AboutJames H. McConnell, CPL Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about the oil & gas Lease, minerals, royalties, easements, servitudes, offers to lease or sell minerals and other questions related to exploration and production of oil and gas in America. I will only answer questions from the owner or authorized representative of the interest, not the in-laws or grandchildren second guessing the owner.
Include the state, county/parish, section, range and township or I will reject the question. In Texas include the Survey name or number and abstract number.
Offer to sell or lease questions must include the offer, including but not limited to the amount of money for bonus or sales offer, the amount or royalty in a lease and the term of the lease. If it doesn't, I will reject it.
Do not ask me questions about hypothetical wells, average wells, or average anything. Nothing in the oil & gas industry is average. Don't ask me inane questions that could be answered with a Google search. I am not here to entertain you or your fantasy. I am here to answer questions from mineral and royalty owners with legitimate questions. I do not have ESP, nor am I clairvoyant. If you do not have the time to think out and write a question that can be answered with the information provided, I do not have the time to try to answer it.
I will not elaborate on the legal and administrative processes mentioned in my answers. I can't teach law in a paragraph.
Experience I have been a Professional Landman for more than thirty five years. I have drilled and operated oil & gas wells in Louisiana and Texas and an familiar with the rules and Regulations of the Texas Railroad Commission and the Louisiana Department of Conservation. I have testified in court as an expert witness.
Question I have owned my property for 11 years. We are curious as to whether or not we actually own the mineral rights to this property. We live in Noble, Louisiana and I understand that Louisiana has a law by which after ten years the mineral rights revert back to the surface owner. Is this correct?
Answer It is called prescription by nonuse. If there has been no production from your land or land pooled with your land for ten years, or no drilling activity taken place on your land in ten years, the the mineral rights have reverted to you. Check your section and the surrounding sections on www.sonris for any wells that may have produced and affected your tract.
