UT Law CLE

2023

Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mineral Law

Houston Apr 13, 2023 Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston
$375 Individual | $425 after Apr 5

$340 Group rate per person (5 registrants minimum) | $390 after Apr 5

$300 Group rate per person (10 registrants minimum) | $350 after Apr 5

Live Webcast Apr 13, 2023
$375 Individual | $425 after Apr 5

$340 Group rate per person (5 registrants minimum) | $390 after Apr 5

$300 Group rate per person (10 registrants minimum) | $350 after Apr 5

Register

Related products: Materials

PRESENTED BY
The University of Texas School of Law
The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (OGERL)

WEBCAST SPONSOR
Jackson Walker
LUNCHEON SPONSORS
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C.
INSTITUTE SPONSORS
Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC
McGinnis Lochridge
Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP

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 clauses, implied covenants and final session on other clauses.

Continue on to the 49th 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
Presiding Officer:
Kelli Tieken Kenney, McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, LLP - Austin, TX
7:30 am
Houston Only

Registration Opens
8:30 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:40 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 - Montgomery, TX
9:10 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
9:40 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.

William "Bill" Hayenga II, McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, LLP - Austin, TX
10:10 am

15 Minute Break
10:25 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, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law - Dallas, TX
11:10 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.

Paul Santoyo, Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C. - San Antonio, TX
11:55 am
Houston Only

Pick up Lunch
Thursday Afternoon
Presiding Officer:
Kelli Tieken Kenney, McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, LLP - Austin, TX
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:15 am

0.50 hr ethics

What to Do When You Receive a Threat of Legal Malpractice

Patricia Peterson, Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange - Austin, TX
12:45 pm

15 Minute Break
1:00 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 examines how that same language has been interpreted differently in other jurisdictions. It analyzes the impact of division and transfer orders and royalty payment statutes on royalty obligations contained in the lease.

William R. Keffer, Texas Tech University School of Law - Lubbock, TX
1:45 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, Marathon Oil - Houston, TX
2:30 pm

0.75 hr

The Oil and Gas Lease, Part III: Implied Covenants

Examination of 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
3:15 pm

10 Minute Break
3:25 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.

Katy Wehmeyer, Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C. - San Antonio, TX
3:55 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
4:25 pm

0.75 hr

The 2015 AAPL Form 610 JOA – How to Complete It and Live With It

A checklist and guide to filling in all of the blanks in the 2015 AAPL Joint Operating Agreement and drafting suggestions along with some suggested additional provisions.

Martin Gibson, Gibson Oil & Gas Law - Cedar Creek, TX
5:10 pm

Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

James Coleman

Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX

Frank N. Cusimano III

Attorney at Law
Montgomery, TX

Monika U. Ehrman

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Dallas, TX

Martin Gibson

Gibson Oil & Gas Law
Cedar Creek, TX

Keith B. Hall

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

William "Bill" Hayenga II

McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, LLP
Austin, TX

William R. Keffer

Texas Tech University School of Law
Lubbock, TX

Christopher S. Kulander

South Texas College of Law - Houston
Houston, TX

Jasper Mason

Marathon Oil
Houston, TX

Patricia Peterson

Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange
Austin, TX

Paul Santoyo

Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C.
San Antonio, TX

Katy Wehmeyer

Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C.
San Antonio, TX

Planning Committee

Kelli Tieken Kenney—Chair

McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, LLP
Austin, TX

Donato David Ramos Jr.—Co-Chair

Law Offices of Donato D. Ramos P.L.L.C.
Laredo, TX

Zachary Edward Bernard

Baker & Hostetler LLP
Houston, TX

Gregory C. Cox

EOG Resources, Inc.
Houston, TX

Jacob M. Davidson

Davis Gerald & Cremer
Midland, TX

Brandon Durrett

Jackson Walker LLP
San Antonio, TX

Monika U. Ehrman

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Dallas, TX

Wilburn John English Jr.

W. John English, Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Karolyn Gillespie

Verdun Oil Company

Jorge I. Gutierrez

Zephyr Energy
Annapolis, MD

Robert G. Hargrove

Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC
Austin, TX

Christopher Michael Hogan

Hogan Thompson LLP
Houston, TX

Norma Rosner Iacovo

Tenaska Power Services Co.
Arlington, TX

Michael D. Jones

Jones Gill Porter Crawford & Crawford LLP
Houston, TX

Carroll G. Martin

Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
Austin, TX

Ricardo E. Morales

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

David Michael Patton

Locke Lord LLP
Houston, TX

Michael P. Pearson

Jackson Walker LLP
Houston, TX

J. Derrick Price

McGinnis Lochridge
Austin, TX

William W. Pugh III

Liskow & Lewis
Houston, TX

Jamie S. Rangel

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

April Rogers

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Ernest E. Smith

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 Wehmeyer P.C.
San Antonio, TX

Key Dates

Houston – Apr 13, 2023 – Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston

Live Webcast – Apr 13, 2023