A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — 1989 MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT DATED OPERATOR: EnerVest Operating LLC, acting as Contract Operator for ,LP CONTRACT AREA: COUNTY OR PARISH OF , STATE OF
EXHIBIT 10.5
A.A.P.L.
FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — 1989
MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT
DATED
, 2006
OPERATOR: EnerVest Operating LLC, acting as Contract Operator for ,LP
CONTRACT AREA:
COUNTY OR PARISH OF , STATE OF
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. definitions |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II. EXHIBITS |
2 | |||
ARTICLE III. INTERESTS OF PARTIES |
3 | |||
A Oil and Gas Interests: |
3 | |||
B Interests of Parties in Costs and Production: |
3 | |||
C Subsequently Created Interests: |
4 | |||
ARTICLE IV. TITLES |
4 | |||
A Title Examination: |
4 | |||
B Loss or Failure of Title: |
5 | |||
ARTICLE V. OPERATOR |
6 | |||
A Designation and Responsibilities of Operator: |
6 | |||
B Resignation or Removal of Operator and Selection of Successor: |
7 | |||
C Employees and Contractors: |
7 | |||
D Rights and Duties of Operator: |
8 | |||
ARTICLE VI. DRILLING AND DEVELOPMent |
9 | |||
C . Completion of Xxxxx; Reworking and Plugging Back: |
15 | |||
ARTICLE VII. EXPENDITURES AND LIABILITY OF PARTIES |
18 | |||
A Liability of Parties: |
18 | |||
B Liens and Security Interests: |
18 | |||
C Advances: |
19 | |||
D Defaults and Remedies: |
19 | |||
E Rentals, Shut-in Well Payments and Minimum Royalties: |
21 | |||
F Taxes: |
21 | |||
ARTICLE VIII. ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE OR TRANSFER OF INTEREST |
22 | |||
A Surrender of Leases: |
22 | |||
B Renewal or Extension of Leases: |
22 | |||
C Acreage or Cash Contributions: |
23 | |||
D Assignment; Maintenance of Uniform Interest: |
23 | |||
E Waiver of Rights to Partition: |
24 | |||
ARTICLE IX. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE ELECTION |
24 | |||
ARTICLE X. CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS |
24 | |||
ARTICLE XI. FORCE MAJEURE |
25 | |||
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES |
25 | |||
ARTICLE XIII. TERM OF AGREEMENT |
25 | |||
ARTICLE XIV. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS |
26 | |||
A Laws, Regulations and Orders: |
26 | |||
B Governing Law: |
26 | |||
C Regulatory Agencies: |
26 | |||
ARTICLE XV. MISCELLANEOUS |
27 | |||
A Execution: |
27 | |||
B Successors and Assigns: |
27 | |||
C Counterparts: |
27 | |||
D Severability: |
27 | |||
ARTICLE XVI. OTHER PROVISIOns |
28 |
i
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into by and between EnerVest Operating LLC, acting as the contract
operator for the other signatory party or parties, hereinafter designated and referred to as
‘Operator,’ and the signatory party or parties other than Operator, sometimes hereinafter referred
to individually as “Non-Operator,” and collectively as “Non-Operators.”
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the parties to this agreement are owners of Oil and Gas Leases and/or Oil and Gas
Interests in the land identified in Exhibit “A,” and the parties hereto have reached an agreement
to explore and develop these Leases and/or Oil and Gas Interests for the production of Oil and Gas
to the extent and as hereinafter provided,
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
As used in this agreement, the following words and terms shall have the meanings here ascribed
to them:
A. | The term “AFE” shall mean an Authority for Expenditure prepared by a party to this agreement for the purpose of estimating the costs to be incurred in conducting an operation hereunder. | ||
B. | the term “Completion” or “Complete” shall mean a single operation intended to complete a well as a producer of Oil and Gas in one or more Zones, including, but not limited to, the setting of production casing, perforating, well stimulation and production testing conducted in such operation. | ||
C. | The term “Contract Area” shall mean all of the lands, Oil and Gas Leases and/or Oil and Gas Interests intended to be developed and operated for Oil and Gas purposes under this agreement. Such lands, Oil and Gas Leases and Oil and Gas Interests are described in Exhibit “A.” | ||
D. | The term “Deepen” shall mean a single operation whereby a well is drilled to an objective Zone below the deepest Zone in which the well was previously drilled, or below the Deepest Zone proposed in the associated AFE, whichever is the lesser. | ||
E. | The terms “Drilling Party” and “Consenting Party” shall mean a party who agrees to join in and pay its share of the cost of any operation conducted under the provisions of this agreement. | ||
F. | The term “Drilling Unit” shall mean the area fixed for the drilling of one well by order or rule of any state or federal body having authority. If a Drilling Unit is not fixed by any such rule or order, a Drilling Unit shall be the drilling unit as established by the pattern of drilling in the Contract Area unless fixed by express agreement of the Drilling Parties. | ||
G. | The term “Drillsite” shall mean the Oil and Gas Lease or Oil and Gas Interest on which a proposed well is to be located. | ||
H. | The term “Initial Well” shall mean the well required to be drilled by the parties hereto as provided in Article VIA. | ||
I. | The term “Non-Consent Well” shall mean a well in which less than all parties have conducted an operation as provided in Article VI.B.2. | ||
J. | The terms “Non-Drilling Party” and “Non-Consenting Party” shall mean a party who elects not to participate in a proposed operation. |
1
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
K. | The term “Oil and Gas” shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas, gas condensate, and/or all other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons and other marketable substances produced therewith, unless an intent to limit the inclusiveness of this term is specifically stated. | ||
L. | The term “Oil and Gas Interests” or “Interests” shall mean unleased fee and mineral interests in Oil and Gas in tracts of land lying within the Contract Area which are owned by parties to this agreement. | ||
M. | The terms “Oil and Gas Lease,” “Lease” and “Leasehold” shall mean the oil and gas leases or interests therein covering tracts of land lying within the Contract Area which are owned by the parties to this agreement. | ||
N. | The term “Plug Back” shall mean a single operation whereby a deeper Zone is abandoned in order to attempt a Completion in a shallower Zone. | ||
O. | The term “Recompletion” or “Recomplete” shall mean an operation whereby a Completion in one Zone is abandoned in order to attempt a Completion in a different Zone within the existing wellbore. | ||
P. | The term “Rework” shall mean an operation conducted in the wellbore of a well after it is Completed to secure, restore, or improve production in a Zone which is currently open to production in the wellbore. Such operations include, but are not limited to, well stimulation operations but exclude any routine repair or maintenance work or drilling, Sidetracking, Deepening, Completing, Recompleting, or Plugging Back of a well. | ||
Q. | The term “Sidetrack” shall mean the directional control and intentional deviation of a well from vertical so as to change the bottom hole location unless done to straighten the hole or drill around junk in the hole to overcome other mechanical difficulties. | ||
R. | The term “Zone” shall mean a stratum of earth containing or thought to contain a common accumulation of Oil and Gas separately producible from any other common accumulation of Oil and Gas. |
Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, words used in the singular include the plural,
the word “person” includes natural and artificial persons, the plural includes the singular, and
any gender includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter.
ARTICLE II.
EXHIBITS
The following exhibits, as indicated below and attached hereto, are incorporated in and made a
part hereof:
___
A. Exhibit “A,” shall include the following information:
(1) | Description of lands subject to this agreement, | ||
(2) | Restrictions, if any, as to depths, formations, or substances, | ||
(3) | Parties to agreement with addresses and telephone numbers for notice purposes, | ||
(4) | Percentages or fractional interests of parties to this agreement, | ||
(5) | Oil and Gas Leases and/or Oil and Gas Interests subject to this agreement, | ||
(6) | Burdens on production. |
2
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
___ B. Exhibit “B,” Form of Lease.
___ C. Exhibit “C,” Accounting Procedure.
___ D. Exhibit “D,” Insurance.
___ E. Exhibit “E,” Gas Balancing Agreement.
___ F. Exhibit “F,” Non-Discrimination and Certification of Non-Segregated Facilities.
___ G. Exhibit “G,” Tax Partnership.
___ H. Other:
If any provision of any exhibit, except Exhibits “E,” “F” and “G,” is inconsistent with any
provision contained in the body of this agreement, the provisions in the body of this agreement
shall prevail.
ARTICLE III.
INTERESTS OF PARTIES
INTERESTS OF PARTIES
A Oil and Gas Interests:
If any party owns an Oil and Gas Interest in the Contract Area, that Interest shall be treated
for all purposes of this agreement and during the term hereof as if it were covered by the form of
Oil and Gas Lease attached hereto as Exhibit “B,” and the owner thereof shall be deemed to own both
royalty interest in such lease and the interest of the lessee thereunder.
B Interests of Parties in Costs and Production:
Unless changed by other provisions, all costs and liabilities incurred in operations under
this agreement shall be borne and paid, and all equipment and materials acquired in operations on
the Contract Area shall be owned, by the parties as their interests are set forth in Exhibit “A.”
In the same manner, the parties shall also own all production of Oil and Gas from the Contract Area
subject, however, to the payment of royalties and other burdens on production as described
hereafter.
Regardless of which party has contributed any Oil and Gas Lease or Oil and Gas Interest on
which royalty or other burdens may be payable and except as otherwise expressly provided in this
agreement, each party shall pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, all burdens on its
share of the production from the Contract Area up to, but not in excess of, ___and shall
indemnify, defend and hold the other parties free from any liability therefor. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in this agreement, if any party has contributed hereto any Lease or Interest
which is burdened with any royalty, overriding royalty, production payment or other burden on
production in excess of the amounts stipulated above, such party so burdened shall assume and alone
bear all such excess obligations and shall indemnify, defend and hold the other parties hereto
harmless from any and all claims attributable to such excess burden. However, so long as the
Drilling Unit for the productive Zone(s) is identical with the Contract Area, each party shall pay
or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, all burdens on production from the Contract Area due
under the terms of the Oil and Gas Lease(s) which such party has contributed to this agreement, and
shall indemnify, defend and hold the other parties free from any liability therefor.
No party shall ever be responsible, on a price basis higher than the price received by such
party, to any other party’s lessor or royalty owner, and if such other party’s lessor or royalty
owner should demand and receive settlement on a higher price basis, the party contributing the
affected Lease shall bear the additional royalty burden attributable to such higher price.
Nothing contained in this Article III.B. shall be deemed an assignment or cross-assignment of
interests covered hereby, and in the event two or more parties contribute to this agreement jointly
owned Leases, the parties’
3
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
undivided interests in said Leaseholds shall be deemed separate leasehold interests for the
purposes of this agreement.
C Subsequently Created Interests:
If any party has contributed hereto a Lease or Interest that is burdened with an assignment of
production given as security for the payment of money, or if, after the date of this agreement, any
party creates an overriding royalty, production payment, net profits interest, assignment of
production or other burden payable out of production attributable to its working interest
hereunder, such burden shall be deemed a “Subsequently Created Interest.” Further, if any party
has contributed hereto a Lease or Interest burdened with an overriding royalty, production payment,
net profits interests, or other burden payable out of production created prior to the date of this
agreement, and such burden is not shown on Exhibit “A,” such burden also shall be deemed a
Subsequently Created Interest to the extent such burden causes the burdens on such party’s Lease or
Interest to exceed the amount stipulated in Article III.B. above.
The party whose interest is burdened with the Subsequently Created Interest (the “Burdened
Party”) shall assume and alone bear, pay and discharge the Subsequently Created Interest and shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other parties from and against any liability therefor.
Further, if the Burdened Party fails to pay, when due, its share of expenses chargeable hereunder,
all provisions of Article VII.B. shall be enforceable against the Subsequently Created Interest in
the same manner as they are enforceable against the working interest of the Burdened Party. If the
Burdened Party is required under this agreement to assign or relinquish to any other party, or
parties, all or a portion of its working interest and/or the production attributable thereto, said
other party, or parties, shall receive said assignment and/or production free and clear of said
Subsequently Created Interest, and the Burdened Party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
said other party, or parties, from any and all claims and demands for payment asserted by owners of
the Subsequently Created Interest.
ARTICLE IV.
TITLES
TITLES
A Title Examination:
Title examination shall be made on the Drillsite of any proposed well prior to commencement of
drilling operations and, if a majority in interest of the Drilling Parties so request or Operator
so elects, title examination shall be made on the entire Drilling Unit, or maximum anticipated
Drilling Unit, of the well. The opinion will include the ownership of the working interest,
minerals, royalty, overriding royalty and production payments under the applicable Leases. Each
party contributing Leases and/or Oil and Gas Interests to be included in the Drillsite or Drilling
Unit, if appropriate, shall furnish to Operator all abstracts (including federal lease status
reports), title opinions, title papers and curative material in its possession free of charge. All
such information not in the possession of or made available to Operator by the parties, but
necessary for the examination of the title, shall be obtained by Operator. Operator shall cause
title to be examined by attorneys on its staff or by outside attorneys. Copies of all title
opinions shall be furnished to each Drilling Party. Costs incurred by Operator in procuring
abstracts, fees paid outside attorneys for title examination (including preliminary, supplemental,
shut-in royalty opinions and division order title opinions) and other direct charges as provided in
Exhibit “C” shall be borne by the Drilling Parties in the proportion that the interest of each
Drilling Party bears to the total interest of all Drilling Parties as such interests appear in
Exhibit “A.” Operator shall make no charge for services rendered by its staff attorneys or other
personnel in the performance of the above functions.
Each party shall be responsible for securing curative matter and pooling amendments or
agreements required in connection with Leases or Oil and Gas Interests contributed by such party.
Operator shall be responsible for the preparation and recording of pooling designations or
declarations and communitization agreements as well as the conduct of hearings before governmental
agencies for the securing of spacing or pooling orders or any other orders necessary or appropriate
to the conduct of operations hereunder. This shall not prevent any party from appearing on its own
behalf at such hearings. Costs incurred by Operator, including fees paid to outside attorneys,
which are associated with hearings before governmental agencies, and which costs are necessary and
proper for the activities contemplated under this agreement, shall be direct charges to the joint
account and shall not be covered by
4
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
the administrative overhead charges as provided in Exhibit “C.” Operator shall make no charge
for services rendered by its staff attorneys or other personnel in the performance of the above
functions.
