Updated June 29, 2026 When gas company operations affect water on a Pennsylvania property, the issue can be far more serious than an ordinary surface-damage claim. Water is essential to a home, farm, business, livestock operation, recreational property, and long-term land value. If a private water well, spring, pond, stream, wet area, drainage feature, or… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Oil and Gas
Pennsylvania Damage Releases: What Landowners Should Know Before Signing Away Oil and Gas Claims
Updated June 16, 2026 Pennsylvania landowners are often asked to sign documents called Damage Releases, Settlement Agreements, Release Agreements, Waivers, or similar forms after oil and gas activity affects their property. The document may be presented after damage occurs. It may also be presented before work begins, as part of a Well Pad Agreement, Roadway… Read more »
Pennsylvania Reclamation Issues: What Landowners Should Know After Gas Company Operations
Updated June 22, 2026 When a gas company, pipeline company, or contractor finishes work on a Pennsylvania landowner’s property, the landowner may expect the property to be returned to the condition promised in the lease, addendum, surface use agreement, well pad agreement, roadway agreement, or other written contract. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Reclamation… Read more »
Pennsylvania Roadway and Access Road Agreements: What Landowners Should Know Before Signing
When a gas company wants to build, improve, or use a road across a Pennsylvania landowner’s property, the company may present a Roadway Agreement, Access Road Agreement, Roadway Easement Agreement, Temporary Road Agreement, or similar document. The agreement may sound simple. The landman may explain that the company only needs a road to reach a… Read more »
What Pennsylvania Landowners Should Know Before Signing a Surface Use Agreement
When a gas company wants to use the surface of a Pennsylvania landowner’s property, the company may present a document called a Surface Use Agreement. This agreement may involve a well pad, access road, water line, pipeline, impoundment, above-ground facility, meter station, valve site, staging area, or other surface operation. In many cases, the surface… Read more »
Can a Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease Expire? What Landowners Need to Know About “Held by Production” Claims
When a Pennsylvania landowner signs an oil and gas lease, the lease usually includes a primary term and a secondary term. The primary term is the initial period during which the gas company has the right to explore, drill, pool, unitize, or otherwise take action to preserve the lease. The secondary term is the period… Read more »
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 »
