MS HB332

Mineral estates separated from surface estates revert to the surface estate owner after ten years of nonproduction, beginning July 1, 2020.

Nonproduction means no bona fide attempt to drill for or produce minerals and no actual production during the ten-year period.

The ten-year period interrupts and restarts the day after actual production or drilling operations end; if shut-in rental payments are made, the period restarts at the end of the rental payment period.

Oil wells must be located on the same quarter-quarter section where the mineral estate lies to count as production; gas wells must be in the same half-section as the mineral interest.

If the ten-year period restarts with fewer than 180 days remaining, the period shall not expire sooner than 180 days after the restart date.