A Texas court held that an assignment of overriding royalty interests covering “all depths” was not limited to a specific formation, rejecting the argument that references to a unit agreement implied vertical limits on the conveyed interests.
Under Van Dyke, deeds with double-fraction royalty reservations referencing “1/8” are presumed to reserve a floating royalty interest unless clearly contradicted. Defenses like waiver, ratification, and limitations cannot override the deed’s unambiguous language or its historical conduct.
In this mandamus proceeding, the court ordered venue transfer to Irion County, Texas, ruling the suit involved damages to real property under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §15.011. M3P Directional Services, Ltd. challenged the trial court’s denial, asserting mandatory venue in Irion County.
Lario Oil & Gas Co. v. Black Hawk Energy Services, Ltd. highlights the importance of carefully drafting jury instructions and questions.
Lease royalty calculated on “market value at the well” held to bear a proportion of gas used off the lease premises as a form of post-production cost under the workback method...
Protecting proprietary information is a key concern for many businesses, and issues can arise when employees transition between competitors.
