A free half-day oil and gas workshop will assist landowners in negotiating leases as well as learning more about surface agreements and other important topics, according to organizers.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m.–noon Feb. 22 at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex at Texas A&M University in College Station.
The workshop is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Oklahoma State University department of agricultural economics, with grant funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the Southern Risk Management Education Center.
“Though oil and gas prices have come down considerably, prices will eventually go back up and landowners will be approached for leasing opportunities,” said Tiffany Dowell-Lashmet, AgriLife Extension law specialist, Amarillo.
“The oil and gas industry has certainly seen highs and lows in recent years, but one thing that remains constant is the fact that rural landowners will always be at the center of oil and gas development,” said Shannon Ferrell, associate professor of agricultural law, Oklahoma State University department of agricultural economics.
“This half day-workshop will introduce a number of resources to help manage the issues faced by landowners when their property is used for oil and gas development.”
Topics for the workshop include:
- The basics of the oil and gas exploration and production processes and their impact on agricultural land.
- Basic protections for surface owners if they do not also own the minerals underlying their property.
- Negotiating surface estate agreements such as surface use agreements and drilling fluid application agreements.
- Negotiating pipeline easement agreements.
- Understanding and negotiating mineral leases.
- Managing environmental risks of oil and gas production on your property and creating an environmental “baseline” for your land.
- Understanding issues surrounding oil and gas development such as water use and seismic activities.
- Finding professionals to help you evaluate and manage oil and gas production risks.
For more information, call Lashmet at 806-677-5668.
