MS HB169

Mineral estates separated from surface estates revert to the surface estate owner after twenty years of nonproduction or no bona fide drilling attempt.

The twenty-year nonproduction period can run continuously or be interrupted; it restarts the day after the last actual production or drilling operations cease.

For mineral estates with shut-in rental payments, the twenty-year period restarts at the end of the rental payment period if no production occurs.

Mineral interests already separated as of July 1, 2013, immediately revert to the current surface owner if twenty years of nonproduction has already occurred.

Oil and gas are not considered in production if wells are not located within the correct governmental sections (quarter-quarter for oil, one-half section for gas) where the mineral interest lies.