30 U.S.C. § 226-1 : US Code - Section 226-1: Extension of noncompetitive oil or gas lease issued before September 2, 1960

Search 30 U.S.C. § 226-1 : US Code - Section 226-1: Extension of noncompetitive oil or gas lease issued before September 2, 1960

(a) Lands not withdrawn from leasing
Upon the expiration of the initial five-year term of any
noncompetitive oil or gas lease which was issued prior to September
2, 1960, and which has been maintained in accordance with
applicable statutory requirements and regulations, the record
titleholder thereof shall be entitled to a single extension of the
lease, unless then otherwise provided by law, for such lands
covered by it as are not, on the expiration date of the lease,
withdrawn from leasing. A withdrawal, however, shall not affect the
right to an extension if actual drilling operations on such lands
were commenced prior to the effective date of the withdrawal and
were being diligently prosecuted on the expiration date of the
lease. No withdrawal shall be effective within the meaning of this
section until ninety days after notice thereof has been sent by
registered or certified mail to each lessee to be affected by such
withdrawal.
(b) Known and unknown geologic structures of producing fields
As to lands not within the known geologic structure of a
producing oil or gas field, a noncompetitive oil or gas lease to
which this section is applicable shall be extended for a period of
five years and so long thereafter as oil or gas is produced in
paying quantities. As to lands within the known geologic structure
of a producing oil or gas field, a noncompetitive lease to which
this section is applicable shall be extended for a period of two
years and so long thereafter as oil or gas is produced in paying
quantities.
(c) Application requirement
Any noncompetitive oil or gas lease extended under this section
shall be subject to the rules and regulations in force at the
expiration of the initial five-year term of the lease. No extension
shall be granted, however, unless within a period of ninety days
prior to the expiration date of the lease an application therefor
is filed by the record titleholder or an assignee whose assignment
has been filed for approval or an operator whose operating
agreement has been filed for approval.
(d) Commencement of actual drilling operations
Any lease issued prior to September 2, 1960, which has been
maintained in accordance with applicable statutory requirements and
regulations and which pertains to land on which, or for which under
an approved cooperative or unit plan of development or operation,
actual drilling operations were commenced prior to the end of its
primary term and are being diligently prosecuted at that time shall
be extended for two years and so long thereafter as oil or gas is
produced in paying quantities.