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 »
Posts Tagged: Oil and Gas
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®: FRS Lease Terms Breakdown EQT (2/26/17)
In this episode of All Things Marcellus, Attorney Doug Clark of the Clark Law Firm, PC breaks down specific oil and gas lease terms and explains how gas lease documents are carefully drafted to provide the company maximum operational flexibility and operational rights often to the detriment of the property owner.
All Things Marcellus® GEM 104, KZFM 96.9, KC 101.5 FM, and 1250 AM The Answer
Air Date: February 26, 2017
All Things Marcellus®: FRS Pipe Rights and Location Approval (2/19/17)
In this episode of All Things Marcellus, Attorney Doug Clark discusses oil and gas lease negotiations and pipeline negotiations and why landowners must stop simply signing contracts presented by the company landman. Property owners and natural gas right owners must effectively negotiate for higher compensation and to limit the authority provided to the company under the agreement. Landowners are often signing oil and gas leases or pipeline agreements presented by the company landman without understanding their negotiation leverage. Many times property owners can negotiate for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of additional dollars as payment for the proposed natural gas agreement. In virtually all cases, the property owner can negotiate a pipeline right-of-way agreement to limit the authority that they are granting to the company under the document.
All Things Marcellus® GEM 104, KZFM 96.9, KC 101.5 FM, and 1250 AM The Answer
Air Date: February 19, 2017
