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Oil and Gas Litigation

Skilled Oklahoma Oil and Gas Litigators Tackle Tough Cases Head On

Enid attorneys counsel clients in energy lawsuits statewide

Petroleum and natural gas drilling and refining are of crucial importance to the economy of Oklahoma and require court intervention to protect the industry, property owners, leaseholders and members of the public. At Long, Claypole & Blakley Law, LLC in Enid, our knowledge of oil and gas law gives us a full understanding of the multiple issues that can arise and the perspectives of all parties to a controversy, allowing us to advise our clients how to avoid unnecessary problems, negotiate for them when disputes arise and litigate for them when those disputes cannot be resolved amicably.

Dedicated advocates litigate all kinds of oil and gas industry lawsuits

We are experienced in handling a wide variety of petroleum and natural gas disputes, including:

  • Breach of contract — Oil and gas operations require contracts with various parties. Real or perceived violations of these agreements may spawn lawsuits.
  • Fracking — Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a process for recovering oil and gas from shale rock, allegedly causes earthquakes and has therefore generated numerous lawsuits for property damage and personal injury.
  • Drilling and refinery operations — Ordinary drilling, oil refining and natural gas processing can generate lawsuits over such problems as extraction rights, environmental hazards and fires.
  • Pipeline operations — Pipeline construction may generate lawsuits over eminent domain, spills and other environmental impacts.
  • Oil and gas securities — Any number of problems can cause a decline in the value of energy stocks, causing disappointed stockholders to bring lawsuits against the company.

We regularly counsel clients who face the potential of litigation, negotiating resolutions to problems that will avoid lawsuits and, when necessary, representing them effectively in court, whether they are plaintiffs or defendants.

Lawyers protect parties entitled to oil and gas royalties

Energy companies typically lease from owners of the mineral rights the permission to remove oil and gas in the land they drill. The well operator pays the owner royalties — portions of the value of the oil and gas extracted. The amount of royalties is generally based on the product’s value at the point of marketability, without deducting the cost of extracting it or making it marketable. However, the royalty owner may be required to pay a proportional share of the cost of transporting it from the wellhead to the point of sale. Whether oil or gas is marketable at the wellhead and, if not, when it becomes marketable, are fact-intensive issues that can spawn disputes between the lessor and lessee of the mineral rights. We can help our clients determine whether or not they are paying or receiving the right amount of royalties, and represent them in lawsuits over the issue.

Committed advocates negotiate and litigate surface damage issues

Drilling operations often cause damage to the surface of the land. Under Oklahoma law, oil and gas operators must give notice of their intent to drill a well to anyone with an interest in the surface rights where they intend to drill. They must also post a bond and negotiate in good faith with surface owners for the payment of compensation for any such damages. If the parties do not agree on the amount due, the damages must be appraised and, if the parties still do not agree, the issue may have to go to court. We try to achieve alternative dispute resolution but are prepared to litigate when necessary to achieve a just result,

Contact a knowledgeable oil and gas attorney in Enid

Long, Claypole & Blakley Law, PLC advises and advocates for Oklahomans on all issues related to oil and gas litigation. Please call 580-599-0191 or contact us online to make an appointment for a consultation at our Enid office.

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Our Office
  • Enid Office
    122 W. Randolph Avenue
    P.O. Box 3623
    Enid, Oklahoma 73701
    Phone: 580-233-5225
    Fax: 580-233-3522