MS HB1377

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

The twenty-year nonproduction period may run continuously or be interrupted; production or drilling operations reset the period, which begins again the day after operations cease.

For mineral estates with shut-in rental payments in lieu of production, the twenty-year period resets at the end of the period covered by the last rental payment if no production occurs.

Mineral estates already separated as of July 1, 2014, with twenty years of nonproduction immediately revert to the current surface estate owner upon the act's passage.

Oil and gas are not considered in production if the well is not located in the regular governmental quarter-quarter section (oil) or one-half section (gas) where the severed mineral estate is located.