No well shall be driled on the Contract Area until after (1) the title to the Drillsite or
Drilling Unit, if appropriate, has been examined as above provided, and (2) the title has been
approved by the examining attorney or title has been accepted by all of the Drilling Parties in
such well.
B Loss or Failure of Title:
1. Failure of Title: Should any Oil and Gas Interest or Oil and Gas Lease be lost
through failure of title, which results in a reduction of interest from that shown on Exhibit “A,”
the party credited with contributing the affected Lease or Interest (including, if applicable, a
successor in interest to such party) shall have ninety (90) days from final determination of title
failure to acquire a new lease or other instrument curing the entirety of the title failure, which
acquisition will not be subject to Article VIII.B., and failing to do so, this agreement,
nevertheless, shall continue in force as to all remaining Oil and Gas Leases and Interests; and,
(a) The party credited with contributing the Oil and Gas Lease or Interest affected by the
title failure (including, if applicable, a successor in interest to such party) shall bear alone
the entire loss and it shall not be entitled to recover from Operator or the other parties any
development or operating costs which it may have previously paid or incurred, but there shall be no
additional liability on its part to the other parties hereto by reason of such title failure;
(b) There shall be no retroactive adjustment of expenses incurred or revenues received from
the operation of the Lease or Interest which has failed, but the interests of the parties contained
on Exhibit “A” shall be revised on an acreage basis, as of the time it is determined finally that
title failure has occurred, so that the interest of the party whose Lease or Interest is affected
by the title failure will thereafter be reduced in the Contract Area by the amount of the Lease or
Interest failed;
(c) If the proportionate interest of the other parties hereto in any producing well previously
drilled on the Contract Area is increased by reason of the title failure, the party who bore the
costs incurred in connection with such well attributable to the Lease or Interest which has failed
shall receive the proceeds attributable to the increase in such interest (less costs and burdens
attributable thereto) until it has been reimbursed for unrecovered costs paid by it in connection
with such well attributable to such failed Lease or Interest;
(d) Should any person not a party to this agreement, who is determined to be the owner of any
Lease or Interest which has failed, pay in any manner any part of the cost of operation,
development, or equipment, such amount shall be paid to the party or parties who bore the costs
which are so refunded;
(e) Any liability to account to a person not a party to this agreement for prior production of
Oil and Gas which arises by reason of title failure shall be borne severally by each party
(including a predecessor to a current party) who received production for which such accounting is
required based on the amount of such production received, and each such party shall severally
indemnify, defend and hold harmless all other parties hereto for any such liability to account;
(f) No charge shall be made to the joint account for legal expenses, fees or salaries in
connection with the defense of the Lease or Interest claimed to have failed, but if the party
contributing such Lease or Interest hereto elects to defend its title it shall bear all expenses in
connection therewith; and
(g) If any party is given credit on Exhibit “A” to a Lease or Interest which is limited solely
to ownership of an interest in the wellbore of any well or xxxxx and the production therefrom, such
party’s absence of interest in the remainder of the Contract Area shall be considered a Failure of
Title as to such remaining Contract Area unless that absence of interest is reflected on Exhibit
“A.”
2. Loss by Non-Payment or Erroneous Payment of Amount Due: If, through mistake or
oversight, any rental, shut-in well payment, minimum royalty or royalty payment, or other payment
necessary to maintain all
5
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
or a portion of an Oil and Gas Lease or interest is not paid or is erroneously paid, and as a
result a Lease or Interest terminates, there shall be no monetary liability against the party who
failed to make such payment. Unless the party who failed to make the required payment secures a
new Lease or Interest covering the same interest within ninety (90) days from the discovery of the
failure to make proper payment, which acquisition will not be subject to Article VIII.B., the
interests of the parties reflected on Exhibit “A” shall be revised on an acreage basis, effective
as of the date of termination of the Lease or Interest involved, and the party who failed to make
proper payment will no longer be credited with an interest in the Contract Area on account of
ownership of the Lease or Interest which has terminated. If the party who failed to make the
required payment shall not have been fully reimbursed, at the time of the loss, from the proceeds
of the sale of Oil and Gas attributable to the lost Lease or Interest, calculated on an acreage
basis, for the development and operating costs previously paid on account of such Lease or
Interest, it shall be reimbursed for unrecovered actual costs previously paid by it (but not for
its share of the cost of any dry hole previously drilled or xxxxx previously abandoned) from so
much of the following as is necessary to effect reimbursement:
(a) Proceeds of Oil and Gas produced prior to termination of the Lease or Interest, less
operating expenses and lease burdens chargeable hereunder to the person who failed to make payment,
previously accrued to the credit of the lost Lease or Interest, on an acreage basis, up to the
amount of unrecovered costs;
(b) Proceeds of Oil and Gas, less operating expenses and lease burdens chargeable hereunder to
the person who failed to make payment, up to the amount of unrecovered costs attributable to that
portion of Oil and Gas thereafter produced and marketed (excluding production from any xxxxx
thereafter drilled) which, in the absence of such Lease or Interest termination, would be
attributable to the lost Lease or Interest on an acreage basis and which as a result of such Lease
or Interest termination is credited to other parties, the proceeds of said portion of the Oil and
Gas to be contributed by the other parties in proportion to their respective interests reflected on
Exhibit “A”; and,
(c) Any monies, up to the amount of unrecovered costs, that may be paid by any party who is,
or becomes, the owner of the Lease or Interest lost, for the privilege of participating in the
Contract Area or becoming a party to this agreement.
3. Other Losses: All losses of Leases or Interests committed to this agreement, other
than those set forth in Articles IV.X.x . and IV.B.2. above, shall be joint losses and shall be
borne by all parties in proportion to their interests shown on Exhibit “A.” This shall include but
not be limited to the loss of any Lease or Interest through failure to develop or because express
or implied covenants have not been performed (other than performance which requires only the
payment of money), and the loss of any Lease by expiration at the end of its primary term if it is
not renewed or extended. There shall be no readjustment of interests in the remaining portion of
the Contract Area on account of any joint loss.
4. Curing Title: In the event of a Failure of Title under Article IV.X.x. or a loss
of title under Article IV.B.2. above, any Lease or Interest acquired by any party hereto (other
than the party whose interest has failed or was lost) during the ninety (90) day period provided by
Article IV.X.x. and Article IV.B.2. above covering all or a portion of the interest that has failed
or was lost shall be offered at cost to the party whose interest has failed or was lost, and the
provisions of Article VIII.B. shall not apply to such acquisition.
ARTICLE V.
OPERATOR
OPERATOR
A Designation and Responsibilities of Operator:
EnerVest Operating LLC shall be the Operator of the Contract Area, and shall conduct and
direct and have full control of all operations on the Contract Area as permitted and required by,
and within the limits of this agreement. In its performance of services hereunder for the
Non-Operators, Operator shall be an independent contractor not subject to the control or direction
of the Non-Operators except as to the type of operation to be undertaken in accordance with the
election procedures contained in this agreement. Operator shall not be deemed, or hold itself out
as, the agent of the Non-Operators with authority to bind them to any obligation or liability
assumed or incurred by Operator as to any third party. Operator shall conduct its activities under
this agreement as a
6
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
reasonable prudent operator, in a good and workmanlike manner, with due diligence and
dispatch, in accordance with good oilfield practice, and in compliance with applicable law and
regulation, but in no event shall it have any liability as Operator to the other parties for losses
sustained or liabilities incurred except such as may result from gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
B Resignation or Removal of Operator and Selection of Successor:
1. Resignation or Removal of Operator: Operator may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to Non-Operators. If Operator terminates its legal existence, no longer owns
an interest hereunder in the Contract Area, or is no longer capable of serving as Operator,
Operator shall be deemed to have resigned without any action by Non-Operators, except the selection
of a successor. Operator may be removed only for good cause by the affirmative vote of
Non-Operators owning a majority interest based on ownership as shown on Exhibit “A” remaining after
excluding the voting interest of Operator; such vote shall not be deemed effective until a written
notice has been delivered to the Operator by a Non-Operator detailing the alleged default and
Operator has failed to cure the default within thirty (30) days from its receipt of the notice or,
if the default concerns an operation then being conducted, within forty-eight (48) hours of its
receipt of the notice. For purposes hereof. “good cause” shall mean not only gross negligence or
willful misconduct but also the material breach of or inability to meet the standards of operation
contained in Article V.A. or material failure or inability to perform its obligations under this
agreement.
Subject to Article VII.D.l., such resignation or removal shall not become effective until 7:00
o’clock AM. on the first day of the calendar month following the expiration of ninety (90) days
after the giving of notice of resignation by Operator or action by the Non-Operators to remove
Operator, unless a successor Operator has been selected and assumes the duties of Operator at an
earlier date. Operator, after effective date of resignation or removal, shall be bound by the
terms hereof as a Non-Operator. A change of a corporate name or structure of Operator or transfer
of Operator’s interest to any single subsidiary, parent or successor corporation shall not be the
basis for removal of Operator.
2. Selection of Successor Operator: Upon the resignation or removal of Operator under
any provision of this agreement, a successor Operator shall be selected by the parties. The
successor Operator shall be selected from the parties owning an interest in the Contract Area at
the time such successor Operator is selected. The successor Operator shall be selected by the
affirmative vote of two (2) or more parties owning a majority interest based on ownership as shown
on Exhibit “A”; provided, however, if an Operator which has been removed or is deemed to have
resigned fails to vote or votes only to succeed itself, the successor Operator shall be selected by
the affirmative vote of the party or parties owning a majority interest based on ownership as shown
on Exhibit “A” remaining after excluding the voting interest of the Operator that was removed or
resigned. The former Operator shall promptly deliver to the successor Operator all records and
data relating to the operations conducted by the former Operator to the extent such records and
data are not already in the possession of the successor operator. Any cost of obtaining or copying
the former Operator’s records and data shall be charged to the joint account.
3. Effect of Bankruptcy: If Operator becomes insolvent, bankrupt or is placed in
receivership, it shall be deemed to have resigned without any action by Non-Operators, except the
selection of a successor. If a petition for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws is filed by
or against Operator, and the removal of Operator is prevented by the federal bankruptcy court, all
Non-Operators and Operator shall comprise an interim operating committee to serve until Operator
has elected to reject or assume this agreement pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, and an election to
reject this agreement by Operator as a debtor in possession, or by a trustee in bankruptcy, shall
be deemed a resignation as Operator without any action by Non-Operators, except the selection of a
successor. During the period of time the operating committee controls operations, all actions
shall require the approval of two (2) or more parties owning a majority interest based on ownership
as shown on Exhibit “A.” In the event there are only two (2) parties to this agreement, during the
period of time the operating committee controls operations, a third party acceptable to Operator,
Non-Operator and the federal bankruptcy court shall be selected as a member of the operating
committee, and all actions shall require the approval of two (2) members of the operating committee
without regard for their interest in the Contract Area based on Exhibit “A.”
7
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
C Employees and Contractors:
The number of employees or contractors used by Operator in conducting operations hereunder,
their selection, and the hours of labor and the compensation for services performed shall be
determined by Operator, and all such employees or contractors shall be the employees or contractors
of Operator.
D Rights and Duties of Operator:
1. Competitive Rates and Use of Affiliates: All xxxxx drilled on the Contract Area
shall be drilled on a competitive contract basis at the usual rates prevailing in the area. If it
so desires, Operator may employ its own tools and equipment in the drilling of xxxxx, but its
charges therefor shall not exceed the prevailing rates in the area and the rate of such charges
shall be agreed upon by the parties in writing before drilling operations are commenced, and such
work shall be performed by Operator under the same terms and conditions as are customary and usual
in the area in contracts of independent contractors who are doing work of a similar nature. All
work performed or materials supplied by affiliates or related parties of Operator shall be
performed or supplied at competitive rates, pursuant to written agreement, and in accordance with
customs and standards prevailing in the industry.
2. Discharge of Joint Account Obligations: Except as herein otherwise specifically
provided, Operator shall promptly pay and discharge expenses incurred in the development and
operation of the Contract Area pursuant to this agreement and shall charge each of the parties
hereto with their respective proportionate shares upon the expense basis provided in Exhibit “C.”
Operator shall keep an accurate record of the joint account hereunder, showing expenses incurred
and charges and credits made and received. Attached to and made a part of Exhibit C hereto shall
be Addenda indicating the direct charges and overhead for specified regions within the Contract
Area.
3. Protection from Liens: Operator shall pay, or cause to be paid, as and when they
become due and payable, all accounts of contractors and suppliers and wages and salaries for
services rendered or performed, and for materials supplied on, to or in respect of the Contract
Area or any operations for the joint account thereof, and shall keep the Contract Area free from
liens and encumbrances resulting therefrom except for those resulting from a bona fide dispute as
to services rendered or materials supplied.
4. Custody of Funds: Operator shall hold for the account of the Non-Operators any
funds of the Non-Operators advanced or paid to the Operator, either for the conduct of operations
hereunder or as a result of the sale of production from the Contract Area, and such funds shall
remain the funds of the Non-Operators on whose account they are advanced or paid until used for
their intended purpose or otherwise delivered to the Non-Operators or applied toward the payment of
debts as provided in Article VII.B. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to establish a
fiduciary relationship between Operator and Non-Operators for any purpose other than to account for
Non-Operator funds as herein specifically provided. Nothing in this paragraph shall require the
maintenance by Operator of separate accounts for the funds of Non-Operators unless the parties
otherwise specifically agree.
5. Access to Contract Area and Records: Operator shall, except as otherwise provided
herein, permit each Non-Operator or its duly authorized representative, at the Non-Operator’s sole
risk and cost, full and free access at all reasonable times to all operations of every kind and
character being conducted for the joint account on the Contract Area and to the records of
operations conducted thereon or production therefrom, including Operator’s books and records
relating thereto. Such access rights shall not be exercised in a manner interfering with
Operator’s conduct of an operation hereunder and shall not obligate Operator to furnish any
geologic or geophysical data of an interpretive nature unless the cost of preparation of such
interpretive data was charged to the joint account. Operator will furnish to each Non-Operator
upon request copies of any and all reports and information obtained by Operator in connection with
production and related items, including, without limitation, meter and chart reports, production
purchaser statements, run tickets and monthly gauge reports, but excluding purchase contracts and
pricing information to the extent not applicable to the production of the Non-Operator seeking the
information. Any audit of Operator’s records relating to amounts expended and the appropriateness
of such expenditures shall be conducted in accordance with the audit protocol specified in Exhibit
“C.”
