Office of Mineral Resources

Leasing Manual

How to Acquire a Mineral Lease on State and State Agency Lands and Water Bottoms in the State of Louisiana

These guidelines apply to the acquisition of a mineral lease on lands or water bottoms in which the state of Louisiana has a proprietary interest ("state lands or water bottoms") or in which one of its state agencies has a proprietary interest ("state agency lands or water bottoms").   The phrase "state mineral lease acquisition process," as used in these guidelines, refers to the acquisition of both a state mineral lease and a state agency mineral lease.

A mineral lease granted on state lands or water bottoms is referred to herein as a state mineral lease and a mineral lease granted on state agency lands or water bottoms is referred to herein as a state agency mineral lease.  The term "mineral lease" is a generic term that applies to both a lease for oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous minerals and a lease for solid minerals, e.g., free sulphur, potash, lignite, and salt.  The majority of state and state agency mineral leases granted are for oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous minerals.    Therefore, these guidelines primarily address acquisition of a lease for those minerals and a party interested in acquiring a lease for solid minerals must contact the Office of Mineral Resources prior to applying these guidelines.

These guidelines do not apply to, and separate procedures exist for:

(1)       State mineral leases after award, e.g. amendment, transfer of interest, release.

(2)       State agency mineral leases after award.  The respective state agency must be contacted for any post-award procedures, e.g. amendment, transfer of interest, release.

(3)       The  acquisition  of  any  other  type  of  agreement  involving  the  administration  and supervision of the state of Louisiana's proprietary interest in minerals, e.g. exclusive geophysical agreement, non-exclusive seismic permit, operating agreement, deferred gas production agreement, unitization agreement, or consent letter.

(4)       The acquisition of rights that are incidental to, but may not be covered by, or may be required or desired in addition to, a state mineral lease. Such rights include those secured under a right of way, surface/subsurface lease (e.g. for a salt water disposal well), subsurface agreement (e.g. for directional drilling), or surface lease with subsurface agreement (e.g. for directional drilling).  For acquisition of such rights, individuals are referred to the State Land Office, Division of Administration.  As a reference, see http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/slo/slabsdataaccess.htm

These guidelines do not apply to the acquisition of any rights on lands or water bottoms which the state of Louisiana recognizes as being one hundred percent (100%) owned by private individuals or the United States of America.

These guidelines are a synopsis of applicable laws and general instructions provided to assist interested parties in preparing applications for state and state agency mineral leases.   LAC

43:I.903.  They are an informal source of information and not legal guidance or policy.  Should users of these guidelines wish to gain further knowledge of law and policies governing or impacting exploration, development and production of oil, gas and minerals on state and state agency lands and water bottoms in the state of Louisiana, they must obtain that information from other sources.