What Pennsylvania Landowners Should Know Before Signing a Surface Use Agreement

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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 »

What Pennsylvania Landowners Should Know About Unit Declarations, Unitization, and Pooled Acreage

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Many Pennsylvania landowners sign oil and gas leases without fully understanding one of the most important concepts in modern shale development: Unitization and pooled acreage. Years later, the landowner may suddenly receive: At that point, many landowners realize they are unsure: These issues can have enormous financial and legal consequences. What Is Unitization or Pooling?… Read more »

Why a Pugh Clause Is Critical in a 5-Year Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease with a 5-Year Extension Option

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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 »

Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Lease Attorney – 18+ Years Dedicated Exclusively to Landowners

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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

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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®: New Leases w/ Existing Leases & Pipeline Maps (3/26/17)

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In this episode of All Things Marcellus, Attorney Doug Clark dives deep into how there is no special or fiduciary relationship between oil and gas companies in Pennsylvania landowners and oil and natural gas right owners. Far too often natural gas and pipeline company landmen use a common selling technique by stating that the natural gas right owner or property owner and the energy company are in a “partnership“.  This is simply not true. The property owner and oil and gas right owner are not in a “partnership” with the company when they are engaged in oil and gas lease or pipeline agreement negotiations.

All Things Marcellus® GEM 104, KZFM 96.9, KC 101.5 FM, and 1250 AM The Answer
Air Date: March 26, 2017