6. Filing and Furnishing Governmental Reports: Operator will file, and upon written
request promptly furnish copies to each requesting Non-Operator not in default of its payment
obligations, all operational notices, reports or applications required to be filed by local, State,
Federal or Indian agencies or authorities having jurisdiction over operations hereunder. Each
Non-Operator shall provide to Operator on a timely basis all information necessary to Operator to
make such filings.
8
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
7. Drilling and Testing Operations: The following provisions shall apply to each well
drilled hereunder, including but not limited to the Initial Well:
(a) Operator will promptly advise Non-Operators of the date on which the well is spudded, or
the date on which drilling operations are commenced.
(b) Operator will send to Non-Operators such reports, test results and notices regarding the
progress of operations on the well as the Non-Operators shall reasonably request, including, but
not limited to, daily drilling reports, completion reports, and well logs.
(c) Operator shall adequately test all Zones encountered which may reasonably be expected to
be capable of producing Oil and Gas in paying quantities as a result of examination of the electric
log or any other logs or cores or tests conducted hereunder.
8. Cost Estimates: Upon request of any Consenting Party, Operator shall furnish
estimates of current and cumulative costs incurred for the joint account at reasonable intervals
during the conduct of any operation pursuant to this agreement. Operator shall not be held liable
for errors in such estimates so long as the estimates are made in good faith.
9. Insurance: At all times while operations are conducted hereunder, Operator shall
comply with the workers compensation law of the state where the operations are being conducted;
provided, however, that Operator may be a self- insurer for liability under said compensation laws
in which event the only charge that shall be made to the joint account shall be as provided in
Exhibit “C.” Operator shall also carry or provide insurance for the benefit of the joint account
of the parties as outlined in Exhibit “D” attached hereto and made a part hereof. Operator shall
require all contractors engaged in work on or for the Contract Area to comply with the workers
compensation law of the state where the operations are being conducted and to maintain such other
insurance as Operator may require.
In the event automobile liability insurance is specified in said Exhibit “D,” or subsequently
receives the approval of the parties, no direct charge shall be made by Operator for premiums paid
for such insurance for Operator’s automotive equipment.
ARTICLE VI.
DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT
DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Proposed Operations: If any party hereto should desire to drill any well on the
Contract Area or if any party should desire to Rework, Sidetrack, Deepen, Recomplete or Plug Back a
dry hole or a well no longer capable of producing in paying quantities in which such party has not
otherwise relinquished its interest in the proposed objective Zone under this agreement, the party
desiring to drill, Rework, Sidetrack, Deepen, Recomplete or Plug Back such a well shall give
written notice of the proposed operation to the parties who have not otherwise relinquished their
interest in such objective Zone under this agreement and to all other parties in the case of a
proposal for Sidetracking or Deepening, specifying the work to be performed, the location, proposed
depth, objective Zone and the estimated cost of the operation. The parties to whom such a notice
is delivered shall have thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice within which to notify the
party proposing to do the work whether they elect to participate in the cost of the proposed
operation. If a drilling rig is on location, notice of a proposal to Rework, Sidetrack,
Recomplete, Plug Back or Deepen may be given by telephone and the response period shall be limited
to twenty-four (24) hours. Failure of a party to whom such notice is delivered to reply within the
period above fixed shall constitute an election by that party not to participate in the cost of the
proposed operation. Any proposal by a party to conduct an operation conflicting with the operation
initially proposed shall be delivered to all parties within the time and in the manner provided in
Article VI.B.6.
If all parties to whom such notice is delivered elect to participate in such a proposed
operation, the parties shall be contractually committed to participate therein provided such
operations are commenced within the time period hereafter set forth, and Operator shall, no later
than ninety (90) days after expiration of the notice period of thirty (30) days (or as promptly as
practicable after the
9
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
expiration of the twenty-four (24) hour period when a drilling rig is on location, as the case
may be), actually commence the proposed operation and thereafter complete it with due diligence at
the risk and expense of the parties participating therein; provided, however, said commencement
date may be extended upon written notice of same by Operator to the other parties, for a period of
up to thirty (30) additional days if, in the sole opinion of Operator, such additional time is
reasonably necessary to obtain permits from governmental authorities, surface rights (including
rights-of-way) or appropriate drilling equipment, or to complete title examination or curative
matter required for title approval or acceptance. If the actual operation has not been commenced
within the time provided (including any extension thereof as specifically permitted herein or in
the force majeure provisions of Article XI) and if any party hereto still desires to conduct said
operation, written notice proposing same must be resubmitted to the other parties in accordance
herewith as if no prior proposal had been made. Those parties that did not participate in the
drilling of a well for which a proposal to Deepen or Sidetrack is made hereunder shall, if such
parties desire to participate in the proposed Deepening or Sidetracking operation, reimburse the
Drilling Parties in accordance with Article VI.B.4. in the event of a Deepening operation and in
accordance with Article VI.B.5. in the event of a Sidetracking operation.
2. Operations by Less Than All Parties:
(a) Determination of Participation. If any party to whom such notice is delivered as
provided in Article VI.B.1. or VI.C.1. (Option No. 2) elects not to participate in the proposed
operation, then, in order to be entitled to the benefits of this Article, the party or parties
giving the notice and such other parties as shall elect to participate in the operation shall, no
later than ninety (90) days after the expiration of the notice period of thirty (30) days (or as
promptly as practicable after the expiration of the twenty-four (24) hour period when a drilling
rig is on location, as the case may be) actually commence the proposed operation and complete it
with due diligence. Operator shall perform all work for the account of the Consenting Parties;
provided, however, if no drilling rig or other equipment is on location, and if Operator is a
Non-Consenting Party, the Consenting Parties shall either: (i) request Operator to perform the work
required by such proposed operation for the account of the Consenting Parties, or (ii) designate
one of the Consenting Parties as Operator to perform such work. The rights and duties granted to
and imposed upon the Operator under this agreement are granted to and imposed upon the party
designated as Operator for an operation in which the original Operator is a Non-Consenting Party.
Consenting Parties, when conducting operations on the Contract Area pursuant to this Article
VI.B.2., shall comply with all terms and conditions of this agreement.
If less than all parties approve any proposed operation, the proposing party, immediately
after the expiration of the applicable notice period, shall advise all Parties of the total
interest of the parties approving such operation and its recommendation as to whether the
Consenting Parties should proceed with the operation as proposed. Each Consenting Party, within
twenty-four (24) hours after delivery of such notice, shall advise the proposing party of its
desire to (i) limit participation to such party’s interest as shown on Exhibit “A” or (ii) carry
only its proportionate part (determined by dividing such party’s interest in the Contract Area by
the interests of all Consenting Parties in the Contract Area) of Non-Consenting Parties’ interests,
or (iii) carry its proportionate part (determined as provided in (ii)) of Non-Consenting Parties’
interests together with all or a portion of its proportionate part of any Non-Consenting Parties’
interests that any Consenting Party did not elect to take. Any interest of Non-Consenting Parties
that is not carried by a Consenting Party shall be deemed to be carried by the party proposing the
operation if such party does not withdraw its proposal. Failure to advise the proposing party
within the time required shall be deemed an election under (i). In the event a drilling rig is on
location, notice may be given by telephone, and the time permitted for such a response shall not
exceed a total of twenty-four (24) hours. The proposing party, at its election, may withdraw such
proposal if there is less than 100% participation and shall notify all parties of such decision
within ten (10) days, or within twenty-four (24) hours if a drilling rig is on location, following
expiration of the applicable response period. If 100% subscription to the proposed operation is
obtained, the proposing party shall promptly notify the Consenting Parties of their proportionate
interests in the operation and the party serving as Operator shall commence such operation within
the period provided in Article VI.B.1., subject to the same extension right as provided therein.
10
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
(b) Relinquishment of Interest for Non-Participation. The entire cost and risk of
conducting such operations shall be borne by the Consenting Parties in the proportions they have
elected to bear same under the terms of the preceding paragraph. Consenting Parties shall keep the
leasehold estates involved in such operations free and clear of all liens and encumbrances of every
kind created by or arising from the operations of the Consenting Parties. If such an operation
results in a dry hole, then subject to Articles VI.B.6. and VI.E.3., the Consenting Parties shall
plug and abandon the well and restore the surface location at their sole cost, risk and expense;
provided, however, that those Non-Consenting Parties that participated in the drilling, Deepening
or Sidetracking of the well shall remain liable for, and shall pay, their proportionate shares of
the cost of plugging and abandoning the well and restoring the surface location insofar only as
those costs were not increased by the subsequent operations of the Consenting Parties. If any well
drilled, Reworked, Sidetracked, Deepened, Recompleted or Plugged Back under the provisions of this
Article results in a well capable of producing Oil and/or Gas in paying quantities, the Consenting
Parties shall Complete and equip the well to produce at their sole cost and risk, and the well
shall then be turned over to Operator (if the Operator did not conduct the operation) and shall be
operated by it at the expense and for the account of the Consenting Parties. Upon commencement of
operations for the drilling, Reworking, Sidetracking, Recompleting, Deepening or Plugging Back of
any such well by Consenting Parties in accordance with the provisions of this Article, each
Non-Consenting Party shall be deemed to have relinquished to Consenting Parties, and the Consenting
Parties shall own and be entitled to receive, in proportion to their respective interests, all of
such Non-Consenting Party’s interest in the well and share of production therefrom or, in the case
of a Reworking, Sidetracking, Deepening, Recompleting or Plugging Back, or a Completion pursuant to
Article VI.C.1. Option No. 2, all of such Non-Consenting Party’s interest in the production
obtained from the operation in which the Non-Consenting Party did not elect to participate. Such
relinquishment shall be effective until the proceeds of the sale of such share, calculated at the
well, or market value thereof if such share is not sold (after deducting applicable ad valorem,
production, severance, and excise taxes, royalty, overriding royalty and other interests not
excepted by Article III.C. payable out of or measured by the production from such well accruing
with respect to such interest until it reverts), shall equal the total of the following:
(i) 400% of each such Non-Consenting Party’s share of the cost of any newly acquired surface
equipment beyond the wellhead connections (including but not limited to stock tanks, separators,
treaters, pumping equipment and piping), plus 100% of each such Non-Consenting Party’s share of the
cost of operation of the well commencing with first production and continuing until each such
Non-Consenting Party’s relinquished interest shall revert to it under other provisions of this
Article, it being agreed that each Non-Consenting Party’s share of such costs and equipment will be
that interest which would have been chargeable to such Non-Consenting Party had it participated in
the well from the beginning of the operations; and
(ii) 400% of (a) that portion of the costs and expenses of drilling, Reworking, Sidetracking,
Deepening, Plugging Back, testing, Completing, and Recompleting, after deducting any cash
contributions received under Article VIII.C., and of (b) that portion of the cost of newly acquired
equipment in the well (to and including the wellhead connections), which would have been chargeable
to such Non-Consenting Party if it had participated therein.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI.B., if the well does not reach the
deepest objective Zone described in the notice proposing the well for reasons other than the
encountering of granite or practically impenetrable substance or other condition in the hole
rendering further operations impracticable, Operator shall give notice thereof to each
Non-Consenting Party who submitted or voted for an alternative proposal under Article VI.B.6. to
drill the well to a shallower Zone than the deepest objective Zone proposed in the notice under
which the well was drilled, and each such Non-Consenting Party shall have the option to participate
in the initial proposed Completion of the well by paying its share of the cost of drilling the well
to its actual depth, calculated in the manner provided in Article VI.B.4. (a). If any such
Non-Consenting Party does not elect to participate in the first Completion proposed for such well,
the relinquishment provisions of this Article VI.B.2. (b) shall apply to such party’s interest.
11
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
(c) Reworking, Recompleting or Plugging Back. An election not to participate in the
drilling, Sidetracking or Deepening of a well shall be deemed an election not to participate in any
Reworking or Plugging Back operation proposed in such a well, or portion thereof, to which the
initial non-consent election applied that is conducted at any time prior to full recovery by the
Consenting Parties of the Non-Consenting Party’s recoupment amount. Similarly, an election not to
participate in the Completing or Recompleting of a well shall be deemed an election not to
participate in any Reworking operation proposed in such a well, or portion thereof, to which the
initial non-consent election applied that is conducted at any time prior to full recovery by the
Consenting Parties of the Non-Consenting Party’s recoupment amount. Any such Reworking,
Recompleting or Plugging Back operation conducted during the recoupment period shall be deemed part
of the cost of operation of said well and there shall be added to the sums to be recouped by the
Consenting Parties 400% of that portion of the costs of the Reworking, Recompleting or Plugging
Back operation which would have been chargeable to such Non-Consenting Party had it participated
therein. If such a Reworking, Recompleting or Plugging Back operation is proposed during such
recoupment period, the provisions of this Article VI.B. shall be applicable as between said
Consenting Parties in said well.
(d) Recoupment Matters. During the period of time Consenting Parties are entitled to
receive Non-Consenting Party’s share of production, or the proceeds therefrom, Consenting Parties
shall be responsible for the payment of all ad valorem, production, severance, excise, gathering
and other taxes, and all royalty, overriding royalty and other burdens applicable to Non-Consenting
Party’s share of production not excepted by Article III.C.
In the case of any Reworking, Sidetracking, Plugging Back, Recompleting or Deepening
operation, the Consenting Parties shall be permitted to use, free of cost, all casing, tubing and
other equipment in the well, but the ownership of all such equipment shall remain unchanged; and
upon abandonment of a well after such Reworking, Sidetracking, Plugging Back, Recompleting or
Deepening, the Consenting Parties shall account for all such equipment to the owners thereof, with
each party receiving its proportionate part in kind or in value, less cost of salvage.
Within ninety (90) days after the completion of any operation under this Article, the party
conducting the operations for the Consenting Parties shall furnish each Non-Consenting Party with
an inventory of the equipment in and connected to the well, and an itemized statement of the cost
of drilling, Sidetracking, Deepening, Plugging Back, testing, Completing, Recompleting, and
equipping the well for production; or, at its option, the operating party, in lieu of an itemized
statement of such costs of operation, may submit a detailed statement of monthly xxxxxxxx. Each
month thereafter, during the time the Consenting Parties are being reimbursed as provided above,
the party conducting the operations for the Consenting Parties shall furnish the Non-Consenting
Parties with an itemized statement of all costs and liabilities incurred in the operation of the
well, together with a statement of the quantity of Oil and Gas produced from it and the amount of
proceeds realized from the sale of the well’s working interest production during the preceding
month. In determining the quantity of Oil and Gas produced during any month, Consenting Parties
shall use industry accepted methods such as but not limited to metering or periodic well tests.
