lease states that it...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

The Centerline Presumption – Who Really Owns the Oil and Gas Under Roads and Highways? (Part II)

A troubling and confusing issue here in Pennsylvania concerns the ownership of oil and gas rights under roads and highways. For example, let’s assume Farmer Joe owned 115 acres in Greene County. In 1981, Farmer Joe sells...more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Take Nothing: Delivering a Courtroom Masterclass

Vinson & Elkins LLP on

Two months in court, 1,700 miles from home, $100 million at stake. In this edition of V&E+, Vinson & Elkins partners Jim Thompson, Nick Shum, and Stephanie Noble share their story of a marathon trial — and how they emerged...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Who Owns the Produced Water From Oil & Gas Operations?

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

Although historically viewed as a waste, produced water that comes to the surface as part of the oil and gas production stream now potentially has value. Produced water can be recycled and reused as part of hydraulic...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

The Suspense is Killing Me! – When Formal Notice May be Required Under North Dakota’s Suspense Statute

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In Powell v. Statoil Oil & Gas LP, the North Dakota Supreme Court found that failure to properly notify a suspended royalty owner of an alleged title defect may allow for statutory interest under North Dakota’s “Suspense...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

West Virginia Appellate Court Rules That Estate Misconception Theory Did Not Apply To 1902 Deed

The calculation of production royalties and the deduction of post-production costs remains a troubling issue for Pennsylvania landowners. But there is another frustrating and often confusing royalty-related issue which can,...more

BCLP

2023 Recap: Important US Oil and Gas Decisions

BCLP on

In 2023, the US oil and gas industry witnessed significant legal developments that highlight the importance of careful drafting. This recap, together with my prior analysis, captures some of the pivotal case law that defined...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

The Colorado Supreme Court Declines to Adopt Commercial Discovery Rule

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

Let’s assume you own 136 acres in Tioga County. In 2011, you signed a new oil and gas lease with ABC Production (the “2011 Lease”). The 2011 Lease had a five-year primary term which expired in October 2016. In 2014, ABC...more

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

La Cour d’appel de l’Alberta confirme l’annulation d’une décision ministérielle en vertu du régime de redevances albertain

Dans Shell Canada Limited v. Alberta (Energy), la Cour d’appel de l’Alberta (la « Cour ») a confirmé une décision rendue par la Cour du Banc du Roi de l’Alberta dans une affaire de contrôle judiciaire, laquelle décision...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Pennsylvania Federal Court Dismisses Gas Driller’s Declaratory Judgment Lawsuit Involving Oil & Gas Lease

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

In an October 10, 2023, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed a gas driller’s declaratory judgment lawsuit involving an oil and gas lease in the SWN Production Company, LLC v. Blue...more

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Alberta Court of Appeal Upholds Quashing of Ministerial Decision Under Alberta Royalty Regime

In Shell Canada Limited v. Alberta (Energy), the Court of Appeal of Alberta (Court) upheld a judicial-review decision of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta quashing a decision of the Alberta Minister of Energy (Minister)...more

Gray Reed

“Floating” Beats “Fixed ” in Texas Royalty Reservation

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If you are scoring at home, count Permico Royalties LLC v. Barron Properties, Ltd., as a win for “floating” in the fixed-or-floating royalty battles. Permico, successor to grantors in a 1937 Deed for a tract in Ward County,...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Can Cryptocurrency Mining Maintain an Oil and Gas Lease Beyond Primary Term?

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

The recently filed Hobe Minerals Limited Liability Company v. Bonanza Creek Energy Operating Company, LLC, et al lawsuit in a Colorado trial court challenges whether intermittent cryptocurrency mining can maintain an oil and...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Federal Court In Ohio Rules That Driller Must Establish Marketability of Each Gas Product Under Market Enhancement Clause

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

Let’s assume you own 95 acres in Greene County, Pennsylvania. In 2019, you signed an oil and gas lease with ABC Exploration. During the negotiations, you agreed that only those post-production costs which actually...more

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