Oil & Gas
Court-Appointed Attorney for Donziger Cites ‘Irreconcilable Conflict’
News
Attorney Andrew Frisch asked a Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday to vacate an order forcing him to represent Steven Donziger, the American lawyer who spent more than two decades suing Chevron Corp over pollution in Ecuador and is now facing a trial next week for criminal contempt.
Gas Disaster Settlement Fees in Question
News
A total of $26.1 million of the $143 million Merrimack Valley gas explosion class-action settlement was earmarked for payment of legal fees and administrative costs.
Making Big Oil Pay For Climate Change May Be Impossible
Insight
As more governments and taxpayers find themselves staring down the barrel at rising climate costs, they are increasingly turning to the courts to hold Big Oil accountable.
2019 Bad Guys in Energy
Insight
Gray Reed partner Charles Sartain takes a look back at some of 2019’s malefactors in the energy business in a post in the firm’s Energy & the Law blog.
Increased Swaption Activity May Present Financial Reporting Challenges for Oil & Gas Companies
Insight
An increased use of swaptions may help upstream oil and gas producers weather lower natural gas prices, but they present financial reporting challenges.
Wave Goodbye to Unenforceable Mineral Lien Waivers
Insight
A post on the Gray Reed website covers an opinion that will have profound impacts on mineral liens and contractual provisions purporting to waive mineral liens.
Mineral Royalties are Not ‘Personal Effects’ in Texas
News
The mineral interests were real property when her will took effect and, thus, were not personal effects left to the executor.
The Economics of Flaring
Insight
Author Gabriel Collins argues that instead of flaring gas, it should be liquefied and sold in the international market.
Legal Fight Over Flaring in the Eagle Ford
News
The dispute, between Williams MLP Operating and Exco Operating Co., has moved to district court in Travis County in Austin.
What is ‘Oil or Gas’ as Used in a Pipeline Easement?
News
The property owner contended that “oil and gas” referred to crude petroleum, but not refined products.
Fake Mineral Leases Thwarted by the Texas Legislature
Insight
The 2019 Texas legislature enacted a new Property Code Section 5.152 to protect mineral and royalty owners from a certain species of fraudulent transactions.
Louisiana Operator’s Bad Faith Does Not Preclude Recovery
News
Charles Sartain summarizes the background of Apache Deepwater, LLC v. W&T Offshore, Inc., a conflict between parties to a joint operating agreement for operations on offshore deepwater wells.
Thompson & Knight Advises Oilfield Water Logistics on Sale to InstarAGF Asset Management
News
Thompson & Knight LLP advised Oilfield Water Logistics, LLC (OWL) in connection with the sale of its midstream water infrastructure and services business.
Rex Tillerson Back in Spotlight at Exxon Climate Trial
News
Tillerson is scheduled to make an appearance at the New York Supreme Court Wednesday to answer questions about missing emails and varying carbon pricing schemes.
When is a Contract Provision a Liquidated Damages Clause?
News
A liquidated damages clause is a provision in a contract specifying a dollar amount to be paid by a party if the party breaches the contract.
Oil and Gas Bankruptcies Showing Increase in 2019
Insight
This increase in year-over-year filings indicates that the reverberations of the 2015 oil price crash continue to be heard in the industry, reports Haynes and Boone.
Trump’s Fast-Tracking of Oil Pipelines Hits Legal Roadblocks
News
Successful legal challenges by environmental groups allege the administration failed to apply the regulatory scrutiny required under the law.
Legal Battle Continues Over Drilling And Fracking Wastewater Well
News
The long-running legal battle, which is being watched for its potentially precedent-setting outcome, pits a township, which wants to protect water wells from contamination, against a state environmental protection agency.
House Democrats Call for Overhaul of Oil-Leasing Rules
News
the Government Accountability Office placed the Interior Department’s oil and gas leasing program on its high risk list of federal programs mottled with waste, fraud and abuse.
Merger Non-Compete Clauses — Be Lawful or Be Gone
Insight
A recent FTC enforcement action clarifies the requirements for non-compete clauses in M&A agreements.