Any amount realized from the sale or other disposition of equipment newly acquired in connection
with any such operation which would have been owned by a Non-Consenting Party had it participated
therein shall be credited against the total unreturned costs of the work done and of the equipment
purchased in determining when the interest of such Non-Consenting Party shall revert to it as above
provided; and if there is a credit balance, it shall be paid to such Non-Consenting Party.
If and when the Consenting Parties recover from a Non-Consenting Party’s relinquished interest
the amounts provided for above, the relinquished interests of such Non-Consenting Party shall
automatically revert to it as of 7:00 a.m. on the day following the day on which such recoupment
occurs, and, from and after such reversion, such Non-Consenting Party shall own the same interest
in such well, the material and equipment in or pertaining thereto, and the production therefrom as
such Non-Consenting Party would have been entitled to had it participated in the drilling,
Sidetracking, Reworking, Deepening, Recompleting or Plugging Back of said well. Thereafter, such
Non-Consenting Party shall be charged
12
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
with and shall pay its proportionate part of the further costs of the operation of said well
in accordance with the terms of this agreement and Exhibit “C” attached hereto.
3. Stand-By Costs: When a well which has been drilled or Deepened has reached its
authorized depth and all tests have been completed and the results thereof furnished to the
parties, or when operations on the well have been otherwise terminated pursuant to Article VI.F.,
stand-by costs incurred pending response to a party’s notice proposing a Reworking, Sidetracking,
Deepening, Recompleting, Plugging Back or Completing operation in such a well (including the period
required under Article VI.B.6. to resolve competing proposals) shall be charged and borne as part
of the drilling or Deepening operation just completed. Stand-by costs subsequent to all parties
responding, or expiration of the response time permitted, whichever first occurs, and prior to
agreement as to the participating interests of all Consenting Parties pursuant to the terms of the
second grammatical paragraph of Article VI.B.2. (a), shall be charged to and borne as part of the
proposed operation, but if the proposal is subsequently withdrawn because of insufficient
participation, such stand-by costs shall be allocated between the Consenting Parties in the
proportion each Consenting Party’s interest as shown on Exhibit “A” bears to the total interest as
shown on Exhibit “A” of all Consenting Parties.
In the event that notice for a Sidetracking operation is given while the drilling rig to be
utilized is on location, any party may request and receive up to five (5) additional days after
expiration of the twenty-four (24) hour response period specified in Article VI.B.1. within which
to respond by paying for all stand-by costs and other costs incurred during such extended response
period; Operator may require such party to pay the estimated stand-by time in advance as a
condition to extending the response period. If more than one party elects to take such additional
time to respond to the notice, standby costs shall be allocated between the parties taking
additional time to respond on a day-to-day basis in the proportion each electing party’s interest
as shown on Exhibit “A” bears to the total interest as shown on Exhibit “A” of all the electing
parties.
4. Deepening: If less than all parties elect to participate in a drilling,
Sidetracking, or Deepening operation proposed pursuant to Article VI.B.1., the interest
relinquished by the Non-Consenting Parties to the Consenting Parties under Article VI.B.2. shall
relate only and be limited to the lesser of (i) the total depth actually drilled or (ii) the
objective depth or Zone of which the parties were given notice under Article VI.B.1. (“Initial
Objective”). Such well shall not be Deepened beyond the Initial Objective without first complying
with this Article to afford the Non-Consenting Parties the opportunity to participate in the
Deepening operation.
In the event any Consenting Party desires to drill or Deepen a Non-Consent Well to a depth
below the Initial Objective, such party shall give notice thereof, complying with the requirements
of Article VI.B.1., to all parties (including Non-Consenting Parties). Thereupon, Articles VI.B.1.
and 2. shall apply and all parties receiving such notice shall have the right to participate or not
participate in the Deepening of such well pursuant to said Articles VI.B.1. and 2. If a Deepening
operation is approved pursuant to such provisions, and if any Non-Consenting Party elects to
participate in the Deepening operation, such Non-Consenting party shall pay or make reimbursement
(as the case may be) of the following costs and expenses.
(a) If the proposal to Deepen is made prior to the Completion of such well as a well capable
of producing in paying quantities, such Non-Consenting Party shall pay (or reimburse Consenting
Parties for, as the case may be) that share of costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
drilling of said well from the surface to the Initial Objective which Non-Consenting Party would
have paid had such Non-Consenting Party agreed to participate therein, plus the Non-Consenting
Party’s share of the cost of Deepening and of participating in any further operations on the well
in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, all costs for testing
and Completion or attempted Completion of the well incurred by Consenting Parties prior to the
point of actual operations to Deepen beyond the Initial Objective shall be for the sole account of
Consenting Parties.
(b) If the proposal is made for a Non-Consent Well that has been previously Completed as a
well capable of producing in paying quantities, but is no longer capable of producing in paying
13
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
quantities, such Non-Consenting Party shall pay (or reimburse Consenting Parties for, as the
case may be) its proportionate share of all costs of drilling, Completing, and equipping said well
from the surface to the Initial Objective, calculated in the manner provided in paragraph (a)
above, less those costs recouped by the Consenting Parties from the sale of production from the
well. The Non-Consenting Party shall also pay its proportionate share of all costs of re-entering
said well. The Non-Consenting Parties’ proportionate part (based on the percentage of such well
Non-Consenting Party would have owned had it previously participated in such Non-Consent Well) of
the costs of salvable materials and equipment remaining in the hole and salvable surface equipment
used in connection with such well shall be determined in accordance with Exhibit “C.” If the
Consenting Parties have recouped the cost of drilling, Completing, and equipping the well at the
time such Deepening operation is conducted, then a Non-Consenting Party may participate in the
Deepening of the well with no payment for costs incurred prior to re-entering the well for
Deepening
The foregoing shall not imply a right of any Consenting Party to propose any Deepening for a
Non-Consent Well prior to the drilling of such well to its Initial Objective without the consent of
the other Consenting Parties as provided in Article VI.F.
5. Sidetracking: Any party having the right to participate in a proposed Sidetracking
operation that does not own an interest in the affected wellbore at the time of the notice shall,
upon electing to participate, tender to the wellbore owners its proportionate share (equal to its
interest in the Sidetracking operation) of the value of that portion of the existing wellbore to be
utilized as follows:
(a) If the proposal is for Sidetracking an existing dry hole, reimbursement shall be on the
basis of the actual costs incurred in the initial drilling of the well down to the depth at which
the Sidetracking operation is initiated.
(b) If the proposal is for Sidetracking a well which has previously produced, reimbursement
shall be on the basis of such party’s proportionate share of drilling and equipping costs incurred
in the initial drilling of the well down to the depth at which the Sidetracking operation is
conducted, calculated in the manner described in Article VI.B.4(b) above. Such party’s
proportionate share of the cost of the well’s salvable materials and equipment down to the depth at
which the Sidetracking operation is initiated shall be determined in accordance with the provisions
of Exhibit “C.”
6. Order of Preference of Operations. Except as otherwise specifically provided in
this agreement, if any party desires to propose the conduct of an operation that conflicts with a
proposal that has been made by a party under this Article VI, such party shall have fifteen (15)
days from delivery of the initial proposal, in the case of a proposal to drill a well or to perform
an operation on a well where no drilling rig is on location, or twenty-four (24) hours, from
delivery of the initial proposal, if a drilling rig is on location for the well on which such
operation is to be conducted, to deliver to all parties entitled to participate in the proposed
operation such party’s alternative proposal, such alternate proposal to contain the same
information required to be included in the initial proposal. Each party receiving such proposals
shall elect by delivery of notice to Operator within five (5) days after expiration of the proposal
period, or within twenty-four (24) hours if a drilling rig is on location for the well that is the
subject of the proposals, to participate in one of the competing proposals. Any party not electing
within the time required shall be deemed not to have voted. The proposal receiving the vote of
parties owning the largest aggregate percentage interest of the parties voting shall have priority
over all other competing proposals; in the case of a tie vote, the initial proposal shall prevail.
Operator shall deliver notice of such result to all parties entitled to participate in the
operation within five (5) days after expiration of the election period (or within twenty-four (24)
hours if a drilling rig is on location). Each party shall then have two (2) days (or twenty-four
(24) hours if a rig is on location) from receipt of such notice to elect by delivery of notice to
Operator to participate in such operation or to relinquish interest in the affected well pursuant
to the provisions of Article VI.B.2.; failure by a party to deliver notice within such period shall
be deemed an election not to participate in the prevailing proposal.
7. Conformity to Spacing Pattern. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article
VI.B.2., it is agreed that no xxxxx shall be proposed to be drilled to or Completed in or produced
from a Zone from which a
14
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
well located elsewhere on the Contract Area is producing, unless such well conforms to the
then-existing well spacing pattern for such Zone.
8. Paving Xxxxx. No party shall conduct any Reworking, Deepening, Plugging Back,
Completion, Recompletion, or Sidetracking operation under this agreement with respect to any well
then capable of producing in paying quantities except with the consent of all parties that have not
relinquished interests in the well at the time of such operation.
C . Completion of Xxxxx; Reworking and Plugging Back:
1. Completion: Without the consent of all parties, no well shall be drilled, Deepened
or Sidetracked, except any well drilled, Deepened or Sidetracked pursuant to the provisions of
Article VI.B.2. of this agreement. Consent to the drilling, Deepening or Sidetracking shall
include:
þ | Option No. 1: All necessary expenditures for the drilling, Deepening or Sidetracking, testing, Completing and equipping of the well, including necessary tankage and/or surface facilities. | ||
o | Option No. 2: All necessary expenditures for the drilling, Deepening or Sidetracking and testing of the well. When such well has reached its authorized depth, and all logs, cores and other tests have been completed, and the results thereof furnished to the parties, Operator shall give immediate notice to the Non-Operators having the right to participate in a Completion attempt whether or not Operator recommends attempting to Complete the well, together with Operator’s AFE for Completion costs if not previously provided. The parties receiving such notice shall have forty-eight (48) hours (exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays) in which to elect by delivery of notice to Operator to participate in a recommended Completion attempt or to make a Completion proposal with an accompanying AFE. Operator shall deliver any such Completion proposal, or any Completion proposal conflicting with Operator’s proposal, to the other parties entitled to participate in such Completion in accordance with the procedures specified in Article VI.B.6. Election to participate in a Completion attempt shall include consent to all necessary expenditures for the Completing and equipping of such well, including necessary tankage and/or surface facilities but excluding any stimulation operation not contained on the Completion AFE. Failure of any party receiving such notice to reply within the period above fixed shall constitute an election by that party not to participate in the cost of the Completion attempt; provided, that Article VI.B.6. shall control in the case of conflicting Completion proposals. If one or more, but less than all of the parties, elect to attempt a Completion, the provision of Article VI.B.2. hereof (the phrase “Reworking, Sidetracking, Deepening, Recompleting or Plugging Back” as contained in Article VI.B.2. shall be deemed to include “Completing”) shall apply to the operations thereafter conducted by less than all parties; provided, however, that Article VI.B.2. shall apply separately to each separate Completion or Recompletion attempt undertaken hereunder, and an election to become a Non-Consenting Party as to one Completion or Recompletion attempt shall not prevent a party from becoming a Consenting Party in subsequent Completion or Recompletion attempts regardless whether the Consenting Parties as to earlier Completions or Recompletion have recouped their costs pursuant to Article VI.B.2.; provided further, that any recoupment of costs by a Consenting Party shall be made solely from the production attributable to the Zone in which the Completion attempt is made. Election by a previous Non-Consenting party to participate in a subsequent Completion or Recompletion attempt shall require such party to pay its proportionate share of the cost of salvable materials and equipment installed in the well pursuant to the previous Completion or Recompletion attempt, insofar and only insofar as such materials and equipment benefit the Zone in which such party participates in a Completion attempt. |
2. Rework Recomplete or Plug Back: No well shall be Reworked, Recompleted or Plugged
Back except a well Reworked, Recompleted, or Plugged Back pursuant to the provisions of Article
VI.B.2. of this agreement. Consent to the Reworking, Recompleting or Plugging Back of a well shall
include all necessary expenditures in conducting such operations and Completing and equipping of
said well, including necessary tankage and/or surface facilities.
15
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
D. Other Operations:
Operator shall not undertake any single project reasonably estimated to require an expenditure
in excess of Twenty-five thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) except in connection with the drilling,
Sidetracking, Reworking, Deepening, Completing, Recompleting or Plugging Back of a well that has
been previously authorized by or pursuant to this agreement; provided, however, that, in case of
explosion, fire, flood or other sudden emergency, whether of the same or different nature, Operator
may take such steps and incur such expenses as in its opinion are required to deal with the
emergency to safeguard life and property but Operator, as promptly as possible, shall report the
emergency to the other parties. If Operator prepares an AFE for its own use, Operator shall
furnish any Non-Operator so requesting an information copy thereof for any single project costing
in excess of Twenty-five thousand Dollars ($25,000.00). Any party who has not relinquished its
interest in a well shall have the right to propose that Operator perform repair work or undertake
the installation of artificial lift equipment or ancillary production facilities such as salt water
disposal xxxxx or to conduct additional work with respect to a well drilled hereunder or other
similar project (but not including the installation of gathering lines or other transportation or
marketing facilities, the installation of which shall be governed by separate agreement between the
parties) reasonably estimated to require an expenditure in excess of the amount first set forth
above in this Article VI.D. (except in connection with an operation required to be proposed under
Articles VI.B.1. or VI.C.1. Option No. 2, which shall be governed exclusively by those Articles).
Operator shall deliver such proposal to all parties entitled to participate therein. If within
thirty (30) days thereof Operator secures the written consent of any party or parties owning at
least 50% of the interests of the parties entitled to participate in such operation, each party
having the right to participate in such project shall be bound by the terms of such proposal and
shall be obligated to pay its proportionate share of the costs of the proposed project as if it had
consented to such project pursuant to the terms of the proposal.
