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4 Tex. J. Oil Gas & Energy L. 1 (2008-2009)

handle is hein.journals/texjogel4 and id is 1 raw text is: THE GROWING DEMAND FOR OIL AND GAS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT UPON RURAL LAND ERNEST E. SMITH* 1. IN TR O D U CTIO N ...................................................................................... 2 A. Concerns of the Rural Landowner .......................................... 2 B. The Contrasting Approaches of Texas and Oklahoma ........ 4 II. BASIC COMMON LAW DOCTRINES GOVERNING SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE USE: RIGHTS OF THE OIL AND GAS OPERATOR ........... 7 A. Express and Implied Rights ................................................... 7 1. Choice of Location ............................................................. 7 2. Use of Road Building Materials, Water, and Other Surface and Subsurface Substances ................................... 9 B. The Dominant Estate Theory ............................................... 10 1. Protection of Livestock, Game Animals, and Other W ildlife ........................................................................... . . 10 2. Surface Damage and Surface Restoration ..................... 12 3. The Dominant Estate Doctrine and the Agricultural L essee .............................................................................. . . 12 4. The Dominant Estate Doctrine and Wind Leases ......... 13 III. BASIC COMMON LAW DOCTRINES GOVERNING SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE USE: RIGHTS OF THE SURFACE OWNER AND SU RFA CE L ESSEE ................................................................................ 14 A . R easonable U se ...................................................................... 15 B . N egligence ................................................................................ 16 1. Effect of Change in Ownership ........................................ 16 2. Statute of Lim itations ..................................................... 17 3. M easure of D am ages ......................................................... 18 4. Location of Injury ............................................................. 19 C. A ccomm odation D octrine ...................................................... 19 1. E xisting U se ...................................................................... 20 2. Prevention or Significant Impairment ............................ 22 3. Reasonable A lternative ................................................... 23 IV . C O N CLU SIO N ........................................................................................ 25 * Professor Ernest E. Smith holds the Rex G. Baker Centennial Chair in Natural Resources Law at The University of Texas School of Law where he teaches Oil and Gas Law, International Petroleum Transactions, Wind and Energy Law, Property Law, and other related subjects. Professor Smith served as Dean of the Law School from 1974 to 1979 and is an internationally recognized energy law scholar.