As oil companies encounter lawsuits from mineral rights holders, Reagan Marble spoke with the San Antonio Business Journal about the unusual defense that shut-in wells were out of the hands of the oil companies.
Reagan noted, “Instead of your run-of-the-mill production and paid quantity disputes, you are seeing some really creative ways that operators are seeking to either permanently deter or temporarily deter their obligations in a lease. And the first one we have seen that has been fairly prominent are fights over force majeure clauses in oil and gas leases.”
For more information, read San Antonio Business Journal‘s “Oil companies prepare to defend drilling rights — or rights not to — in court” (subscription required).
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What the Uptick in Litigation Means for Oil & Gas Producers and Land Owners »
Jackson Walker Fast Takes Podcast | Approx. 7.5 minutes | As a result of plunging oil prices, unstable markets have led to an uptick in litigation. Reagan Marble discusses what that means for contracting parties in the oil and gas industry as they get creative in enforcing and invalidating contracts to protect their individual positions.
Crude awakening: Oil patch lawsuits shift into high gear »
Houston Chronicle (subscription may be required) | Oil patch lawsuits between landowners and producers ramp up with clockwork predictability when the price of West Texas Intermediate dramatically sinks. But when the price of crude crashed into the negative range on April 20, oil and gas litigation took an especially sharp turn. Now, oil and gas companies are trying to save themselves as landowners try to protect their royalty income.
Meet Reagan
Reagan M. Marble focuses on complex energy litigation and transactions throughout Texas and New Mexico. In his energy litigation practice, Reagan regularly represents oil and gas operators, mineral and royalty buyers, high‐net‐worth family trusts and partnerships, and renewable energy developers in their litigation matters throughout South and West Texas. Related to energy transactions, he frequently drafts and negotiates agreements affecting all aspects of upstream oil and gas exploration and production including oil and gas leases, purchase and sale agreements, farmouts, and joint operating agreements. Reagan has particular experience helping clients develop, produce, and dispose of other natural resources including water (water leases, water sales contracts, water operating agreements, and saltwater disposal agreements) and sand (sand supply contracts and purchase and sale agreements).