E. Abandonment of Xxxxx:
1. Abandonment of Dry Holes: Except for any well drilled or Deepened pursuant to
Article VI.B.2., any well which has been drilled or Deepened under the terms of this agreement and
is proposed to be completed as a dry hole shall not be plugged and abandoned without the consent of
all parties. Should Operator, after diligent effort, be unable to contact any party, or should any
party fail to reply within forty-eight (48) hours (exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and legal
holidays) after delivery of notice of the proposal to plug and abandon such well, such party shall
be deemed to have consented to the proposed abandonment. All such xxxxx shall be plugged and
abandoned in accordance with applicable regulations and at the cost, risk and expense of the
parties who participated in the cost of drilling or Deepening such well. Any party who objects to
plugging and abandoning such well by notice delivered to Operator within forty-eight (48) hours
(exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays) after delivery of notice of the proposed
plugging shall take over the well as of the end of such forty-eight (48) hour notice period and
conduct further operations in search of Oil and/or Gas subject to the provisions of Article VI.B.;
failure of such party to provide proof reasonably satisfactory to Operator of its financial
capability to conduct such operations or to take over the well within such period or thereafter to
conduct operations on such well or plug and abandon such well shall entitle Operator to retain or
take possession of the well and plug and abandon the well. The party taking over the well shall
indemnify Operator (if Operator is an abandoning party) and the other abandoning parties against
liability for any further operations conducted on such well except for the costs of plugging and
abandoning the well and restoring the surface, for which the abandoning parties shall remain
proportionately liable.
2. Abandonment of Xxxxx That Have Produced: Except for any well in which a
Non-Consent operation has been conducted hereunder for which the Consenting Parties have not been
fully reimbursed as herein provided, any well which has been completed as a producer shall not be
plugged and abandoned without the consent of all parties. If all parties consent to such
abandonment, the well shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with applicable regulations and
at the cost, risk and expense of all the parties hereto. Failure of a party to reply within sixty
(60) days of delivery of notice of proposed abandonment shall be deemed an election to consent to
the proposal. If, within sixty (60) days after delivery of notice of the proposed abandonment of
any well, all parties do not agree to the abandonment of such well, those wishing to continue its
operation from the Zone then open to
16
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
production shall be obligated to take over the well as of the expiration of the applicable
notice period and shall indemnify Operator (if Operator is an abandoning party) and the other
abandoning parties against liability for any further operations on the well conducted by such
parties. Failure of such party or parties to provide proof reasonably satisfactory to Operator of
their financial capability to conduct such operations or to take over the well within the required
period or thereafter to conduct operations on such well shall entitle Operator to retain or take
possession of such well and plug and abandon the well.
Parties taking over a well as provided herein shall tender to each of the other parties its
proportionate share of the value of the well’s salvable material and equipment, determined in
accordance with the provisions of Exhibit “C,” less the estimated cost of salvaging and the
estimated cost of plugging and abandoning and restoring the surface; provided, however, that in the
event the estimated plugging and abandoning and surface restoration costs and the estimated cost of
salvaging are higher than the value of the well’s salvable material and equipment, each of the
abandoning parties shall tender to the parties continuing operations their proportionate shares of
the estimated excess cost. Each abandoning party shall assign to the non-abandoning parties,
without warranty, express or implied, as to title or as to quantity, or fitness for use of the
equipment and material, all of its interest in the wellbore of the well and related equipment,
together with its interest in the Leasehold insofar and only insofar as such Leasehold covers the
right to obtain production from that wellbore in the Zone then open to production. If the interest
of the abandoning party is or includes an Oil and Gas Interest, such party shall execute and
deliver to the non-abandoning party or parties an oil and gas lease, limited to the wellbore and
the Zone then open to production, for a term of one (1) year and so long thereafter as Oil and/or
Gas is produced from the Zone covered thereby, such lease to be on the form attached as Exhibit
“B.” The assignments or leases so limited shall encompass the Drilling Unit upon which the well is
located. The payments by, and the assignments or leases to, the assignees shall be in a ratio
based upon the relationship of their respective percentage of participation in the Contract Area to
the aggregate of the percentages of participation in the Contract Area of all assignees. There
shall be no readjustment of interests in the remaining portions of the Contract Area.
Thereafter, abandoning parties shall have no further responsibility, liability, or interest in
the operation of or production from the well in the Zone then open other than the royalties
retained in any lease made under the terms of this Article. Upon request, Operator shall continue
to operate the assigned well for the account of the non-abandoning parties at the rates and charges
contemplated by this agreement, plus any additional cost and charges which may arise as the result
of the separate ownership of the assigned well. Upon proposed abandonment of the producing Zone
assigned or leased, the assignor or lessor shall then have the option to repurchase its prior
interest in the well (using the same valuation formula) and participate in further operations
therein subject to the provisions hereof.
3. Abandonment of Non-Consent Operations: The provisions of Article VI.E.1. or
VI.E.2. above shall be applicable as between Consenting Parties in the event of the proposed
abandonment of any well excepted from said Articles; provided, however, no well shall be
permanently plugged and abandoned unless and until all parties having the right to conduct further
operations therein have been notified of the proposed abandonment and afforded the opportunity to
elect to take over the well in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI.E.; and provided
further, that Non-Consenting Parties who own an interest in a portion of the well shall pay their
proportionate shares of abandonment and surface restoration cosst for such well as provided in
Article VI.B.2.(b).
F. Termination of Operations:
Upon the commencement of an operation for the drilling, Reworking, Sidetracking, Plugging
Back, Deepening, testing, Completion or plugging of a well, including but not limited to the
Initial Well, such operation shall not be terminated without consent of parties bearing 50% of the
costs of such operation; provided, however, that in the event granite or other practically
impenetrable substance or condition in the hole is encountered which renders further operations
impractical, Operator may discontinue operations and give notice of such condition in the manner
provided in Article VI.B.1, and the provisions of Article VI.B. or VI.E. shall thereafter apply to
such operation, as appropriate.
17
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
ARTICLE VII.
EXPENDITURES AND LIABILITY OF PARTIES
EXPENDITURES AND LIABILITY OF PARTIES
A Liability of Parties:
The liability of the parties shall be several, not joint or collective. Each party shall be
responsible only for its obligations, and shall be liable only for its proportionate share of the
costs of developing and operating the Contract Area. Accordingly, the liens granted among the
parties in Article VII.B. are given to secure only the debts of each severally, and no party shall
have any liability to third parties hereunder to satisfy the default of any other party in the
payment of any expense or obligation hereunder. It is not the intention of the parties to create,
nor shall this agreement be construed as creating, a mining or other partnership, joint venture,
agency relationship or association, or to render the parties liable as partners, co-venturers, or
principals. In their relations with each other under this agreement, the parties shall not be
considered fiduciaries or to have established a confidential relationship but rather shall be free
to act on an arm’s-length basis in accordance with their own respective self-interest, subject,
however, to the obligation of the parties to act in good faith in their dealings with each other
with respect to activities hereunder.
B Liens and Security Interests:
Each party grants to the other parties hereto a lien upon any interest it now owns or
hereafter acquires in Oil and Gas Leases and Oil and Gas Interests in the Contract Area, and a
security interest and/or purchase money security interest in any interest it now owns or hereafter
acquires in the personal property and fixtures on or used or obtained for use in connection
therewith, to secure performance of all of its obligations under this agreement including but not
limited to payment of expense, interest and fees, the proper disbursement of all monies paid
hereunder, the assignment or relinquishment of interest in Oil and Gas Leases as required
hereunder, and the proper performance of operations hereunder. Such lien and security interest
granted by each party hereto shall include such party’s leasehold interests, working interests,
operating rights, and royalty and overriding royalty interests in the Contract Area now owned or
hereafter acquired and in lands pooled or unitized therewith or otherwise becoming subject to this
agreement, the Oil and Gas when extracted therefrom and equipment situated thereon or used or
obtained for use in connection therewith (including, without limitation, all xxxxx, tools, and
tubular goods), and accounts (including, without limitation, accounts arising from gas imbalances
or from the sale of Oil and/or Gas at the wellhead), contract rights, inventory and general
intangibles relating thereto or arising therefrom, and all proceeds and products of the foregoing.
To perfect the lien and security agreement provided herein, each party hereto shall execute
and acknowledge the recording supplement and/or any financing statement prepared and submitted by
any party hereto in conjunction herewith or at any time following execution hereof, and Operator is
authorized to file this agreement or the recording supplement executed herewith as a lien or
mortgage in the applicable real estate records and as a financing statement with the proper officer
under the Uniform Commercial Code in the state in which the Contract Area is situated and such
other states as Operator shall deem appropriate to perfect the security interest granted hereunder.
Any party may file this agreement, the recording supplement executed herewith, or such other
documents as it deems necessary as a lien or mortgage in the applicable real estate records and/or
a financing statement with the proper officer under the Uniform Commercial Code.
Each party represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that the lien and security
interest granted by such party to the other parties shall be a first and prior lien, and each party
hereby agrees to maintain the priority of said lien and security interest against all persons
acquiring an interest in Oil and Gas Leases and Interests covered by this agreement by, through or
under such party. All parties acquiring an interest in Oil and Gas Leases and Oil and Gas
Interests covered by this agreement, whether by assignment, merger, mortgage, operation of law, or
otherwise, shall be deemed to have taken subject to the lien and security interest granted by this
Article VII.B. as to all obligations attributable to such interest hereunder whether or not such
obligations arise before or after such interest is acquired.
To the extent that parties have a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code of the
state in which the Contract Area is situated, they shall be entitled to exercise the rights and
remedies of a secured party under the Code. The bringing of a suit and the obtaining of judgment
by a party for the secured indebtedness shall not be deemed an election of remedies or otherwise
affect
18
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
the lien rights or security interest as security for the payment thereof. In addition, upon
default by any party in the payment of its share of expenses, interests or fees, or upon the
improper use of funds by the Operator, the other parties shall have the right, without prejudice to
other rights or remedies, to collect from the purchaser the proceeds from the sale of such
defaulting party’s share of Oil and Gas until the amount owed by such party, plus interest as
provided in “Exhibit C,” has been received, and shall have the right to offset the amount owed
against the proceeds from the sale of such defaulting party’s share of Oil and Gas. All purchasers
of production may rely on a notification of default from the non-defaulting party or parties
stating the amount due as a result of the default, and all parties waive any recourse available
against purchasers for releasing production proceeds as provided in this paragraph.
If any party fails to pay its share of cost within one hundred twenty (120) days after
rendition of a statement therefor by Operator, the non-defaulting parties, including Operator,
shall upon request by Operator, pay the unpaid amount in the proportion that the interest of each
such party bears to the interest of all such parties. The amount paid by each party so paying its
share of the unpaid amount shall be secured by the liens and security rights described in Article
VII.B., and each paying party may independently pursue any remedy available hereunder or otherwise.
If any party does not perform all of its obligations hereunder, and the failure to perform
subjects such party to foreclosure or execution proceedings pursuant to the provisions of this
agreement, to the extent allowed by governing law, the defaulting party waives any available right
of redemption from and after the date of judgment, any required valuation or appraisement of the
mortgaged or secured property prior to sale, any available right to stay execution or to require a
marshalling of assets and any required bond in the event a receiver is appointed. In addition, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereby grants to the other parties a power of
sale as to any property that is subject to the lien and security rights granted hereunder, such
power to be exercised in the manner provided by applicable law or otherwise in a commercially
reasonable manner and upon reasonable notice.
Each party agrees that the other parties shall be entitled to utilize the provisions of Oil
and Gas lien law or other lien law of any state in which the Contract Area is situated to enforce
the obligations of each party hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, Non-Operators agree that Operator may invoke or utilize the
mechanics’ or materialmen’s lien law of the state in which the Contract Area is situated in order
to secure the payment to Operator of any sum due hereunder for services performed or materials
supplied by Operator.
C Advances:
Operator, at its election, shall have the right from time to time to demand and receive from
one or more of the other parties payment in advance of their respective shares of the estimated
amount of the expense to be incurred in operations hereunder during the next succeeding month,
which right may be exercised only by submission to each such party of an itemized statement of such
estimated expense, together with an invoice for its share thereof. Each such statement and invoice
for the payment in advance of estimated expense shall be submitted on or before the 20th day of the
next preceding month. Each party shall pay to Operator its proportionate share of such estimate
within fifteen (15) days after such estimate and invoice is received. If any party fails to pay
its share of said estimate within said time, the amount due shall bear interest as provided in
Exhibit “C” until paid. Proper adjustment shall be made monthly between advances and actual
expense to the end that each party shall bear and pay its proportionate share of actual expenses
incurred, and no more.
D Defaults and Remedies:
If any party fails to discharge any financial obligation under this agreement, including
without limitation the failure to make any advance under the preceding Article VII.C. or any other
provision of this agreement, within the period required for such payment hereunder, then in
addition to the remedies provided in Article VII.B. or elsewhere in this agreement, the remedies
specified below shall be applicable. For purposes of this Article VII.D., all notices and elections
shall be delivered only by Operator, except that Operator shall deliver any such notice and
election requested by a non-defaulting Non-Operator, and when
19
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
Operator is the party in default, the applicable notices and elections can be delivered by any
Non-Operator. Election of any one or more of the following remedies shall not preclude the
subsequent use of any other remedy specified below or otherwise available to a non-defaulting
party.
1. Suspension of Rights: Any party may deliver to the party in default a Notice of
Default, which shall specify the default, specify the action to be taken to cure the default, and
specify that failure to take such action will result in the exercise of one or more of the remedies
provided in this Article. If the default is not cured within thirty (30) days of the delivery of
such Notice of Default, all of the rights of the defaulting party granted by this agreement may
upon notice be suspended until the default is cured, without prejudice to the right of the
non-defaulting party or parties to continue to enforce the obligations of the defaulting party
previously accrued or thereafter accruing under this agreement. If Operator is the party in
default, the Non-Operators shall have in addition the right, by vote of Non-Operators owning a
majority in interest in the Contract Area after excluding the voting interest of Operator, to
appoint a new Operator effective immediately. The rights of a defaulting party that may be
suspended hereunder at the election of the non-defaulting parties shall include, without
limitation, the right to receive information as to any operation conducted hereunder during the
period of such default, the right to elect to participate in an operation proposed under Article
VI.B. of this agreement, the right to participate in an operation being conducted under this
agreement even if the party has previously elected to participate in such operation, and the right
to receive proceeds of production from any well subject to this agreement.
