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Overview

UT Law CLE's Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mineral Law brings together a distinguished faculty of both academics and practitioners for a series of presentations designed to provide a comprehensive overview of oil and gas legal issues.

The program opens with the definitive primer on how to drill an oil or gas well and continues with sessions on the Rule of Capture, Texas Title Examination Standards, oil and gas interests and conveyancing, the Joint Operating Agreement, voluntary pooling and unitization, and the Railroad Commission. Also learn all you need to know about an oil and gas lease with a four-session series, including classification, royalty and other clauses and implied covenants.

Continue on to the 47th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute for a full day addressing the latest in oil and gas developments.

This program is jointly presented by The University of Texas School of Law and The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Mar. 25, 2021
    Presiding Officer:
    Robert G. Hargrove, Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:10 am
    0.50 hr
    So You Want to Drill Your Own Oil Well? An Oil and Gas Drilling Primer
    Hear an overview of the process of finding oil and gas and bringing it to the surface, as well as some of the needed agreements.

    Frank N. Cusimano III, Attorney at Law - Houston, TX

  • 8:40 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 8:45 am
    0.50 hr
    The Rule of Capture, Correlative Rights and Principles of Conservation
    Examine the effects of the Rule of Capture, and discuss well spacing, production limitations, pooling and unitization, and related environmental regulation. Hear a description of agency rules and regulations, rule-making and adjudication procedures, along with a judicial review of agency actions including the concepts of collateral attack, exhaustion of administrative remedies, primary jurisdiction, and standards of deference.

    James Coleman, Southern Methodist University - Dallas, TX

  • 9:15 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 9:20 am
    0.50 hr
    What You (Yes, You) Need to Know to Drill and Complete an Oil or Gas Well in Texas
    An overview of the key rules, forms and trouble spots involved in obtaining authority from the Railroad Commission of Texas to drill and complete an oil or gas well.

    Ana Maria Marsland, Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC - Austin, TX

  • 9:50 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 9:55 am
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    The Oil and Gas Lease, Part I: Classification, Scope of Grant and Duration
    An in-depth focus on how an oil and gas lease is classified in law and on the key clauses of the lease.

    Monika U. Ehrman, UNT Dallas College of Law - Dallas, TX

  • 10:40 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 10:45 am
    0.75 hr
    Texas Title Examination Standards: Introduction and Practical Exercises
    Take a look at the use of Title Examination Standards to address common defects, exceptions, and errors found in the chain of title to land. Explore the language of the standards, times when they are applicable, and the commentary of applicable law for each standard. Take part in a few practical examination exercises using actual situations encountered in title examination.

    Allen D. Cummings, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX

  • 11:30 am
    Break for Lunch - Presentations Resume at 12:00 p.m. CST

  • Thursday Afternoon, Mar. 25, 2021
    Presiding Officer:
    Robert G. Hargrove, Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC - Austin, TX
  • Luncheon Presentation
  • 12:00 pm
    0.50 hr
    A Brief Introduction to TOP Energy Training, a consortium of Colorado School of Mines, Penn State University, and The University of Texas at Austin

    John Beckworth, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Robert G. Hargrove, Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC - Austin, TX

  • 12:30 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 12:35 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    The Oil and Gas Lease, Part II: The Royalty Clause in an Oil and Gas Lease
    In Texas, the calculation of the royalty obligation created under an oil and gas lease is determined by looking at the specific language contained in the royalty clause. Royalty terms in the lease such as "market value at the well" or "amount realized" establish how the royalty payor must measure and calculate royalty, and what post​-production costs can be allocated to the lessor interest. This presentation reviews some of the principal phrases used to describe such obligations and how the Texas courts have interpreted them, and examine​s how that same language has been interpreted differently in other jurisdictions. It analyze​s the impact of division and transfer orders and royalty payment statutes on royalty obligations contained in the lease.

    Tara Righetti, University of Wyoming College of Law - Laramie, WY

  • 1:20 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 1:25 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Oil and Gas Conveyancing – Capturing the Intent of the Parties
    Explore some of the pitfalls related to conveyances of minerals and royalties (both fixed and floating).

    Jasper Mason, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP - Houston, TX

  • 2:10 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 2:20 pm
    0.75 hr
    The Oil and Gas Lease, Part III: Implied Covenants
    Examine the law of implied covenants, including the duties imposed, elements necessary to establish a claim, and remedies and defenses available.

