- Represented an exploration and production company, as Lessee, in connection with claims brought by separate property owners for payment of bonuses after Lessee terminated Leases related to acreage in Lycoming County, PA.
- Represented a privately held exploration and production company in connection with the sale of approximately 8,000 acres of "deep rights" under lease in Fayette, Clearfield and Westmoreland Counties to a publicly traded exploration and production company, in exchange for cash consideration and the reservation of a "production payment."
- Representation of non-operator clients in claims against Operator resulting from significant losses from pipelines owned by Operator in Western Pennsylvania.
- Represented producers/operators in connection with the preparation of private placement memoranda, securities documentation and all related entity documents and drilling and operating agreements, in connection with offerings made for the purpose of raising funds to drill, complete and place into production oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
- Developed oil and gas lease forms and mineral estate purchase agreements for use in Pennsylvania by a Texas-based exploration and development company. Representation included ongoing assistance in connection with leasing and purchasing Marcellus rights in Pennsylvania, as well as representation in connection with title matters.
- Represented a named defendant in Belcher v. The Keeton Group, an action filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs claimed that defendants' leases were invalid under the Pennsylvania Minimum Royalty Statute, at 58 P.S.§ 33, as they provided for the deduction of post production costs from a 1/8 royalty.
- Represented developers, operators and investors in connection with numerous joint ventures formed for the purpose of jointly acquiring, developing and/or operating oil and gas assets in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Representation has included planning for the appropriate ownership structure, negotiating and drafting the entity formation documents, drilling and operating agreements, services agreements and all related documents. Experience includes extensive work with the Form 610 Operating Agreement, standard "Master Services Agreement" and the standard IADC Drilling Contract, as well as other non-standard agreements.
- Represented a privately held exploration and production company in connection with the formation of a joint venture with a publicly traded natural resource company with significant coal and natural gas operations in Greene County, PA. The purpose of the joint venture is to jointly develop Marcellus wells in Greene County, PA.
- Represented operators in connection with the preparation and filing of applications for well permits, including related questions arising under the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act and related DEP regulations.
- Represented an exploration and production company in connection with petitioning the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County for appointment of trustee under the Pennsylvania Dormant Oil and Gas Act.
- Represented an exploration and production company in connection with actions initiated by property owners in Pennsylvania related to the validity and scope of rights of way and other surface rights.
- Represented an oil and gas investment company in connection with the acquisition of mineral rights throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania, including ongoing transactional assistance in connection with purchasing Marcellus rights, as well as the preparation and issuance of related title opinions.
- Represented operators in connection with the negotiation and drafting of Drilling Contracts (including IADC Drilling Contracts) with drilling contractors related to the drilling of various vertical and horizontal wells, including shallow wells, Marcellus wells and deeper (Oriskany) wells.
- Represented a privately held exploration and production company in connection with the acquisition/farm-in of approximately 6,500 acres of "deep rights" subject to leases in Washington County, PA, from a local operator, in exchange for cash consideration and the reservation by Farmor of the right to participate (by acquiring working interests as a non-operator) in the drilling and development of wells on the farmout acreage or acreage pooled or unitized therewith.
- Represented a privately held exploration and production company in connection with a roll-up of its oil and gas assets in Western Pennsylvania into a newly formed limited partnership.
- Represented a privately held exploration and production company in connection with the sale of thousands of acres of mineral rights and leasehold interests in Clearfield and Westmoreland Counties, together with working interests in approximately 100 shallow wells located on such acreage, to a publicly traded exploration and production company.
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