Leases

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a standard oil and gas lease form commonly used by producers in the state is valid and does not violate the rights of landowners, upholding state law that dates to the 19th century in a win for the industry.

Eight conservation groups led by Earthjustice have filed to intervene and defend a decision by federal officials to deny Royal Dutch Shell plc the right to extend its drilling leases offshore Alaska.

The West Slope chapter of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) on Monday said initial production (IP) from a new natural gas well in the Mancos formation near the disputed Thompson Divide is “prolific,” and the results are strong enough to positively influence pending federal leasing decisions.

After years of protracted lawsuits, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a case that could release hundreds of landowners from undeveloped oil and natural gas lease agreements and cast doubt on similarly worded leases that have been used for decades in the state.

Following years of delay and legal wrangling, the Department of the Interior said Monday it plans to cancel 18 natural gas and oil leases in Montana’s Lewis and Clark National Forest.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado this week issued two draft environmental proposals that could set back future oil and natural gas development in parts of western Colorado, including previously issued leases in the Thompson Divide and Roan Plateau.

Statoil ASA, which has for seven years built a portfolio of prospects in the Chukchi Sea, said Tuesday it would exit Alaska following poor exploration results at a neighboring lease held by Royal Dutch Shell plc.

ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy Inc. has asked a federal court in Pennsylvania to dismiss what could be a class action lawsuit filed against it for deducting post-production costs from royalty payments in the state.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has extended until Oct. 9 the public comment period for proposed updated regulations to ensure accurate measurement, accountability and royalty payments for oil and natural gas production from federal and Indian leases.