Seattle University School of Law
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Boston College Law School
Texas A&M University School of Law
William & Mary Law School
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
California,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
California, Joshua L. Baker, Ryan Mahoney
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Oil and gas output in California has declined as the industry faces increasing regulatory and market headwinds. However, California remains a major oil and gas producing jurisdiction at the present. California is the seventh-largest producer of crude oil in the United States and contains the fifth-largest crude oil reserves.
Alabama,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Alabama, Brandt Hill, Ted Holt
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Between October 2019 and September 2020, there were no noteworthy appellate decisions interpreting Alabama law directly relevant to oil and gas companies or operations. Similarly, there are no statutory amendments or administrative decisions impacting oil and gas companies operating in the state. However, the Alabama Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals each issued an opinion addressing jurisdiction and procedural issues that are relevant to operators in Alabama. We discuss those opinions below.
Michigan Oil And Gas Update,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Michigan Oil And Gas Update, William A. Horn, Joshua D. Beard
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
On March 23, 2020, the Michigan Court of Claims issued its opinion in Mannes v. Michigan Dep’t of Treasury. This case considered the meaning of the phrase “expenses of producing oil and gas” as such expenses relate to “taxable income” under the Michigan Income Tax Act of 1967.
New Mexico,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
New Mexico, Sharon T. Shaheen
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The New Mexico appellate courts issued no opinions relating to oil and gas in the past year.
Ohio,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Ohio, Gregory W. Watts, Matthew W. Onest
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Ohio courts continue applying the Ohio Marketable Title Act to severed oil and gas rights.1 As with many statutes, there are generally two questions that must be answered: (1) does the particular statute apply to the particular facts of the case and (2) if the statute applies in the first instance, how does a court apply the statute to the particular facts of the case? Both questions about Ohio’s Marketable Title Act and severed mineral interests were further examined and explored in 2020.
Oklahoma,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Oklahoma, Mark D. Christiansen
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The case of White Star Petroleum, LLC v. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. presented two questions of state law certified to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma: (1) Are the “trust funds” create[d] by Title 42 O.S. § 144.2, entitled “Creation and Appropriation of Trust Funds for Payment of Lienable Claims,” limited to obligations due nonoperator joint working interest owners, or do such funds include payments due [to] holders of mechanic’s and materialmen’s liens arising under and perfected by Title 42 O.S. § 144? (2) Does ...
Virginia,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Virginia, Daniel B. Kostrub
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
This Article addresses developments in Virginia oil and gas law for the period from September 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020. During this period, the Supreme Court of the United States heard the Atlantic Coast Pipeline case, providing a significant ruling that allowed the pipeline to cross underneath the Appalachian trail. Additionally, Judge Chadwick S. Dotson of the Circuit Court of Wise County and the City of Norton issued an opinion regarding the mining of uranium in the Commonwealth.
West Virginia,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
West Virginia, Michael K. Reer, Valerie Antonette
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
West Virginia is one of the most prolific energy-producing states in the country. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, West Virginia ranked seventh among states in production of natural gas in 2018, contributing 1.8 trillion cubic feet. Further, the consistency in permit application appears to support the proposition that West Virginia operators will continue producing significant volumes well in the future. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (“WVDEP”) issued 582 horizontal well permits in 2015, 223 in 2016, 509 in 2017, 433 in 2018, and 467 in 2019.
Wyoming,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Wyoming, Jeffrey S. Pope, Deanna Sami Falzone
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
In 2019, Wyoming ranked eighth nationally in both crude oil and natural gas production. Sales of crude oil production totaled 101.8 million barrels, up 16% from 2018, while natural gas production totaled 1.456 trillion cubic feet, which was down 8.52% from 2018.1 However, as of August 1, 2020, Wyoming had zero oil and natural rigs in operation for the first time since 1884.
California Community Choice Aggregation Law & Regulation,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
California Community Choice Aggregation Law & Regulation, Ryan M. F. Baron, Glen Price, Benjamin Bodell
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The purpose of this special topic is to provide a summary of the laws and regulations associated with the development of Community Choice Aggregation (“CCA”) in California and the growing impact of CCA in the California energy market.
Don't Mess With Texas Solar: Pv Growth Continues Despite Covid-19,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Don't Mess With Texas Solar: Pv Growth Continues Despite Covid-19, Matthew A. Arth
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
2020 was the year of the unexpected, but one constant in the energy industry remained the exponential growth of solar generation in Texas, which largely continued its expansion as predicted. Electric Reliability Council of Texas’s (“ERCOT”) 2019 State of the Grid Report noted that installed solar generation capacity in ERCOT stood at 2,281 megawatts (MW) at year-end 2019, with over 67,000 MW of further solar capacity under study, exceeding even the amount of wind generation capacity under study. By July 2020, installed capacity of solar generation increased by almost 1 gigawatt (GW) to a total of 3 ...