2. Suit for Damages: Non-defaulting parties or Operator for the benefit of
non-defaulting parties may xxx (at joint account expense) to collect the amounts in default, plus
interest accruing on the amounts recovered from the date of default until the date of collection at
the rate specified in Exhibit “C” attached hereto. Nothing herein shall prevent any party from
suing any defaulting party to collect consequential damages accruing to such party as a result of
the default.
3. Deemed Non-Consent: The non-defaulting party may deliver a written Notice of
Non-Consent Election to the defaulting party at any time after the expiration of the thirty-day
cure period following delivery of the Notice of Default, in which event if the billing is for the
drilling of a new well or the Plugging Back, Sidetracking, Reworking or Deepening of a well which
is to be or has been plugged as a dry hole, or for the Completion or Recompletion of any well, the
defaulting party will be conclusively deemed to have elected not to participate in the operation
and to be a Non-Consenting Party with respect thereto under Article VI.B. or VI.C., as the case may
be, to the extent of the costs unpaid by such party, notwithstanding any election to participate
theretofore made. If election is made to proceed under this provision, then the non-defaulting
parties may not elect to xxx for the unpaid amount pursuant to Article VII.D.2.
Until the delivery of such Notice of Non-Consent Election to the defaulting party, such party
shall have the right to cure its default by paying its unpaid share of costs plus interest at the
rate set forth in Exhibit “C,” provided, however, such payment shall not prejudice the rights of
the non-defaulting parties to pursue remedies for damages incurred by the non-defaulting parties as
a result of the default. Any interest relinquished pursuant to this Article VII.D.3. shall be
offered to the non-defaulting parties in proportion to their interests, and the non-defaulting
parties electing to participate in the ownership of such interest shall be required to contribute
their shares of the defaulted amount upon their election to participate therein.
4. Advance Payment: If a default is not cured within thirty (30) days of the delivery
of a Notice of Default, Operator, or Non-Operators if Operator is the defaulting party, may
thereafter require advance payment from the defaulting party of such defaulting party’s anticipated
share of any item of expense for which Operator, or Non-Operators, as the case may be, would be
entitled to reimbursement under any provision of this agreement, whether or not such expense was
the subject of the previous default. Such right includes, but is not limited to, the right to
require advance payment for the estimated costs of drilling a well or Completion of a well as to
which an election to participate in drilling or Completion has been made. If the defaulting party
fails to pay the required advance payment, the non-defaulting parties may pursue any of the
remedies provided in this Article VII.D. or any other default remedy
20
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
provided elsewhere in this agreement. Any excess of funds advanced remaining when the
operation is completed and all costs have been paid shall be promptly returned to the advancing
party.
5. Costs and Attorneys’ Fees: In the event any party is required to bring legal
proceedings to enforce any financial obligation of a party hereunder, the prevailing party in such
action shall be entitled to recover all court costs, costs of collection, and a reasonable
attorney’s fee, which the lien provided for herein shall also secure.
E Rentals, Shut-in Well Payments and Minimum Royalties:
Rentals, shut-in well payments and minimum royalties which may be required under the terms of
any lease shall be paid by the party or parties who subjected such lease to this agreement at its
or their expense. In the event two or more parties own and have contributed interests in the same
lease to this agreement, such parties may designate one of such parties to make said payments for
and on behalf of all such parties. Any party may request, and shall be entitled to receive, proper
evidence of all such payments. In the event of failure to make proper payment of any rental,
shut-in well payment or minimum royalty through mistake or oversight where such payment is required
to continue the lease in force, any loss which results from such non-payment shall be borne in
accordance with the provisions of Article IV.B.2.
Operator shall notify Non-Operators of the anticipated completion of a shut-in well, or the
shutting in or return to production of a producing well, at least five (5) days (excluding
Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays) prior to taking such action, or at the earliest opportunity
permitted by circumstances, but assumes no liability for failure to do so. In the event of failure
by Operator to so notify Non-Operators, the loss of any lease contributed hereto by Non-Operators
for failure to make timely payments of any shut-in well payment shall be borne jointly by the
parties hereto under the provisions of Article IV.B.3.
F Taxes:
Beginning with the first calendar year after the effective date hereof, Operator shall render
for ad valorem taxation all property subject to this agreement which by law should be rendered for
such taxes, and it shall pay all such taxes assessed thereon before they become delinquent. Prior
to the rendition date, each Non-Operator shall furnish Operator information as to burdens (to
include, but not be limited to, royalties, overriding royalties and production payments) on Leases
and Oil and Gas Interests contributed by such Non-Operator. If the assessed valuation of any Lease
is reduced by reason of its being subject to outstanding excess royalties, overriding royalties or
production payments, the reduction in ad valorem taxes resulting therefrom shall inure to the
benefit of the owner or owners of such Lease, and Operator shall adjust the charge to such owner or
owners so as to reflect the benefit of such reduction. If the ad valorem taxes are based in whole
or in part upon separate valuations of each party’s working interest, then notwithstanding anything
to the contrary herein, charges to the joint account shall be made and paid by the parties hereto
in accordance with the tax value generated by each party’s working interest. Operator shall xxxx
the other parties for their proportionate shares of all tax payments in the manner provided in
Exhibit “C.” If Operator considers any tax assessment improper, Operator may, at its discretion,
protest within the time and manner prescribed by law, and prosecute the protest to a final
determination, unless all parties agree to abandon the protest prior to final determination. During
the pendency of administrative or judicial proceedings, Operator may elect to pay, under protest,
all such taxes and any interest and penalty. When any such protested assessment shall have been
finally determined, Operator shall pay the tax for the joint account, together with any interest
and penalty accrued, and the total cost shall then be assessed against the parties, and be paid by
them, as provided in Exhibit “C.”
Each party shall pay or cause to be paid all production, severance, excise, gathering and
other taxes imposed upon or with respect to the production or handling of such party’s share of Oil
and Gas produced under the terms of this agreement.
21
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
ARTICLE VIII.
ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE OR TRANSFER OF INTEREST
ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE OR TRANSFER OF INTEREST
A Surrender of Leases:
The Leases covered by this agreement, insofar as they embrace acreage in the Contract Area,
shall not be surrendered in whole or in part unless all parties consent thereto.
However, should any party desire to surrender its interest in any Lease or in any portion
thereof, such party shall give written notice of the proposed surrender to all parties, and the
parties to whom such notice is delivered shall have thirty (30) days after delivery of the notice
within which to notify the party proposing the surrender whether they elect to consent thereto.
Failure of a party to whom such notice is delivered to reply within said 30-day period shall
constitute a consent to the surrender of the Leases described in the notice. If all parties do not
agree or consent thereto, the party desiring to surrender shall assign, without express or implied
warranty of title, all of its interest in such Lease, or portion thereof, and any well, material
and equipment which may be located thereon and any rights in production thereafter secured, to the
parties not consenting to such surrender. If the interest of the assigning party is or includes an
Oil and Gas Interest, the assigning party shall execute and deliver to the party or parties not
consenting to such surrender an oil and gas lease covering such Oil and Gas Interest for a term of
one (1) year and so long thereafter as Oil and/or Gas is produced from the land covered thereby,
such lease to be on the form attached hereto as Exhibit “B.” Upon such assignment or lease, the
assigning party shall be relieved from all obligations thereafter accruing, but not theretofore
accrued, with respect to the interest assigned or leased and the operation of any well attributable
thereto, and the assigning party shall have no further interest in the assigned or leased premises
and its equipment and production other than the royalties retained in any lease made under the
terms of this Article. The party assignee or lessee shall pay to the party assignor or lessor the
reasonable salvage value of the latter’s interest in any well’s salvable materials and equipment
attributable to the assigned or leased acreage. The value of all salvable materials and equipment
shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit “C,” less the estimated cost of
salvaging and the estimated cost of plugging and abandoning and restoring the surface. If such
value is less than such costs, then the party assignor or lessor shall pay to the party assignee or
lessee the amount of such deficit. If the assignment or lease is in favor of more than one party,
the interest shall be shared by such parties in the proportions that the interest of each bears to
the total interest of all such parties. If the interest of the parties to whom the assignment is
to be made varies according to depth, then the interest assigned shall similarly reflect such
variances.
Any assignment, lease or surrender made under this provision shall not reduce or change the
assignor’s, lessor’s or surrendering party’s interest as it was immediately before the assignment,
lease or surrender in the balance of the Contract Area; and the acreage assigned, leased or
surrendered, and subsequent operations thereon, shall not thereafter be subject to the terms and
provisions of this agreement but shall be deemed subject to an Operating Agreement in the form of
this agreement.
B Renewal or Extension of Leases:
If any party secures a renewal or replacement of an Oil and Gas Lease or Interest subject to
this agreement, then all other parties shall be notified promptly upon such acquisition or, in the
case of a replacement Lease taken before expiration of an existing Lease, promptly upon expiration
of the existing Lease. The parties notified shall have the right for a period of thirty (30) days
following delivery of such notice in which to elect to participate in the ownership of the renewal
or replacement Lease, insofar as such Lease affects lands within the Contract Area, by paying to
the party who acquired it their proportionate shares of the acquisition cost allocated to that part
of such Lease within the Contract Area, which shall be in proportion to the interests held at that
time by the parties in the Contract Area. Each party who participates in the purchase of a renewal
or replacement Lease shall be given an assignment of its proportionate interest therein by the
acquiring party.
If some, but less than all, of the parties elect to participate in the purchase of a renewal
or replacement Lease, it shall be owned by the parties who elect to participate therein, in a ratio
based upon the relationship of
22
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
their respective percentage of participation in the Contract Area to the aggregate of the
percentages of participation in the Contract Area of all parties participating in the purchase of
such renewal or replacement Lease. The acquisition of a renewal or replacement Lease by any or all
of the parties hereto shall not cause a readjustment of the interests of the parties stated in
Exhibit “A,” but any renewal or replacement Lease in which less than all parties elect to
participate shall not be subject to this agreement but shall be deemed subject to a separate
Operating Agreement in the form of this agreement.
If the interests of the parties in the Contract Area vary according to depth, then their right
to participate proportionately in renewal or replacement Leases and their right to receive an
assignment of interest shall also reflect such depth variances.
The provisions of this Article shall apply to renewal or replacement Leases whether they are
for the entire interest covered by the expiring Lease or cover only a portion of its area or an
interest therein. Any renewal or replacement Lease taken before the expiration of its predecessor
Lease, or taken or contracted for or becoming effective within six (6) months after the expiration
of the existing Lease, shall be subject to this provision so long as this agreement is in effect at
the time of such acquisition or at the time the renewal or replacement Lease becomes effective; but
any Lease taken or contracted for more than six (6) months after the expiration of an existing
Lease shall not be deemed a renewal or replacement Lease and shall not be subject to the provisions
of this agreement.
The provisions in this Article shall also be applicable to extensions of Oil and Gas Leases.
C Acreage or Cash Contributions:
While this agreement is in force, if any party contracts for a contribution of cash towards
the drilling of a well or any other operation on the Contract Area, such contribution shall be paid
to the party who conducted the drilling or other operation and shall be applied by it against the
cost of such drilling or other operation. If the contribution be in the form of acreage, the party
to whom the contribution is made shall promptly tender an assignment of the acreage, without
warranty of title, to the Drilling Parties in the proportions said Drilling Parties shared the cost
of drilling the well. Such acreage shall become a separate Contract Area and, to the extent
possible, be governed by provisions identical to this agreement. Each party shall promptly notify
all other parties of any acreage or cash contributions it may obtain in support of any well or any
other operation on the Contract Area. The above provisions shall also be applicable to optional
rights to earn acreage outside the Contract Area which are in support of well drilled inside the
Contract Area.
If any party contracts for any consideration relating to disposition of such party’s share of
substances produced hereunder, such consideration shall not be deemed a contribution as
contemplated in this Article VIII.C.
D Assignment; Maintenance of Uniform Interest:
For the purpose of maintaining uniformity of ownership in the Contract Area in the Oil and Gas
Leases, Oil and Gas Interests, xxxxx, equipment and production covered by this agreement no party
shall sell, encumber, transfer or make other disposition of its interest in the Oil and Gas Leases
and Oil and Gas Interests embraced within the Contract Area or in xxxxx, equipment and production
unless such disposition covers either:
1. the entire interest of the party in all Oil and Gas Leases, Oil and Gas Interests, xxxxx,
equipment and production; or
2. an equal undivided percent of the party’s present interest in all Oil and Gas Leases, Oil
and Gas Interests, xxxxx, equipment and production in the Contract Area.
Every sale, encumbrance, transfer or other disposition made by any party shall be made
expressly subject to this agreement and shall be made without prejudice to the right of the other
parties, and any
23
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
transferee of an ownership interest in any Oil and Gas Lease or Interest shall be deemed a
party to this agreement as to the interest conveyed from and after the effective date of the
transfer of ownership; provided, however, that the other parties shall not be required to recognize
any such sale, encumbrance, transfer or other disposition for any purpose hereunder until thirty
(30) days after they have received a copy of the instrument of transfer or other satisfactory
evidence thereof in writing from the transferor or transferee. No assignment or other disposition
of interest by a party shall relieve such party of obligations previously incurred by such party
hereunder with respect to the interest transferred, including without limitation the obligation of
a party to pay all costs attributable to an operation conducted hereunder in which such party has
agreed to participate prior to making such assignment, and the lien and security interest granted
by Article VII.B. shall continue to burden the interest transferred to secure payment of any such
obligations.
If, at any time the interest of any party is divided among and owned by four or more
co-owners, Operator, at its discretion, may require such co-owners to appoint a single trustee or
agent with full authority to receive notices, approve expenditures, receive xxxxxxxx for and
approve and pay such party’s share of the joint expenses, and to deal generally with, and with
power to bind, the co-owners of such party’s interest within the scope of the operations embraced
in this agreement; however, all such co-owners shall have the right to enter into and execute all
contracts or agreements for the disposition of their respective shares of the Oil and Gas produced
from the Contract Area and they shall have the right to receive, separately, payment of the sale
proceeds thereof.
