The presentation will cover recent jurisprudential decisions, a legislative update and other materials related to Louisiana mineral law.

Mr. Ives will provide an overview of Louisiana State University’s Institute for Energy Innovation and its outreach and research activities.  He also will review developments in Louisiana across a number of less carbon intensive energy sectors.

Paul and his co-presenter, bankruptcy expert Amelia Hurt of Kelly Hart Pitre, explore the unique challenges and issues that arise when representing oil & gas clients facing financial difficulties -- including as they progress from financial difficulty, to distress, to insolvency.

This presentation will discuss the current state of Louisiana law regarding when and how a pipeline servitude may terminate, whether such termination gives rise to additional obligations, and finally what is meant by an “exclusive servitude.”

Offshore companies are increasingly receiving decommissioning orders to abandon wells that they had long ago transferred to other parties.  This presentation explores the relevance of the JOA, which governed the development of the lease, in providing the framework for companies that have accrued the same decommissioning obligation under the lease to cooperatively respond to decommissioning orders.

For the past 30 years or so I have written about issues relating to sub-state unit regulation of the extractive industries, in general, and oil and gas exploration and production activities specifically.   By sub-state unit, I intend to aggregate governmental entities such as counties, parishes, municipalities, towns, townships and boroughs, many of which exercise general police power to regulate for the protection and/or enhancement of the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. Indirect sub-state regulation of the extractive industries dates to the first decade of the 20th century.   People tend to also forget that while state administrative agencies were regulating oil and gas and mining operations, it was sub-state units in Kansas, among other places, that adopted statutory pooling ordinances to prevent over-drilling within urban areas.   After a multi-decade period of quiescence relating to sub-state regulation of oil and gas operations, such regulation re-appeared with the application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to various shale formations throughout the United States.

This presentation will provide an overview of the current laws and regulations governing orphaned wells in Louisiana, including recent legislative changes. Additional insights on where the State’s orphaned well program and related initiatives are headed will also be outlined with a particular focus on how the ongoing reorganization of Louisiana’s Department of Energy and Natural Resources will impact orphaned well site restoration and regulation.

Brittanie and Mary Catherine will take a look at some of the title problems plaguing title attorneys and landmen, alike, as drilling rigs move closer to town. They will share their alleged practical approach to frequently seen issues found in title examination relative to (1) roads, including an analysis of road dedications, La. Rev. Stat. 9:2971, La. Rev. Stat. 33:5051, and the problems created by current gaps in the governing laws, (2) tax sale title issues, and (3) determining who has the authority to grant a lease in special situations related to usufructs, community property, business entities, and successions.