MS HB1252

Mineral estates separated from surface estates after January 1, 2018, automatically revert to the surface estate owner after ten years of nonproduction or no bona fide drilling attempt.

The ten-year period may be interrupted by actual production or active drilling operations, restarting the countdown from the day after production or operations cease.

Shut-in rental payments can interrupt the period, but the countdown restarts after the final rental payment period ends if no production occurs.

Oil wells are considered nonproductive if not located in the regular governmental quarter-quarter section where the mineral estate lies; gas wells must be in the regular governmental half-section.

The act becomes effective July 1, 2017.