February, 2020 | The Law Offices of Gregory D. Jordan

Texas Lawmakers Pass Law to Curtail Common Oil and Gas Scam Tactic

To some extent, the history of Texas is closely tied to the state’s historically ample supply of oil and gas. Texas has been at the forefront when it comes to establishing oil and gas laws throughout the country. Unfortunately, due to the value of the commodity, over the years, enterprising scammers have come up with ways to bilk unsuspecting landowners of their mineral rights. Earlier last year, Texas lawmakers passed HB 3838, which was designed to stop one of the more common Texas oil and gas scams.

The scam worked like this: someone posing to be an employee of a reputable oil and gas operator approaches a landowner who is receiving nonparticipating royalties with what looks to be an “oil and gas lease.” The document looks and reads as though it is a typical lease for mineral interests; however, it is an agreement by which the landowner sells their interest in the land for what is termed a “bonus.” While this should be a red flag because nonparticipating royalty holders are not technically permitted to sign a lease — few owners are aware of this fact, and scam artists have been able to take advantage of this.

To help curb this dishonest practice, Texas lawmakers recently passed HB 3838. The bill was signed into law by Governor Abbott last year in June and took effect in September. It is currently codified at Texas Property Code Section 5.152, and it clarifies what language an oil and gas royalty lease must contain to be valid. The new law applies to contracts that convey mineral or royalty interests but are presented to the owner in the form of a document that “is titled an oil and gas lease or an oil and gas royalty lease.” Under the terms of the new law, for such a document to be valid, it must contain the following language in size 14 font, at the top of the document’s first page: THIS IS NOT AN OIL AND GAS LEASE. YOU ARE SELLING ALL OR A PORTION OF YOUR MINERAL OR ROYALTY INTERESTS IN (DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY BEING CONVEYED). In addition, the same language must be displayed immediately above the signature line of the agreement. If this language is not included in an agreement, the contact will be deemed void.

As noted above, the new law went into effect in September 2019. That said, those who have been bilked prior to the passage of the new law may have other remedies available to them. However, aggrieved right holders need to act quickly to preserve all of their rights as the statutes of limitations that govern these disputes are relatively short.

Are you involved in a Texas oil and gas dispute?

If you believe that you have been the victim of a Texas oil and gas scam, contact Austin oil and gas attorney Gregory D. Jordan for immediate assistance. Choosing an attorney to represent you or your business in a Texas oil and gas dispute is a crucial decision that can save months or even years of litigation, and many thousands of dollars. At the Law Offices of Gregory D. Jordan, Mr. Jordan has been effectively handling Texas oil and gas cases for over 30 years.

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