OFFICE OF MINERAL RESOURCES (OMR)
SPECIAL NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
History of the State Mineral Lease Form and a Discussion of the Proposed New Draft by Jamie S. Manuel
Presented at the 66th Mineral Law Institute Conference held on March 15, 2019
- Proposed New Lease Form Updated August 12, 2019
The State Mineral and Energy Board will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in the LaBelle Room on the 1st Floor of the LaSalle Building, 617 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to discuss Article 9 of the Proposed New Lease Form (Proposed New Lease Form updated on July 31, 2019) and discuss any comments submitted by industry representatives and the public in reference to this specific Article.
All comments from industry and the public on this specific Article must be submitted in PDF format to Ms. Suzanne Hyatt by close of business on August 6, 2019 by one of the following means to be considered at this Special Meeting:
- U.S. Mail - Ms. Suzanne Hyatt, Office of Mineral Resources, Post Office Box 2827, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2827;
- Hand Delivery or Carrier Service - Ms. Suzanne Hyatt, Office of Mineral Resources, 617 North Third Street, LaSalle Building, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5428;
- Email - suzanne.hyatt@la.gov.
Comments received can be viewed on the Public Comments for the Proposed New Lease Form webpage.
Industry representatives and the public are encouraged to attend this Special Meeting and will be provided an opportunity to comment on this specific Article of the Proposed New Lease Form that will be addressed at this Special Meeting.
Please Note: This Special Meeting will be held in addition to the regularly scheduled State Mineral and Energy Board Meeting on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
July 8, 2019
Articles 10, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the Proposed New Lease Form will be up for review and approval by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its regular monthly meeting to be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 9:30 am.
(CANCELLED) SPECIAL BOARD MEETING FOR THE PROPOSED NEW LEASE FORM
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
UPDATE: THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED
The State Mineral and Energy Board will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in the LaBelle Room on the 1st Floor of the LaSalle Building, 617 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to discuss Articles 10, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the Proposed New Lease Form (Proposed New Lease Form updated on June 3, 2019) and discuss any comments submitted by industry representatives and the public in reference to these specific articles.
All comments from industry and the public on these specific Articles must be submitted in PDF format to Ms. Suzanne Hyatt by close of business on June 4, 2019 by one of the following means to be considered at this Special Meeting:
- U.S. Mail - Ms. Suzanne Hyatt, Office of Mineral Resources, Post Office Box 2827, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2827;
- Hand Delivery or Carrier Service - Ms. Suzanne Hyatt, Office of Mineral Resources, 617 North Third Street, LaSalle Building, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5428;
- Email - suzanne.hyatt@la.gov.
Comments received can be viewed on the Public Comments for the Proposed New Lease Form webpage.
Industry representatives and the public are encouraged to attend this Special Meeting and will be provided an opportunity to comment on these specific Articles of the Proposed New Lease Form that will be addressed at this Special Meeting.
Please Note: This Special Meeting will be held in addition to the regularly scheduled State Mineral and Energy Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Below is a comparison of the first draft of the 2019 Proposed New Lease Form with the 2000 State Lease Form currently being utilized:
Comparison of the first draft of the 2019 Proposed New Lease Form to 2000 Form
2000 State Mineral Lease Form (currently in use)
MONTHLY PROGRESSION OF THE PROPOSED NEW LEASE FORM (2019)
MAY 8, 2019 STATE MINERAL AND ENERGY BOARD MEETING
Revisions to the Proposed New Lease Form updated on April 24, 2019 include changes to Articles 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15 and 19 that were discussed at the May 8, 2019 State Mineral and Energy Board (SMEB) Meeting, as well as notations that Articles 3, 7, 12 and 14 were preliminarily accepted as written.
APRIL 10, 2019 STATE MINERAL AND ENERGY BOARD MEETING
Revisions to the Proposed New Lease Form updated on April 24, 2019 include changes to Articles 3 and 7, and related definitions that were discussed at the April 10, 2019 State Mineral and Energy Board (SMEB) Meeting, as well as notations that Articles 1, 2, 5, and 17 were preliminarily accepted as written on March 13, 2019.
Revisions to Articles 3 and 7 will not be discussed at the Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Special Meeting; however, Articles 3 and 7 will be presented to the SMEB Members for approval at the Wednesday, May 8, 2019 SMEB Meeting.
