How-To Guide

How to Report Force Majeure Online
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Reporting Force Majeure Event:

At the State Mineral and Energy Board (Board) Meeting on August 10, 2005, the Board adopted a policy concerning lease maintenance as a result of a Force Majeure event.

DOWNLOAD: May 1, 2024 Force Majeure Memorandum

DOWNLOAD: May 1, 2024 Force Majeure Affidavit

The following are the procedures for reporting force majeure:

Read your lease -- some older lease forms may not have Force Majeure language or may not have language applicable to your particular situation. Some older leases require action within sixty (60) days instead of ninety (90) days. A copy of the state lease form can be found on our website at www.dnr.louisiana.gov in the public SONRIS connection.
Within ninety (90) [or sixty (60)] days of the event, report the incident to the Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) using the ONLINE FORCE MAJEURE reporting system. If you have any questions on how to complete the report contact:

Jason Talbot (225) 342-4621, Jason.Talbot@la.gov

Followed by written notice to:

Mr. Jason Talbot

Office of Mineral Resources

LaSalle Building, 8th Floor

617 N. 3rd Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

or

Mr. Jason Talbot

Office of Mineral Resources

Post Office Box 2827

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Written notice should include:
1. A description of how the lease(s) was maintained at the time of the event.
2. A list of all leases affected by the event.
3. The nature of the event.
4. The resulting effect which prevents the commencement or continuation of lease operations or production.
5. The duration of the event.
6. The estimated time necessary to clear up the effects or the fortuitous event.
7. A brief economic fiscal statement stating the affect the force majeure condition has on the state:
  
  a. For producing wells, submit an estimate of deferred royalty payments as a result of wells shut-in and include a copy of the last twelve (12) months of royalty payment reports.
  
  b. For wells where production was off or not established at the time of the event, prepare an Operator impact statement including comments on the effect to the state.
8. An Affidavit attesting to the accuracy of the data submitted.
9. Attach a copy of the Online Report Spreadsheet
If a major catastrophic event occurs, such as a hurricane, please complete the Force Majeure Spreadsheet with the basic information identifying all wells and units that were producing at the time of the event. Othewise, complete the ONLINE FORCE MAJEURE reporting system and follow the steps mentioned. This action is requested to further assist the staff to ensure all leases that fall under the force majeure event are identified.
Within a reasonable time of the initial notification, the lessee or operator shall send to OMR all evidence supporting the cause of the event, including but not limited to, pictures, reports, damage assessments, correspondence between lessee/operator and third parties affecting said event, etc. These documents should be properly labeled showing the issues relating to the cause of the force majeure.
The lessee/operator may be required to submit rental payments, deferred development payment, or in-lieu royalty payments on any lease(s) that contains language stating availability to maintain the lease in the absence of production or downhole operations.
In the event the lease does not contain force majeure language or that the particular fortuitous event is not covered by the existing lease language, the lease will be maintained temporarily until the lessee/operator amends the lease to reflect the force majeure language adopted by the Board at the August 10, 2005 Meeting .
OMR staff will follow up with additional steps required to maintain the lease.
On the first of each succeeding month, the lessee/operator is required to report the status of all leases affected by the force majeure event until all leases are maintained by either production or downhole operations.