For over 13 years, Peissel Law Firm has provided meticulously comprehensive oil and gas title opinions to exploration and production companies in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and North Dakota. We understand that accurate and complete title opinions are critical to exposing litigation risks, weighing business risks, avoiding disputes, and ultimately completing successful and profitable projects.
Our oil and gas title opinions will clearly and accurately identify stakeholders, owners and their respective ownership rights and burdens, and title defects and the steps necessary to clear them. Our goal is always to provide our clients with the most accurate and actionable information as quickly as possible, to allow them to move forward with projects while avoiding delays and disputes.
In order to meet these goals, it is important that our title attorneys understand what your company’s needs and objectives are. We work with you to obtain the information needed to begin title examinations, such as proposed drilling boundaries, target formations, depth limitations, and any prior title opinions or landman’s ownership reports. This information is critical to title searches, title examinations, and ultimately, accurate title opinions.
Oil and Gas Title Examination
A thorough title examination must commence prior to the creation of any title opinion. At Peissel Law Firm, we focus on managing and analyzing large datasets, often involving hundreds of people and entities, in some of the most active oil and gas plays. Our attorneys sometimes examine documents found during title searches that are hundreds of pages long in order to determine ownership rights. Once examination is complete, a number of types of opinions can be rendered dependent upon the stage of exploration or production, with the two most common types being a Drilling Title Opinion and a Division Order Opinion.
Oil and Gas Title Opinions
Drilling Title Opinion
Exploration and drilling companies are well advised to seek an experienced oil and gas title attorney to produce their Drilling Title Opinion. At Peissel Law Firm, we expeditiously produce our drilling title opinions, while also ensuring every opinion provides the clarity needed to determine if drilling on the proposed tract is advisable.
Our attorneys regularly investigate complex mineral titles that may have tens or even hundreds of mineral owners. We are experienced in identifying unleased interests, as well as any defects in the mineral title that could cause costly disputes and lengthy delays. Our opinion and recommendations for correcting any title defects will be made with a thorough contemplation and examination of all relevant state and federal law.
Division Order Title Opinions
If the drillsite has proven successful, the next step for most exploration and production companies is to prepare division orders outlining the ownership proportions of all the mineral rights owners and their proportionate share of funds from the sale of their oil, gas, or other minerals. However, before the division of interest can be prepared, a proper Division Order Title Opinion should be obtained from a qualified oil and gas title attorney in order to identify and cure remaining mineral title defects and avoid royalty disputes.
Other Mineral Title Opinions
While Drilling Title Opinions and Division Order Opinions may be the most common, there are a variety of other opinions that oil and gas companies may require. Our firm understands the wide range of needs different entities in the industry have and we aim to work closely with clients to develop opinions that are tailored to their specific interests. Some examples of the other types of opinions we have rendered include:
- Supplemental Title Opinions
- Acquisition Title Opinions
- Wellbore Title Opinions
- Lending Title Opinions
With our lead attorneys having almost two decades producing high quality oil and gas title opinions, we have found that the key to providing the most value for our clients is to have a precise understanding of their project’s objectives. This allows our title attorneys to focus the scope and purpose of each opinion on what is essential, while also excluding any extraneous analysis or data review driving up unnecessary costs. We invite you to contact us to discuss your projects and how we may be able to assist you.