Memo on Legislative Intent to Require Surface Owner Consent

Memo showing that Legislature intended to require surface owner consent if the 2018 co-tenancy statute is used to drill into/develop not only the mineral tract directly under the surface tract, but to drill longer horizontal well bores into/to develop any other neighboring mineral tract. See links to appendices/supporting documents below the memo. 

Appendix 1: 2018 “Enrolled” bill

Appendix 2: 2018 “Introduced”/House Energy Committee bill

Appendix 3: 2017 bill with more narrow surface owner consent language on page 10, lines 3 and 4

Appendix 4: Circuit court order agreeing with WV SORO’s position on consent for surface use for any horizontal drilling