- RESOLUTION NO. 19-03-008 (ARTICLES 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 17)
- RESOLUTION NO. 19-04-003 (ARTICLES 3 & 7)
- RESOLUTION NO. 19-07-008 (ARTICLES 10, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22 & 23)
OMR ANNOUNCES ACREAGE RETURNED TO COMMERCE
June 17, 2019
The Office of Mineral Resources announced 2,067.987 acres have been released and returned back to commerce. This acreage is located in Bienville, Bossier, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Red River, St. Charles, St. Martin, Tensas and Terrebonne Parishes, and is now available for leasing by the public.
Please use the following link for more information:
LATEST RELEASE LIST
FORCE MAJEURE - May 1, 2019
Download: Force Majeure Memorandum - May 2019
How to Report Force Majeure Online
LEASING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN LOUISIANA
September 7, 2018
The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below regarding leasing opportunities available in Louisiana:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
March 19, 2018
The Austin Chalk play in Louisiana has experienced a resurgence in drilling activity. The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY MAIN PAGE
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY REPORT
REGISTRATION REMINDER
November 13, 2017
The Office of Mineral Resources would like to remind all applicants for prospective and current leaseholders of a State Mineral Lease to renew their registration during the month of November.
Please use the following link for more information:
OMR ATTENDS NAPE EXPO IN HOUSTON
February 21, 2017
State of Optimism at this Year’s NAPE Industry Conference in Houston
Word from Houston - Drilling is coming back. So it could be heard at last week’s North America Prospect Expo (NAPE) gathering in Houston where the Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) officials worked an exhibit booth, encouraging industry leaders to take a good look at Louisiana for mineral exploration and production in 2017.
OMR's Assistant Secretary David Boulet said that oil and gas prices continue to rise from last year’s lows and the conference’s large turnout of some 11,000 attendees was a really good sign that companies are resurging. “We showed landmen, company executives, and hundreds of NAPE participants that there is productive acreage available across north and south Louisiana,” Boulet said.
Louisiana continues to be a world class destination to drill and produce. According to a state “Economic Outlook: 2016-2017 Report” by economists Loren Scott and James Richardson, projections indicate that oil prices will rebound to $60 a barrel this year, while natural gas prices should also climb because of an increase in industrial demand.
Read more – 2/16/17 Houston Chronicle http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Gloom-lifts-from-industry-as-oil-deal-makers-come-10939204.php
NOTICE TO ROYALTY PAYORS
Resolution #15-08-012 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that upon satisfaction of all requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act, OMR Staff is directed to commence assessing to Payors a fee of Sixty-Five Dollars ($65.00) per hour to recoup the costs incurred by OMR for processing requests for reimbursement of overpayments of royalties. This Resolution is effective on all requests for a recoupment received after October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-013 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary be and are hereby authorized to evaluate and process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) and La. R.S 30:136.B(3) in amounts up to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00). This Resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-014 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) in accordance with the set protocol. This resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
NOTICES REGARDING ASSIGNMENTS
Proposed new Form A, entitled "Acknowledgment and Estoppel Certification", recently noticed for public comment, is currently under revision and will be posted later for further comment.
Similarly, Form D, entitled "Designation of Joint Account Lessee", implemented by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its meeting on September 9, 2015, is under revision based upon concerns raised by industry representatives. For this reason, this form need not currently be included in any request for approval of an assignment or other transfer of interest in a State Lease.
Form B (Statement of Conveyance) and Form C (Certification of Bankruptcy Status) must still be submitted for consideration by the State Mineral and Energy Board with all requests for approval of an assignment or other transfer.
Resolution #15-07-052 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its July 8, 2015 meeting. This Resolution applies to the fee authorized by La. R.S. 30:128 in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for reviewing, researching, and processing requested transfers and assignments of Leases of minerals or mineral rights owned by the State. This fee will be applied to each Lease for which an interest is requested to be transferred or assigned. This Resolution is effective as of July 8, 2015.
This is a change from the fee assessment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each individual document of conveyance, regardless of the number of Leases to which the document may apply, to a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each Lease within an individual document of conveyance for which a transfer or assignment is requested.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Effective August 1, 2015, Act 362 of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session changed the oil and gas regulatory fund fee from $5.00 to $15.00. The $15 fee for the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund remains unchanged. Therefore, the $20 per acre fee will now be $30 per acre. A separate check in this amount made payable to the "Office of Mineral Resources" shall accompany the original bid (inside the sealed bid envelope).
LIGNITE LEASE FORM
The new Lignite or Coal Mining Lease Form was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board on September 9, 2015.
The State Mineral and Energy Board is considering a proposed new Mineral Lease Form for lignite. A draft of the full text of the proposed lease form may be accessed by clicking here.
Important Information for Bidders
Criteria for Waiver of Liquidated Damages for the Late Release of a State Mineral Lease
Royalty Adjustments Resolution effective 7/14/2010