Office of Mineral Resources
Geology and Engineering Division
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617 North Third Street (70802) |
The Geology and Engineering Division provides the State Mineral and Energy Board (Board) with expertise, advice, and recommendations in the fields of geology, geophysics, and engineering, by compiling, maintaining, and analyzing varied scientific data to determine the most advantageous minerals exploration, development, and production on State-owned lands and water bottoms.
The Division works closely with the Board's Tract Evaluation, Legal and Title Controversy, Docket Review and Lease Review sections.
The geologists and engineers also handle a variety of special projects involving minerals activity on State acreage at the request of departmental and office administration or as a result of developing industry activity.
NEW Resource Information
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Service or Program | Contact |
| How to Acquire an Operating Agreement |
Greg Roberts |
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| How to Obtain a Seismic Permit on State Lands and Water Bottoms |
Byron Miller |
Resource Management Section
The Resource Management Section is divided into geographic Districts 1 East, 1 West, 2, 3 North and 3 South, each staffed by geologists who are responsible for monitoring all oil and gas related activities in their assigned area.
Section geologists evaluate and compile leasing and geological data pertinent to tracts nominated for State mineral lease sales, attend lease sales, and advise the State Mineral and Energy Board as to bids that are received and are the most advantageous to the State.
This section is responsible for monitoring and reviewing all existing State leases to insure that the lessee is prudently maintaining and developing the State lease. Geologists monitor adjacent drilling activity (including the 8(g) offshore area) to ensure that offset activity does not drain reserves from State property. They represent the State as landowner in the Office of Conservation forced pooling and unitization proceedings, evaluate requests for voluntary unitization, and review Board docket items and partial releases, working to ensure fair State participation in producing units. They review State mineral leases for production, royalty payments, deferred development, and additional consideration portions of lease bids.
Staff also coordinates all meetings with industry representatives concerning plans of development and voluntary unit creation involving state acreage, as well as staff activities in support of the State Mineral and Energy Board Lease Review Section.
Special Projects Section
The Special Projects Section of the Office of Mineral Resources consists of geologists with expertise in geophysics and special geological projects.
They assist staff auditors with field and facility audits and staff geologists with reservoir and economic evaluations of tracts and producing leases.
Geologists, with expertise in geophysics, receive and process applications for non-exclusive seismic permits and evaluate requests for exclusive geophysical agreements prior to application.
They also interpret seismic data for the purpose of recommending current and prospective minerals activities advantageous to the State and protecting the State's interests in pooling and unitization matters.
Special projects geologists handle a variety of projects involving minerals activity on State acreage at the request of departmental and office administration or as a result of developing industry activity.
Engineering Section
The petroleum engineers for the Office of Mineral Resources receive requests for and perform detailed analysis of operating agreements, review and evaluate surface and downhole commingling requests, determine commercial productivity in connection with shut-in and/or gas marketing lease provisions and evaluate secondary recovery proposals.