Can anyone recommend a good O&G attorney to review a mineral lease agreement? I assume these are pretty much take-it or leave-it, no?

Not entirely take it or leave it, but the amount of bargaining power you yield depends on several factors.

Namely the size of the tract and your position within their overall area of interest. Pooling, unitization, surface access and damages, primary terms, secondary terms, terms of the lease breakup, release of depths over time.... all of these things may or may not be negotiable and or potential sticking points.

It's not just royalty and bonus.

No recommendations, but just some points.

Thanks! It's effectively a wildcat despite its location but I definitely appreciate the feedback. Either way, it doesn't cost me anything… just want to make sure the agreement is reasonable.

Do you own the surface?

What county?

No surface (although some surface interests seem to count with regards to unitization, which I would love to learn more about). I'd rather not divulge any other details regarding county, etc.

Typically, an attorney who practices in the region would have some knowledge of market rates and operators to be leery of. Don't go to the local main street general practice lawyer. Make sure they actually do oil and gas.

Thanks for the advice humperdink!

We have had Tim Simpson with potter Minton around Longview (I believe) do a bunch for us (my tsip grandfather was an attorney and hired him for O&G). Always happy.

Thanks, mate. Will look into him!

Surface location has NOTHING to do with unitization. Surface is typically in the unit, but not always. Very few wells are not unitized or pooled these days.

A good oil & gas attorney will cost $200/hour or more. If it's simple, you might pay a flat $500 to redline once and make a few counter offers.

There are lots of good attorneys in all parts of the state. You want to hire a good one in your area. He'll know the bonus and royalties in the area. He'll know what terms they will agree with.

Thanks birdman. I was targeting someone in my area as well. I was a research analyst before this so I never got this into the weeds like this before.

Thanks, mate. My initial reading of the contract is going back and forth between surface acreage and net mineral acreage. I'm lucky enough that it was a rubber stamp previously (pre Horizontal)…. Just looking for a legal opinion. 3 attorneys have already reached out, but I think this post should be pinned regardless of what I do.

OP, where are you located? I know of a few O&G attorneys I can recommend you to

I used to be on the operator side of the O&G business. I'm semi-retired, but have worked with many Permian Basin O&G attorneys. There are plenty of good ones out there and a few that probably moonlight at College Station Hyundai.

Did he ever say what state or county?

Comeby! said:

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Did he ever say what state or county?

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Must be King or Kleberg county if he's worried about doxxing himself.

Any attorney recommendations for the Brazos Valley area? We have existing wells not on our surface but that we have minerals within. This would be the same company likely wanting to drill new well(s) in the same area as the others, so definitely worried about pooling, etc. As well

tlh3842 said:

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Any attorney recommendations for the Brazos Valley area? We have existing wells not on our surface but that we have minerals within. This would be the same company likely wanting to drill new well(s) in the same area as the others, so definitely worried about pooling, etc. As well

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Chris Smitherman on Imperial Loop in College Station.