SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66
(By Senator Sypolt)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the economic impact on the citizens of West Virginia by
applying the rule of capture to oil and gas drillers in the
development of shallow wells.
Whereas, The rule of capture permits a driller to produce oil
and gas that lies beneath neighboring properties without gaining
the permission of those neighboring landowners; and
Whereas, The rule of capture permits a driller to produce oil
and gas that lies beneath neighboring properties without paying
royalties to those neighboring property owners; and
Whereas, Where rule of capture is applied and a neighboring
property owner drills his or her own well, there is an additional
capital expense and impact on the surface of the land; and
Whereas, Where the rule of capture is applied and more than
one well is drilled to produce the oil or gas, a lesser amount of
oil or gas in totality may actually be recovered; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the economic impact on the citizens of West
Virginia by applying the rule of capture to oil and gas drillers in the development of shallow wells; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2011, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.