E Waiver of Rights to Partition:
If permitted by the laws of the state or states in which the property covered hereby is
located, each party hereto owning an undivided interest in the Contract Area waives any and all
rights it may have to partition and have set aside to it in severalty its undivided interest
therein.
ARTICLE IX.
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE ELECTION
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE ELECTION
If, for federal income tax purposes, this agreement and the operations hereunder are regarded
as a partnership, and if the parties have not otherwise agreed to form a tax partnership pursuant
to Exhibit “G” or other agreement between them, each party thereby affected elects to be excluded
from the application of all of the provisions of Subchapter “K,” Chapter 1, Subtitle “A,” of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), as permitted and authorized by Section 761 of
the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Operator is authorized and directed to
execute on behalf of each party hereby affected such evidence of this election as may be required
by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States or the Federal Internal Revenue Service,
including specifically, but not by way of limitation, all of the returns, statements, and the data
required by Treasury Regulation §1.761. Should there be any requirement that each party hereby
affected give further evidence of this election, each such party shall execute such documents and
furnish such other evidence as may be required by the Federal Internal Revenue Service or as may be
necessary to evidence this election. No such party shall give any notices or take any other action
inconsistent with the election made hereby. If any present or future income tax laws of the state
or states in which the Contract Area is located or any future income tax laws of the United States
contain provisions similar to those in Subchapter “K,” Chapter 1, Subtitle “A,” of the Code, under
which an election similar to that provided by Section 761 of the Code is permitted, each party
hereby affected shall make such election as may be permitted or required by such laws. In making
the foregoing election, each such party states that the income derived by such party from
operations hereunder can be adequately determined without the computation of partnership taxable
income.
ARTICLE X.
CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS
CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS
Operator may settle any single uninsured third party damage claim or suit arising from
operations hereunder if the expenditure does not exceed twenty-five thousand Dollars ($25,000.00)
and if the payment is in complete settlement of such claim or suit. If the amount required for
settlement exceeds the above amount, the
24
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
parties hereto shall assume and take over the further handling of the claim or suit, unless such
authority is delegated to Operator. All costs and expenses of handling settling, or otherwise
discharging such claim or suit shall be at the joint expense of the parties participating in the
operation from which the claim or suit arises. If a claim is made against any party or if any
party is sued on account of any matter arising from operations hereunder over which such individual
has no control because of the rights given Operator by this agreement, such party shall immediately
notify all other parties, and the claim or suit shall be treated as any other claim or suit
involving operations hereunder.
ARTICLE XI.
FORCE MAJEURE
FORCE MAJEURE
If any party is rendered unable, wholly or in part, by force majeure to carry out its
obligations under this agreement, other than the obligation to indemnify or make money payments or
furnish security, that party shall give to all other parties prompt written notice of the force
majeure with reasonably full particulars concerning it; thereupon, the obligations of the party
giving the notice, so far as they are affected by the force majeure, shall be suspended during, but
no longer than, the continuance of the force majeure. The term “force majeure,” as here employed,
shall mean an act of God, strike, lockout, or other industrial disturbance, act of the public
enemy, war, blockade, public riot, lightning, fire, storm, flood or other act of nature, explosion,
governmental action, governmental delay, restraint or inaction, unavailability of equipment, and
any other cause, whether of the kind specifically enumerated above or otherwise, which is not
reasonably within the control of the party claiming suspension.
The affected party shall use all reasonable diligence to remove the force majeure situation as
quickly as practicable. The requirement that any force majeure shall be remedied with all
reasonable dispatch shall not require the settlement of strikes, lockouts, or other labor
difficulty by the party involved, contrary to its wishes; how all such difficulties shall be
handled shall be entirely within the discretion of the party concerned.
ARTICLE XII.
NOTICES
NOTICES
All notices authorized or required between the parties by any of the provisions of this
agreement, unless otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and delivered in person or
by United States mail, courier service, telegram, telex, telecopier or any other form of facsimile,
postage or charges prepaid, and addressed to such parties at the addresses listed on Exhibit “A.”
All telephone or oral notices permitted by this agreement shall be confirmed immediately thereafter
by written notice. The originating notice given under any provision hereof shall be deemed
delivered only when received by the party to whom such notice is directed, and the time for such
party to deliver any notice in response thereto shall run from the date the originating notice is
received. “Receipt” for purposes of this agreement with respect to written notice delivered
hereunder shall be actual delivery of the notice to the address of the party to be notified
specified in accordance with this agreement, or to the telecopy, facsimile or telex machine of such
party. The second or any responsive notice shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the United
States mail or at the office of the courier or telegraph service, or upon transmittal by telex,
telecopy or facsimile, or when personally delivered to the party to be notified, provided, that
when response is required within 24 or 48 hours, such response shall be given orally or by
telephone, telex, telecopy or other facsimile within such period. Each party shall have the right
to change its address at any time, and from time to time, by giving written notice thereof to all
other parties. If a party is not available to receive notice orally or by telephone when a party
attempts to deliver a notice required to be delivered within 24 or 48 hours, the notice may be
delivered in writing by any other method specified herein and shall be deemed delivered in the same
manner provided above for any responsive notice.
25
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
ARTICLE XIII.
TERM OF AGREEMENT
TERM OF AGREEMENT
This agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the Oil and Gas Leases and/or Oil
and Gas Interests subject hereto for the period of time selected below; provided, however, no party
hereto shall ever be construed as having any right, title or interest in or to any Lease or Oil and
Gas Interest contributed by any other party beyond the term of this agreement.
þ | Option No. 1: So long as any of the Oil and Gas Leases subject to this agreement remain or are continued in force as to any part of the Contract Area, whether by production, extension, renewal or otherwise. | ||
o | Option No. 2: In the event the well described in Article VI.A., or any subsequent well drilled under any provision of this agreement, results in the Completion of a well as a well capable of production of Oil and/or Gas in paying quantities, this agreement shall continue in force so long as any such well is capable of production, and for an additional period of ___days thereafter; provided, however, if, prior to the expiration of such additional period, one or more of the parties hereto are engaged in drilling, Reworking, Deepening, Sidetracking, Plugging Back, testing or attempting to Complete or Re-complete a well or xxxxx hereunder, this agreement shall continue in force until such operations have been completed and if production results therefrom, this agreement shall continue in force as provided herein. In the event the well described in Article VI.A., or any subsequent well drilled hereunder, results in a dry hole, and no other well is capable of producing Oil and/or Gas from the Contract Area, this agreement shall terminate unless drilling, Deepening, Sidetracking, Completing, Re-completing, Plugging Back or Reworking operations are commenced within ___days from the date of abandonment of said well. “Abandonment” for such purposes shall mean either (i) a decision by all parties not to conduct any further operations on the well or (ii) the elapse of 180 days from the conduct of any operations on the well, whichever first occurs. |
The termination of this agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any expense,
liability or other obligation or any remedy therefor which has accrued or attached prior to the
date of such termination.
Upon termination of this agreement and the satisfaction of all obligations hereunder, in the
event a memorandum of this Operating Agreement has been filed of record, Operator is authorized to
file of record in all necessary recording offices a notice of termination, and each party hereto
agrees to execute such a notice of termination as to Operator’s interest, upon request of Operator,
if Operator has satisfied all its financial obligations.
ARTICLE XIV.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
A Laws, Regulations and Orders:
This agreement shall be subject to the applicable laws of the state in which the Contract Area
is located, to the valid rules, regulations, and orders of any duly constituted regulatory body of
said state; and to all other applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, rules,
regulations and orders.
B Governing Law:
This agreement and all matters pertaining hereto, including but not limited to matters of
performance, nonperformance, breach, remedies, procedures, rights, duties, and interpretation or
construction, shall be governed and determined by the law of the state in which the Contract Area
is located. If the Contract Area is in two or more states, the law of the state of Texas shall
govern.
C Regulatory Agencies:
Nothing herein contained shall grant, or be construed to grant, Operator the right or
authority to waive or release any rights, privileges, or obligations which Non-Operators may have
under federal or state laws
26
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
or under rules, regulations or orders promulgated under such laws in reference to oil, gas and
mineral operations, including the location, operation, or production of xxxxx, on tracts offsetting
or adjacent to the Contract Area.
With respect to the operations hereunder, Non-Operators agree to release Operator from any and
all losses, damages, injuries, claims and causes of action arising out of, incident to or resulting
directly or indirectly from Operator’s interpretation or application of rules, rulings, regulations
or orders of the Department of Energy or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or predecessor or
successor agencies to the extent such interpretation or application was made in good faith and does
not constitute gross negligence. Each Non-Operator further agrees to reimburse Operator for such
Non-Operator’s share of production or any refund, fine, levy or other governmental sanction that
Operator may be required to pay as a result of such an incorrect interpretation or application,
together with interest and penalties thereon owing by Operator as a result of such incorrect
interpretation or application.
ARTICLE XV.
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
A Execution:
This agreement shall be binding upon each Non-Operator when this agreement or a counterpart
thereof has been executed by such Non-Operator and Operator notwithstanding that this agreement is
not then or thereafter executed by all of the parties to which it is tendered or which are listed
on Exhibit “A” as owning an interest in the Contract Area or which own, in fact, an interest in the
Contract Area. Operator may, however, by written notice to all Non-Operators who have become bound
by this agreement as aforesaid, given at any time prior to the actual spud date of the Initial Well
but in no event later than five days prior to the date specified in Article VI.A. for commencement
of the Initial Well, terminate this agreement if Operator in its sole discretion determines that
there is insufficient participation to justify commencement of drilling operations. In the event
of such a termination by Operator, all further obligations of the parties hereunder shall cease as
of such termination. In the event any Non-Operator has advanced or prepaid any share of drilling
or other costs hereunder, all sums so advanced shall be returned to such Non-Operator without
interest. In the event Operator proceeds with drilling operations for the Initial Well without the
execution hereof by all persons listed on Exhibit “A” as having a current working interest in such
well, Operator shall indemnify Non-Operators with respect to all costs incurred for the Initial
Well which would have been charged to such person under this agreement if such person had executed
the same and Operator shall receive all revenues which would have been received by such person
under this agreement if such person had executed the same.
B Successors and Assigns:
This agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective heirs, devisees, legal representatives, successors and assigns, and the terms
hereof shall be deemed to run with the Leases or Interests included within the Contract Area.
C Counterparts:
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
considered an original for all purposes.
D Severability:
For the purposes of assuming or rejecting this agreement as an executory contract pursuant to
federal bankruptcy laws, this agreement shall not be severable, but rather must be assumed or
rejected in its entirety, and the failure of any party to this agreement to comply with all of its
financial obligations provided herein shall be a material default.
27
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
ARTICLE XVI.
OTHER PROVISIONS
OTHER PROVISIONS
A. Termination of Agreement
may terminate this agreement upon the giving of sixty (60) days notice to EnerVest
Operating LLC.
28
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this agreement shall be effective as of the ___day of 2006.
ATTEST OR WITNESS:
|
OPERATOR | |||||||
EnerVest Operating LLC, as contract operator for | ||||||||
By | ||||||||
Type or print name | ||||||||||||
Title | ||||||||||||
Date | ||||||||||||
Tax ID or S.S. No. | ||||||||||||
NON-OPERATORS | ||||
By | ||||||||
Type or print name | ||||||||||
Title | ||||||||||
Date | ||||||||||
Tax ID or S.S. No. | ||||||||||
By | ||||||||
Type or print name | ||||||||||
Title | ||||||||||
Date | ||||||||||
Tax ID or S.S. No. | ||||||||||
29
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
By | ||||||||
Type or print name | ||||||||||
Title | ||||||||||
Date | ||||||||||
Tax ID or S.S. No. | ||||||||||
30
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Note: The following forms of acknowledgment are the short forms approved by the Uniform Law on
Notarial Acts. The validity and effect of these forms in any state will depend upon the statutes
of that state.
Individual acknowledgment:
State of
|
§ | |||
§ | ||||
§ | ||||
§ | ||||
County of |
§ | |||
This instrument was acknowledged before me on by
.
(Seal, if any) |
||||||||||||
Title (and Rank) | ||||||||||||
My commission expires: | ||||||||||||
Acknowledgment in representative capacity:
State of
|
§ | |||
§ | ||||
§ | ||||
§ | ||||
County of
|
§ | |||
This instrument was acknowledged before me on by
as
of
.
(Seal, if any) |
||||||||||||
Title (and Rank) | ||||||||||||
My commission expires: | ||||||||||||
31
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
A.A.P.L.
FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
EXHIBIT “ “
Attached to and made a part of .
ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE
JOINT OPERATIONS
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
JOINT OPERATIONS
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Definitions
“Joint Property” shall mean the real and personal property subject to the agreement to which this
Accounting Procedure is attached.
“Joint Operations” shall mean all operations necessary or proper for the development, operation,
protection and maintenance of the Joint Property.
“Joint Account” shall mean the account showing the charges paid and credits received in the conduct
of the Joint Operations and which are to be shared by the Parties.
“Operator” shall mean the party designated to conduct the Joint Operations.
“Non-Operators” shall mean the Parties to this agreement other than the Operator.
“Parties” shall mean Operator and Non-Operators.
“First Level Supervisors” shall mean those employees whose primary function in Joint Operations is
the direct supervision of other employees and/or contract labor directly employed on the Joint
Property in a field operating capacity.
“Technical Employees” shall mean those employees having special and specific engineering,
geological or other professional skills, and whose primary function in Joint Operations is the
handling of specific operating conditions and problems for the benefit of the Joint Property.
“Personal Expenses” shall mean travel and other reasonable reimbursable expenses of Operator’s
employees.
“Material” shall mean personal property, equipment or supplies acquired or held for use on the
Joint Property.
“Controllable Material” shall mean Material which at the time is so classified in the Material
Classification Manual as most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants
Societies.
2. Statement and Xxxxxxxx
Operator shall xxxx Non-Operators on or before the last day of each month for their proportionate
share of the Joint Account for the preceding month. Such bills will be accompanied by statements
which identify the authority for expenditure, lease or facility, and all charges and credits
summarized by appropriate classifications of investment and expense except that items of
Controllable Material and unusual charges and credits shall be separately identified and fully
described in detail.
