Governor Corbett has recently signed House Bill 402, which requires oil and gas well operators to be more accountable to surface landowners and lessors of oil and gas wells concerning the termination or expiration of their leases. The law now requires oil and gas producers to deliver a recordable document to the owner or lessor within thirty (30) days after termination, expiration or cancellation of the lease, which must include a statement indicating that the lessee surrenders all of its interest under the lease and must be recorded with the county recorder of deeds.

The Governor also signed House Bill 2278, which gives leaseholders for unconventional wells access to timelier production reports. Well operators are now required to file monthly reports with the Department of Environmental Protection, rather than semi-annual reports which are now required.

For more information, please contact Mark Himsworth at 215-661-0400 or MHimsworth@HRMML.com.