Houston Oil and Gas Attorneys
When petroleum and energy companies are interested in surveying land or drilling for oil, gas, or minerals, landowners need certain legal protections and requirements to protect their financial and legal interests.
At The Kruckemeyer Law Firm, we protect the financial interests and legal rights of landowners and geologists in litigation involving oil and gas issues. To speak to an oil and gas attorney about your legal matter, please email us.
Table of Contents
- Are you a landowner in Texas?
- Our legal services for oil & gas matters
- Oil & Gas litigation
- Other considerations in oil and gas disputes
- Contact our law firm
Are You a Landowner in Texas?
Before allowing drilling or exploration, landowners and geologists should have a contract in place specifying a schedule for royalties, the terms of a land lease and who is responsible for environmental cleanup.
Landowners should also make sure they are indemnified should drilling or exploration result in drainage or damage to an adjacent property owner’s land.
Our Legal Services
Our firm represents landowners, royalty owners and geologists in oil and gas litigation involving:
- Royalties
- Noncompete agreements
- Land lease agreements
- Landman and employment issues
- Mineral rights disputes
- Liability for environmental damage
- Drilling and drilling service industry disputes
Reasons For Oil And Gas Litigation
Professional relationships do not always go as smoothly as parties hope, disputes and disagreements can come up from time to time. It is crucial to know what rights you have and what steps to take. These oil and gas disputes can arise for a wide variety of reasons. Just some of the common issues that may be in dispute include:
- Property use rights for both surface and subsurface easements
- The amount that should be paid for royalty interests – disputes over the amount owed or nonpayment issues
- The rights of leaseholders to a specific property
- The terms of a lease termination
- Issues with adverse possession
- Quiet title lawsuits
- Disputes over duties and obligations owed by contractors or operators
- Disagreements over the terms or validity of drilling agreements
- Disputes regarding joint operating agreements between multiple parties
- Ownership of intellectual property rights related to oil and gas operations
- Landowner claims related to failure to develop the property
- Issues regarding oilfield service contracts or operating contracts
- Litigation against refineries
- Litigation stemming from pipeline explosions or other catastrophic events
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of all possible reasons for a dispute, but our experienced team is ready to help with whatever challenges you may be facing. We seek to find viable legal solutions and we always put our clients first.
Other Legal Considerations
In addition to the types of disputes listed above, there are other legal issues that may arise, including:
● EPA regulations and environmental liability
● Environmental cleanup responsibilities
● Insurance-related disputes
● Water rights and drainage issues
● Seismic services and technical reporting
● Mineral rights ownership and development
Many cases involve multiple overlapping issues, and disputes in this field can quickly become complex. Significant financial stakes are often involved due to the lucrative nature of the industry. It is crucial that you understand all of your legal options, so contact our lawyers today to learn more at a consultation.
Contact Energy Litigation Lawyers
For more information regarding the litigation services of attorneys at The Kruckemeyer Law Firm, please contact us online. We represent clients in Houston, throughout Texas and across the Gulf Coast region.