MS HB1110

Separated mineral estates automatically revert to the surface estate owner after ten years of nonproduction, with the ten-year period beginning after July 1, 2018.

The ten-year nonproduction period is interrupted and restarts if there is any bona fide attempt to drill or actual production of minerals, beginning the day after production or drilling operations cease.

For shut-in rental payment contracts, the ten-year period restarts at the end of the period covered by the last rental payment if no actual production occurs.

If the ten-year period restarts with fewer than 180 days remaining, it cannot expire until at least 180 days have passed from the restart date.

Oil is considered not in production if the well is not in the quarter-quarter section where the severed mineral estate lies; gas is considered not in production if the gas well is not in the half-section where the mineral interest lies.