MS HB721

Mineral estates separated from surface estates automatically revert to the surface estate owner after 10 years of nonproduction, with the 10-year period beginning after July 1, 2022.

The 10-year nonproduction period is interrupted by bona fide drilling attempts or actual mineral production, and restarts the day after production or drilling operations cease.

For contracts with shut-in rental payments in lieu of production, the 10-year period restarts at the end of the period covered by the last rental payment if no production occurs.

If the 10-year period restarts with fewer than 180 days remaining, it is extended to provide at least 180 days from the restart date.

Oil is deemed not in production if the well is not located in the same quarter-quarter section where the mineral estate lies; gas is deemed not in production if the well is not in the same half-section.