    Keith B. Hall, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center - Baton Rouge, LA

  • 3:05 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 3:10 pm
    0.50 hr
    Voluntary Pooling and Unitization
    Review voluntary pooling as authorized in an oil and gas lease, which provides the lessee a means to combine acreage under one lease with acreage underlying adjacent tracts. Also, explore the voluntary unitization statute in Texas under which the Railroad Commission approves field‑wide units, which may combine acreage from numerous tracts and leases for the purpose of enhanced recovery or re-pressuring operations.

    Bryan D. Lauer, Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP - Austin, TX

  • 3:40 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 3:45 pm
    0.50 hr
    The Oil and Gas Lease, Part IV: Other Clauses
    Review other clauses in an oil and gas lease, including surface use clauses and riders, retained acreage and proportionate reduction clauses, and savings clauses such as continuous operations, dry hole, force majeure, and shut-in gas royalty clauses.

    Christopher S. Kulander, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

  • 4:15 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 4:20 pm
    0.75 hr
    Joint Operating Agreements – Understanding and Application 
    Understanding the key components of the JOA and a consideration of recurring issues with emphasis on horizontal drilling and allocation wells.  How the JOA works, what doesn’t work, some suggested Article XVI provisions and some new unanswered questions.

    Michel E. Curry, Henry Resources LLC - Midland, TX

  • 5:05 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

John Beckworth

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

James Coleman

Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX

Allen D. Cummings

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Michel E. Curry

Henry Resources LLC
Midland, TX

Frank N. Cusimano III

Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Monika U. Ehrman

UNT Dallas College of Law
Dallas, TX

Keith B. Hall

Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Baton Rouge, LA

Robert G. Hargrove

Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC
Austin, TX

Christopher S. Kulander

South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX

Bryan D. Lauer

Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
Austin, TX

Ana Maria Marsland

Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC
Austin, TX

Jasper Mason

Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Houston, TX

Tara Righetti

University of Wyoming College of Law
Laramie, WY

Planning Committee

Robert G. Hargrove—Chair

Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC
Austin, TX

Ronnie Blackwell—Co-Chair

Spring, TX

Jonathan D. Baughman

Houston, TX

Kevin M. Beiter

McGinnis Lochridge
Austin, TX

J. Byron (Trace) Burton III

Uhl, Fitzsimons, Jewett, Burton, Wolff & Rangel, PLLC
San Antonio, TX

Gregory C. Cox

EOG Resources, Inc.
Houston, TX

Brandon Durrett

Dykema
San Antonio, TX

W. John English Jr.

Baker & Hostetler LLP
Houston, TX

Jorge I. Gutierrez

Dallas, TX

Michael D. Jones

Jones Gill Porter Crawford & Crawford LLP
Houston, TX

Carroll G. Martin

Austin, TX

Ricardo E. Morales

Person, Mohrer, Morales, Boddy, Garcia & Gutierrez PLLC
Laredo, TX

David Michael Patton

Houston, TX

Michael P. Pearson

Houston, TX

April Rogers

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

George A. Snell III

Snell Law Firm
Amarillo, TX

Jeff Weems

Staff Weems LLP
Houston, TX

Katy Wehmeyer

Santoyo Moore Wehmeyer PC
San Antonio, TX

Credit Info

MCLE Credit
UT Law CLE will report credit to the State Bar of Texas on your behalf. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.
Self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. Print and keep the Certificate of Completion for your records. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.
UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission (KSCLE) within 30 days after the conference. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.
To claim Louisiana MCLE credit, Louisiana credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to LSBA within 30 days after the conference.
UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of New Mexico within 30 days after the conference. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the conference to keep for your records.
Attendees must self-report their attendance to North Dakota using the course number assigned. If you have any questions please contact Laura Tolin - ltolin@law.utexas.edu.
UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to The Supreme Court of Ohio within 30 days after the conference. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the conference to keep for your records.
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.
UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks of the webcast conclusion. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.
Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State
If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion .

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.
Other Credit
Following the webcast, UT CLE will send attendees a certificate of attendance with the AAPL course number and reporting information included.
http://www.landman.org/home
Following the webcast, UT CLE will send attendees a certificate of attendance with the AAPL course number and reporting information included.
http://www.landman.org/home
Following the webcast, UT CLE will send attendees a certificate of attendance with the AAPL course number and reporting information included.
http://www.landman.org/home
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Texas Accounting CPE credit, the Texas Accounting CPE credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. Self-report your CPE credit directly to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Contact Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Live Webcast – Mar 25, 2021
Conference Concluded
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Live Webcast
Last day for cancellation (full refund): Mar 19, 2021

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Mar 22, 2021

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