When a Pennsylvania landowner is contacted by a gas company years after signing an oil and gas lease, the request often comes in the form of a lease extension, ratification, or amendment. These documents are frequently presented as routine or administrative. In many cases, they are anything but. In reality, when a company reaches out… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Gas Lease
Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease Addendum: 10 Clauses to Demand
When a Pennsylvania landowner receives an oil and gas lease, the first instinct is often to focus on the bonus payment and royalty percentage. Those numbers matter, but they are only part of the story. In many cases, the most important protections in the entire transaction are found in the lease addendum. The addendum is… Read more »
PUGH Clauses in Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Leases: How to Prevent Companies from Holding Your Entire Property
One of the most important—and most overlooked—provisions in a Pennsylvania oil and gas lease is the PUGH clause. Without it, a gas company can drill a single well on a small portion of your property and use that well to hold your entire acreage under lease indefinitely, even if the vast majority of your land… Read more »
What Pennsylvania Landowners Must Know Before Signing a Natural Gas Lease in 2026
For many Pennsylvania landowners, receiving an offer to lease oil and gas rights can be both exciting and overwhelming. With the continued development of the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, landowners across Pennsylvania are frequently approached by landmen representing natural gas companies seeking to secure drilling rights. While these offers may appear straightforward, the reality… Read more »
Why Many Pennsylvania Landowners Receive Lower Gas Royalty Payments Than Expected
For many Pennsylvania landowners, the first royalty check from a natural gas well is a moment of anticipation. After signing a lease—often years earlier—landowners expect to finally see meaningful financial returns from the development of their property. However, a common experience across the Commonwealth is disappointment. Many landowners find that their royalty payments are significantly… Read more »
Why a Pugh Clause Is Critical in a 5-Year Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease with a 5-Year Extension Option
Preventing Partial Unitization from Holding Your Entire Property Without Additional Compensation When a natural gas company presents a lease offering: many landowners focus primarily on bonus dollars and royalty percentages. However, one of the most financially significant protections in that lease is the Pugh clause. Without a properly negotiated Pugh clause, a company can unitize… Read more »
Is an 8% Contingency Fee on an Oil and Gas Lease Bonus Fair to Pennsylvania Landowners?
Pennsylvania landowners negotiating oil and gas leases are increasingly being approached by third-party “landowner representation” groups offering to negotiate leases in exchange for a percentage of the per-acre bonus payment, often 8%. At first glance, this arrangement may sound reasonable, or even attractive. After all, who would not want professional help negotiating against a sophisticated… Read more »
Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease Attorney – 18+ Years Dedicated Exclusively to Landowners
Experienced Pennsylvania Gas Lease Attorney Representing Landowners — Never Gas Companies For more than 18 years, I have dedicated my legal career to representing oil, gas, and mineral rights owners across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I have never represented a gas company.I have never represented a pipeline company.And I never will. My practice is devoted… Read more »
The Rescigno v. Statoil/Equinor Settlement: A Landmark $7 Million Royalty Case for Pennsylvania Landowners — What It Means for Royalty Payment Rights in Pennsylvania
By Attorney Douglas A. ClarkPAGasLeaseAttorney.com | PipelineAttorney.comPennsylvania’s Landowner-Only Oil and Gas Attorney Introduction In the spring of 2025, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari in Rescigno v. Statoil/Equinor & EQT (Equitrans), bringing to a final close one of the most important royalty-related legal actions in recent Pennsylvania natural gas history. I had the privilege… Read more »
All Things Marcellus®: Lease Termination, Pugh Clauses, & Depth Severance (4/17/16)
0 – 15 Minutes
Doug discusses oil and gas lease termination language and when do gas leases terminate. What is “held by production” and how can I tell if my gas lease has ended? Doug discusses what energy companies and drilling companies have to do to continue a gas lease beyond the primary term. Can a natural gas company park a truck on my property or must they drill and pay me royalties to extend my lease, or is the answer somewhere in the middle. Doug breaks down a typical 5 year gas lease and when a lease will terminate or continue beyond 5 years. Doug also begins the Pugh Clause discussion and how non-unitized acreage can be released under certain circumstances.
All Things Marcellus® GEM 104, KZFM 96.9, KC 101.5 FM, and 1250 AM The Answer
Air Date: April 17, 2016
