What Is a Pugh Clause in an Oil and Gas Lease?
What a Pugh clause is, how horizontal and vertical Pugh clauses protect landowners in pooled units, and what to look for in Pennsylvania gas leases.
Division Order Title Opinion Problems That Can Delay Oil & Gas Payments
When the well on one family’s land finally started producing, the owner expected the royalty checks to follow within a few months. Instead she got a letter asking her to confirm details about her ownership, and then she got silence. Months passed with no payment and no clear answer about why. What she did not […]
Oil & Gas Lease Negotiation Red Flags: When Should a Pennsylvania Landowner Call a Lawyer?
Picture a landowner who had farmed the same ground in Washington County for thirty years when a landman knocked on the door with a lease offer and a pen. The numbers sounded good, the man was friendly, and the paperwork looked official. He almost signed it on the kitchen table that afternoon, before any real […]
What Are OGM Rights? Oil, Gas and Mineral Rights in Pennsylvania
Short answer: “OGM rights” means oil, gas and mineral rights. In Pennsylvania deeds and listings, OGM refers to the right to own and develop the oil, gas and other minerals under a piece of land. Those rights can be owned separately from the surface, so buying a house or a farm does not always mean […]
Selling Mineral Rights in Pennsylvania: What to Know Before You Sell
Short answer: You can sell your mineral rights in Pennsylvania, but it is permanent, and the first offer is rarely the best one. Before you sign, confirm exactly what you own, find out whether new drilling is planned nearby, compare the offer to what your royalties are likely worth, and have the deed reviewed. The […]
Who Owns Mineral Rights in PA? How to Check Your Title
Short answer: In Pennsylvania, the person who owns the land surface does not always own the oil, gas, or coal underneath it. Mineral rights in PA can be sold or kept separately from the surface, sometimes generations ago. The only reliable way to know who owns them is to trace the deed history and review […]
Should I Lease My Mineral Rights? A Pennsylvania Landowner’s Checklist
Short answer: Should I lease my mineral rights? It depends on what you own, what you need, and what the offer actually says. Leasing can bring a signing payment and future royalties while you keep ownership, but it ties up your minerals for years on the company’s terms. Before you decide, confirm your title, compare […]
What to Look For in a Marcellus Shale Gas Lease in 2026
The gas lease terms that matter most are the royalty rate and what can be deducted from it, how long the lease lasts, what happens to land outside a producing unit, and how your surface and water are protected. A lease is a long-term contract that can bind your family for decades. Read every clause […]
How to Read a Division Order: A Plain-English Guide for Pennsylvania Owners
To read a division order, start with three items: the property and well description, your interest type, and your decimal interest. Then check that decimal against your deed and your lease before you sign. If the numbers do not match, do not sign until the operator corrects them. Free tool: Check the decimal on your […]
Estate Planning for Mineral Rights Owners in Cecil, PA: Protect Royalties, Leases, & Family Assets
If you own mineral rights in Cecil, PA, or anywhere in Washington County, here’s something worth sitting with for a minute. Those rights, those royalty checks, and that lease in your filing cabinet are real assets. They’re going to outlive you. And how they get handled after you’re gone depends almost entirely on what you […]