Royalty

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) hasissued a final rule for determining royalties for natural gasproduced on Indian lands. Under the new rule, which was publishedin the Aug. 10 Federal Register, Indian leases would have theoption to either compute royalties on wellhead gas using apublished price index, continue using the existing gross-proceedsmethod for arms-length contracts, or use the current MMS benchmarksystem for non-arms-length sales. If gas is processed, Indiantribes then would adopt a “dual accounting” method under whichroyalties would be based on whichever has the greater value for gas- before processing or after processing. In most cases, it’s thelatter.

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) hasissued a final rule for determining royalties for natural gasproduced on Indian lands. Under the new rule, which was publishedin Tuesday’s Federal Register, Indian leases would have the optionto either direct producers to compute royalties on wellhead gasusing a published price index, continue using the existinggross-proceeds method for arms-length contracts, or use the currentMMS benchmark system for non-arms-length sales. If gas isprocessed, Indian tribes then could adopt a “dual accounting”method under which royalties would be based on whichever stage hasthe greater value for gas – before processing or after processing.In most cases, it’s the latter.

Aiming at easing the personal pain involved in the oil and gasindustry downturn, the Texas Independent Producers &amp RoyaltyOwners Association (TIPRO) has instituted an Oil and Gas Job Bankat its website www.energyconnect.com.