After four stops at the lower courts, Kenneth Hahn v. ConocoPhillips has been resolved by the Supreme Court of Texas. The Court opined on the effect of two instruments often used to clarify land titles in Texas: ratifications of an oil and gas lease and stipulations of interests.
Who owns produced water in Texas? And what is produced water anyway – oil and gas waste and part of the mineral estate, or groundwater and part of the surface estate? We may be closer to an answer to these questions now that the Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear a
For the Osage Indian Tribe, it’s more like “IMBY if you pay me”. In the latest interation of United States and Osage Minerals Council v. Osage Wind LLC et al the US District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma awarded a judgment for damages against the defendants. Much more important was the order for
The question in Rock River Minerals, LP and Carr v. v. Pioneer Natural Resources, et al.: Did an assignment of overriding royalty interests in Texas oil and gas leases include a depth limitation? No.
To understand why, we need to study the instrument (Spoiler, see Exhibit A). Cass executed an Assignment of a 2.125%
When one tires of owning real estate with his co-owners, Texas law allows him the right to sue for partition of the property. In James et al v. Thornberry, 59.79 acres in Walker County, Texas, was owned by Ms. James and Ms. Warren, each with an undivided 15% interest, and Mr. Thornberry with 70%.
Carson et al v. Winter Gordon, Junior is a reason you should not name your son after yourself. But if you insist, at least spell his name correctly.
The Gordons
Winter Gordon was born in the 19th century. His son was Winter Gordon, Junior. The court referred to him as “Father” or “Decedent”. Father had
Remnant LLC v. Permico Royalties LLC, et al determined that a 90-year-old claim to ownership of a forfeited corporation was not valid.
The players
Hoffman: By most accounts was a scoundrel and con man who plied his iniquitous trade during the Texas oil boom of the 1930’s. He was indicted for telling people he was
According to Darkhorse Water LP v. Birch Operations Inc. et al., the form of an instrument affecting real property in Texas does not affect the interest conveyed by the instrument. It’s what the document says about the transaction, not what the document calls itself. And you are reminded (because you know should this) that