Overview
SDM has the largest oil and gas regulatory practice in Texas.
Railroad Commission
We handle contested cases in all areas regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, including oil and gas cases, gas utility cases, pipeline regulation, disposal and waste facilities, and surface mining and reclamation cases.
We assist clients with well permitting, new field discoveries and applications for special field rules, Rule 37 spacing and Rule 38 density exceptions, production allowables, pooling and unitization (including forced pooling under the Texas Mineral Interest Pooling Act).
We represent clients in injection and disposal well applications, enforcement actions for alleged violations of Commission rules, environmental issues (including audits and spills), plugging responsibility issues, and tax incentives.
We also advise clients on the effect of Railroad Commission regulation on oil and gas leases, pooling agreements, and similar other agreements.
We represent clients in rulemaking proceedings before the Railroad Commission, in appeals of Railroad Commission decisions, and in legislative actions affecting the oil and gas industry.
General Land Office and University Lands
Our firm’s practice before the General Land Office (“GLO”) and University Lands (“UL”) is extensive.
The focus of our GLO and UL work is energy/oil and gas related and includes leasing of state lands, development agreements, pooling applications, lease termination and interpretation questions, royalty audits, and surface and subsurface easement applications.
We provide legal assistance involving nearly every energy-related problem or opportunity that may arise with the GLO or UL.