The Supreme Court of Texas will be considering an interesting case about oil and gas royalties for a Texas mineral owner. The case is Charles G. Hooks III et al. v. Samson Lone Star L.P. The case arises from a dispute over oil and gas leases in Jefferson County and…
A recent case decided by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals holds a cautionary tale for Texas investors or any one who may want to invest in oil and gas. The case is United States v. Smith decided on April 15, 2014. This case involved the Smith brothers, Michael…
This blog previously addressed the serious issues presented with the use of water by the oil and gas industry , especially where the water is used for drilling and fracing in drought affected states. It has become an especially pronounced issue in the western states, like Texas, that have both…
A day-long conference at George Mason University titled “Old Fuels, New Technology, and Market Dynamics” was held at the Arlington, Virginia campus last week. It was put on by the Law and Economics Center, which is part of the law school. Rapid growth in the U.S. oil and gas industry,…
Not all Texas folks consult an attorney to prepare a will or to review an oil and gas lease or a pipeline easement they have been offered. Maybe they think lawyers are expensive and only for the wealthy or maybe they don’t want to take the time. Fortunately, there are…
A recent case that was decided by the Texas Court of Appeals in San Antonio illustrates the problems when mineral owners sign a “standard” form for their oil and gas lease and why they should consider getting the opinion of an experienced Texas oil and gas attorney before they sign.…
More Texas oil and gas companies are expanding. In January 2014 Brenham Oil and Gas Inc. announced the purchase of a 100% and 74% revenue interest in the 332 acre Inez field prospect. This prospect is located in Victoria County, Texas. Brenham plans to drill a well to regain the…
The United States Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that effects many Texas property and mineral owners. Specifically, the Court decided the case of Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust v. United States in an 8 to 1 decision. The Court determined that certain rights-of-way for railroads revert to private property…
In October 2013, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) submitted information to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking the EPA to lower the 2013 cellulosic biofuel quota because oil refiners would be forced to buy millions of dollars in unnecessary “credits” for cellulosic biofuel…
Areas of Texas and the western states where much of the U.S. oil and gas potential is located have been hit by drought in recent years, causing worries about water supplies and the use of water in hydraulic fracturing. Fracing takes a lot of water! But Apache Corporation has created…