Federal Legal And Regulatory Developments Relating To The U.S. Pipeline Industry,
2021
Penn State Law
Federal Legal And Regulatory Developments Relating To The U.S. Pipeline Industry, Chloe J. Marie, Ross Pifer
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (“ACP”) was designed as a 600-mile underground, pipeline project transporting natural gas from well sites in West Virginia to end users throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC (“Atlantic Coast”), the developer of the ACP project, began the extensive process of obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for this project by initiating a pre-filing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) in October 2014. In the nearly six years that followed, the project received various permits related to water and air quality as well as other matters from state and federal agencies. At nearly ...
Solving The Interconnection Problem,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Solving The Interconnection Problem, Ralph A. Cantafio, Miles C. Nowak
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The distinct three energy grids as such exist in the United States (the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas Interconnection or ERCOT) unnecessarily constrain the United States in addressing its future energy needs, as electricity flow between the three grids is very limited. As our country’s reliance on traditional nonrenewable energy sources like coal continue to decline and the reliance on renewable energy sources continues to grow, the United States should focus on replacing the existing three-grid system with a national energy grid that will benefit energy companies and consumers, as well as serve our future energy ...
Alaska,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Alaska, George R. Lyle, Adam D. Harki, Traci N. Bunkers
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
The Alaska State Legislature was scheduled to convene its Second Regular Session of the Thirty-First Legislative Session from January 21, 2020, through May 20, 2020. However, on March 29, 2020, the Alaska State Legislature, like other state legislatures, suspended its session effective immediately, in response to the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”). While the suspension was initially continued through May 18, 2020, the Alaska Legislature formally adjourned on May 20, 2020. Given the adjournment, the legislature did not pass any substantive oil and gas legislation.
Arkansas,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Arkansas, John Peiserich
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Does the government have the authority to alter the terms of an agreement between private parties that it deems unfair? At first pass, most Americans would agree that it does not. Of course, exceptions apply. American courts exercise the right to break up monopolies, enforce a minimum wage, and invalidate contracts that they deem unconscionable.
Lousiana,
2021
Louisiana State University Law Center
Lousiana, Keith B. Hall
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Act No. 227 of the 2020 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature amends Louisiana Mineral Code article 212.21 (also known as Louisiana Revised Statutes 31:212.21). In particular, Act No. 227 amends article 212.21 to clarify that the article does not apply to claims brought by unleased owners—that is, landowners2 or mineral servitude3 owners whose mineral interests are not under lease.
Montana,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Montana, Stephen R. Brown
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
In 2019, Montana produced nearly twenty-three million barrels of crude oil, up slightly from its 2018 production, and 48.5 million cubic feet of natural gas. Through mid-2020, both crude oil and natural gas production declined by more than 25% when compared to the same period in 2012.
Pennsylvania,
2021
Texas A&M University School of Law
Pennsylvania, Michael K. Reer, Valerie Antonette
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Pennsylvania ranked second among states in production of natural gas in 2018, contributing nearly seven trillion cubic feet. Although the number of unconventional permit applications received by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) remains relatively robust, the number of unconventional well applications continues to decline from the peak of 3,182 received in 2014.3 In 2019, PADEP received 1,475 unconventional permit applications, as compared to 1,868 in 2018 and 2,028 in 2017.
Oklahoma Renewable Energy Policy Encounters A Covid Roadblock: 2019-2020,
2021
University of Tulsa College of Law
Oklahoma Renewable Energy Policy Encounters A Covid Roadblock: 2019-2020, Warigia M. Bowman, Debbie Firestone
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
On the road to energy security, independence, and success, this past year Oklahoma has seen “construction” projects in the works. Renewable energy, however, hit a major roadblock in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, Oklahoma produced most of its electricity through coal and natural gas. In the past decade, renewable sources like wind and solar energy represent a growing segment of electricity generation in the state. In 2019 and 2020, Oklahoma developed a stronger renewable energy policy by enacting legislation, passing administrative decisions, and passing local city ordinances.
Baby, Bye, Bye, Bye: How The United States, Italy, & France Use Trademark Anti-Counterfeiting Mechanisms To Combat The Proliferation Of Fake Goods In China,
2021
American University Washington College of Law
Baby, Bye, Bye, Bye: How The United States, Italy, & France Use Trademark Anti-Counterfeiting Mechanisms To Combat The Proliferation Of Fake Goods In China, Jojuan F. Gross
Texas A&M Journal of Property Law
Christian Louboutin. Manchester United. Agent Provocateur. In a world where trademarks have become more than brand identifiers, counterfeit versions of brands should be easily identifiable. Yet counterfeiting regimes from Asian countries continue to funnel counterfeit goods through the United States and European Union borders. Both regions continue to impose stricter anti-counterfeiting laws and regulations. Nevertheless, companies in the United States, Italy, and France are drastically affected by counterfeiting, losing billions per year in revenue. The International Chamber of Commerce’s (“ICC”) Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (“BASCAP”) and the International Trademark Association (“INTA”) estimate that the value of ...
