OFFSET XXXXX. The lessee shall drill such xxxxx as a reasonable and prudent operator would drill to protect the state from loss by reason of drainage resulting from production on other land. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, if oil or gas is produced in a well on other land not owned by the State of Alaska or on which the State of Alaska receives a lower rate of royalty than under this lease, and that well is within 500 feet in the case of an oil well or 1,500 feet in the case of a gas well of lands then subject to this lease, and that well produces oil or gas for a period of 30 consecutive days in quantities that would appear to a reasonable and prudent operator to be sufficient to recover ordinary costs of drilling, completing, and producing an additional well in the same geological structure at an offset location with a reasonable profit to the operator, and if, after notice to the lessee and an opportunity to be heard, the state finds that production from that well is draining lands then subject to this lease, the lessee shall within 30 days after written demand by the state begin in good faith and diligently prosecute drilling operations for an offset well on the leased area. In lieu of drilling any well required by this paragraph, the lessee may, with the state's consent, compensate the state in full each month for the estimated loss of royalty through drainage in the amount determined by the state.
Appears in 35 contracts
Samples: Competitive Oil and Gas Lease, Competitive Oil and Gas Lease, Competitive Oil and Gas Lease