3. Advances and Payments by Non-Operators
A. | Unless otherwise provided for in the agreement, the Operator may require the Non-Operators to advance their share of estimated cash outlay for the succeeding month’s operation within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the billing or by the first day of the month for which the advance is required, whichever is later. Operator shall adjust each monthly billing to reflect advances received from the Non-Operators. | ||
B. | Each Non-Operator shall pay its proportion of all bills within fifteen (15) days after receipt. If payment is not made within such time, the unpaid balance shall bear interest monthly at the prime rate in effect at on the first day of the month in which delinquency occurs plus 1% or the maximum contract rate permitted by the applicable usury laws in the state in which the Joint Property is located, whichever is the lesser, plus attorney’s fees, court costs, and other costs in connection with the collection of unpaid amounts. |
4. Adjustments
Payment of any such bills shall not prejudice the right of any Non-Operator to protest or question
the correctness thereof; provided, however, all bills and statements rendered to Non-Operators by
Operator during any calendar year shall conclusively be presumed to be true and correct after
twenty-four (24) months following the end of any such calendar year, unless within the said
twenty-four (24) month period a Non-Operator takes written exception thereto and makes claim on
Operator for adjustment. No adjustment favorable to Operator shall be made unless it is made within
the same prescribed period. The provisions of this paragraph shall not prevent adjustments
resulting from a physical inventory of Controllable Material as provided for in Section V.
32
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
5. Audits
A. | A Non-Operator, upon notice in writing to Operator and all other Non-Operators, shall have the right to audit Operator’s accounts and records relating to the Joint Account for any calendar year within the twenty-four (24) month period following the end of such calendar year; provided, however, the making of an audit shall not extend the time for the taking of written exception to and the adjustments of accounts as provided for in Paragraph 4 of this Section I. Where there are two or more Non-Operators, the Non-Operators shall make every reasonable effort to conduct a joint audit in a manner which will result in a minimum of inconvenience to the Operator. Operator shall bear no portion of the Non-Operators’ audit cost incurred under this paragraph unless agreed to by the Operator. The audits shall not be conducted more than once each year without prior approval of Operator, except upon the resignation or removal of the Operator, and shall be made at the expense of those Non-Operators approving such audit. | ||
B. | The Operator shall reply in writing to an audit report within 180 days after receipt of such report. |
6. Approval By Non-Operators
Where an approval or other agreement of the Parties or Non-Operators is expressly required under other sections of
this Accounting Procedure and if the agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached contains no contrary
provisions in regard thereto, Operator shall notify all Non-Operators of the Operator’s proposal, and the agreement or
approval of a majority in interest of the Non-Operators shall be controlling on all Non-Operators.
II. DIRECT CHARGES
Operator shall charge the Joint Account with the following items:
1. | Ecological and Environmental | |
Costs incurred for the benefit of the Joint Property as a result of governmental or regulatory requirements to satisfy environmental considerations applicable to the Joint Operations. Such costs may include surveys of an ecological or archaeological nature and pollution control procedures as required by applicable laws and regulations | ||
2. | Rentals and Royalties | |
Lease rentals and royalties paid by Operator for the Joint Operations. | ||
3. | Labor |
A. | (1) | Salaries and wages of Operator’s field employees directly employed on Joint Property in the conduct of Joint Operations. |
(2) | Salaries of First Level Supervisors in the field. | ||
(3) | Salaries and wages of Technical Employees directly employed on the Joint Property if such charges are excluded from the overhead rates. | ||
(4) | Salaries and wages of Technical Employees either temporarily or permanently assigned to and directly employed in the operation of the Joint Property if such charges are excluded from the overhead rates. |
B. | Operator’s cost of holiday, vacation, sickness and disability benefits and other customary allowances paid to employees whose salaries and wages are chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraph 3A of this Section II. Such costs under this Paragraph 3B may be charged on a “when and as paid basis” or by “percentage assessment” on the amount of salaries and wages chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraph 3A of this Section II. If percentage assessment is used, the rate shall be based on the Operator’s cost experience. | ||
C. | Expenditures or contributions made pursuant to assessments imposed by governmental authority which are applicable to Operator’s costs chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraphs 3A and 3B of this Section II. | ||
D. | Personal Expenses of those employees whose salaries and wages are chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraph 3A of this Section II. |
33
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
4. | Employee Benefits | |
Operator’s current costs of established plans for employees’ group life insurance, hospitalization, pension, retirement, stock purchase, thrift, bonus, and other benefit plans of a like nature, applicable to Operator’s labor cost chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraphs 3A and 3B of this Section II shall be Operator’s actual cost not to exceed the percent most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies. | ||
5. | Material | |
Material purchased or furnished by Operator for use on the Joint Property as provided under Section IV. Only such Material shall be purchased for or transferred to the Joint Property as may be required for immediate use and is reasonably practical and consistent with efficient and economical operations. The accumulation of surplus stocks shall be avoided. | ||
6. | Transportation | |
Transportation of employees and Material necessary for the Joint Operations but subject to the following limitations: |
A. | If Material is moved to the Joint Property from the Operator’s warehouse or other properties, no charge shall be made to the Joint Account for a distance greater than the distance from the nearest reliable supply store where like material is normally available or railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property unless agreed to by the Parties. | ||
B. | If surplus Material is moved to Operator’s warehouse or other storage point, no charge shall be made to the Joint Account for a distance greater than the distance to the nearest reliable supply store where like material is normally available, or railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property unless agreed to by the Parties. No charge shall be made to the Joint Account for moving Material to other properties belonging to Operator, unless agreed to by the Parties. | ||
C. | In the application of subparagraphs A and B above, the option to equalize or charge actual trucking cost is available when the actual charge is $400 or less excluding accessorial charges. The $400 will be adjusted to the amount most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies. |
7. | Services | |
The cost of contract services, equipment and utilities provided by outside sources, except services excluded by Paragraph 10 of Section II and Paragraph i, ii, and iii, of Section III. The cost of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel directly engaged on the Joint Property if such charges are excluded from the overhead rates. The cost of professional consultant services or contract services of technical personnel not directly engaged on the Joint Property shall not be charged to the Joint Account unless previously agreed to by the Parties. | ||
8. | Equipment and Facilities Furnished By Operator |
A. | Operator shall charge the Joint Account for use of Operator owned equipment and facilities at rates commensurate with costs of ownership and operation. Such rates shall include costs of maintenance, repairs, other operating expense, insurance, taxes, depreciation, and interest on gross investment less accumulated depreciation not to exceed ___percent ( ___%) per annum. Such rates shall not exceed average commercial rates currently prevailing in the immediate area of the Joint Property. | ||
See Attached Addenda | |||
B. | In lieu of charges in paragraph 8A above, Operator may elect to use average commercial rates prevailing in the immediate area of the Joint Property less 20%. For automotive equipment, Operator may elect to use rates published by the Petroleum Motor Transport Association. |
34
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
9. | Damages and Losses to Joint Property | |
All costs or expenses necessary for the repair or replacement of Joint Property made necessary because of damages or losses incurred by fire, flood, storm, theft, accident, or other cause, except those resulting from Operator’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Operator shall furnish Non-Operator written notice of damages or losses incurred as soon as practicable after a report thereof has been received by Operator. | ||
10. | Legal Expense | |
Expense of handling, investigating and settling litigation or claims, discharging of liens, payment of judgements and amounts paid for settlement of claims incurred in or resulting from operations under the agreement or necessary to protect or recover the Joint Property, except that no charge for services of Operator’s legal staff or fees or expense of outside attorneys shall be made unless previously agreed to by the Parties. All other legal expense is considered to be covered by the overhead provisions of Section III unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, except as provided in Section I, Paragraph 3. | ||
11. | Taxes | |
All taxes of every kind and nature assessed or levied upon or in connection with the Joint Property, the operation thereof, or the production therefrom, and which taxes have been paid by the Operator for the benefit of the Parties. If the ad valorem taxes are based in whole or in part upon separate valuations of each party’s working interest, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, charges to the Joint Account shall be made and paid by the Parties hereto in accordance with the tax value generated by each party’s working interest. | ||
12 | Insurance | |
Net premiums paid for insurance required to be carried for the Joint Operations for the protection of the Parties. In the event Joint Operations are conducted in a state in which Operator may act as self-insurer for Worker’s Compensation and/or Employers Liability under the respective state’s laws, Operator may, at its election, include the risk under its self-insurance program and in that event, Operator shall include a charge at Operator’s cost not to exceed manual rates. | ||
13. | Abandonment and Reclamation | |
Costs incurred for abandonment of the Joint Property, including costs required by governmental or other regulatory authority. | ||
14. | Communications | |
Cost of acquiring, leasing, installing, operating, repairing and maintaining communication systems, including radio and microwave facilities directly serving the Joint Property. In the event communication facilities/systems serving the Joint Property are Operator owned, charges to the Joint Account shall be made as provided in Paragraph 8 of this Section II. | ||
15. | Other Expenditures | |
Any other expenditure not covered or dealt with in the foregoing provisions of this Section II, or in Section III and which is of direct benefit to the Joint Property and is incurred by the Operator in the necessary and proper conduct of the Joint Operations,. |
III. OVERHEAD
1. Overhead - Drilling and Producing Operations
i. | As compensation for administrative, supervision, office services and warehousing costs, Operator shall charge drilling and producing operations on either: |
See Attached Addenda | |||
( | ) Fixed Rate Basis, Paragraph 1A, or | ||
( | ) Percentage Basis, Paragraph lB |
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, such charge shall be in lieu of costs and expenses of all offices and salaries or
wages plus applicable burdens and expenses of all personnel, except those directly chargeable
35
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
under Paragraph 3A, Section II. The cost and expense of services from outside sources in connection with matters of taxation, traffic, accounting or matters before or involving governmental agencies shall be considered as included in the overhead rates provided for in the above selected Paragraph of this Section III unless such cost and expense are agreed to by the Parties as a direct charge to the Joint Account. | |||
ii. | The salaries, wages and Personal Expenses of Technical Employees and/or the cost of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel directly employed on the Joint Property: |
See Attached Addenda | |||
( | ) shall be covered by the overhead rates, | ||
( | ) or shall not be covered by the overhead rates. |
iii. | The salaries, wages and Personal Expenses of Technical Employees and/or costs of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel either temporarily or permanently assigned to and directly employed in the operation of the Joint Property: |
See Attached Addenda | |||
( | ) shall be covered by the overhead rates, or | ||
( | ) shall not be covered by the overhead rates. |
A. | Overhead — Fixed Rate Basis |
(1) | Operator shall charge the Joint Account at the following rates per well per month: | ||
See Attached Addenda | |||
Drilling Well Rate $___ | |||
(Prorated for less than a full month) | |||
Producing Well Rate $___ | |||
(2) | Application of Overhead — Fixed Rate Basis shall be as follows: |
(a) | Drilling Well Rate |
(1) | Charges for drilling xxxxx shall begin on the date the well is spudded and terminate on the date the drilling rig, completion rig, or other units used in completion of the well is released, whichever is later, except that no charge shall be made during suspension of drilling or completion operations for fifteen (15) or more consecutive calendar days. | ||
(2) | Charges for xxxxx undergoing any type of workover or recompletion for a period of five (5) consecutive work days or more shall be made at the drilling well rate. Such charges shall be applied for the period from date workover operations, with rig or other units used in workover, commence through date of rig or other unit release, except that no charge shall be made during suspension of operations for fifteen (15) or more consecutive calendar days. |
(b) | Producing Well Rates |
(1) | An active well either produced or injected into for any portion of the month shall be considered as a one-well charge for the entire month. | ||
(2) | Each active completion in a multi-completed well in which production is not commingled down hole shall be considered as a one-well charge providing each completion is considered a separate well by the governing regulatory authority. | ||
(3) | An inactive gas well shut in because of overproduction or failure of purchaser to take the production shall be considered as a one-well charge providing the gas well is directly connected to a permanent sales outlet. | ||
(4) | A one-well charge shall be made for the month in which plugging and abandonment operations are completed on any well. This one-well charge shall be made whether or not the well has produced except when drilling well rate applies. | ||
(5) | All other inactive xxxxx (including but not limited to inactive xxxxx covered by unit allowable, lease allowable, transferred allowable, etc.) shall not qualify for an overhead charge. |
(3) | The well rates shall be adjusted as of the first day of April each year following the effective date of the agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached. The adjustment shall be computed by |
36
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
multiplying the rate currently in use by the percentage increase or decrease in the
average weekly earnings of Crude Petroleum and Gas Production Workers for the last calendar year
compared to the calendar year preceding as shown by the index of average weekly earnings of
Crude Petroleum and Gas Production Workers as published by the United States Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or the equivalent Canadian, index as published by Statistics
Canada, as applicable. The adjusted rates shall be the rates currently in use, plus or minus the
computed adjustment.
B. | Overhead — Percentage Basis |
(1) | Operator shall charge the Joint Account at the following rates: |
See Attached Addenda | |||
(a) | Development | ||
___Percent ( ___%) of the cost of development of the Joint Property exclusive of costs provided under Paragraph 10 of Section II and all salvage credits. | |||
(b) | Operating | ||
___Percent ( ___%) of the cost of operating the Joint Property exclusive of costs provided under Paragraphs 2 and 10 of Section II, all salvage credits, the value of injected substances purchased for secondary recovery and all taxes and assessments which are levied, assessed and paid upon the mineral interest in and to the Joint Property. |
(2) | Application of Overhead — Percentage Basis shall be as follows: For the purpose of determining charges on a percentage basis under Paragraph lB of this Section III, development shall include all costs in connection with drilling, redrilling, deepening, or any remedial operations on any or all xxxxx involving the use of drilling rig and crew capable of drilling to the producing interval on the Joint Property; also, preliminary expenditures necessary in preparation for drilling and expenditures incurred in abandoning when the well is not completed as a producer, and original cost of construction or installation of fixed assets, the expansion of fixed assets and any other project clearly discernible as a fixed asset, except Major Construction as defined in Paragraph 2 of this Section III. All other costs shall be considered as operating. |
2. | Overhead — Major Construction | |
To compensate Operator for overhead costs incurred in the construction and installation of fixed assets, the expansion of fixed assets, and any other project clearly discernible as a fixed asset required for the development and operation of the Joint Property, Operator shall either negotiate a rate prior to the beginning of construction, or shall charge the Joint | ||
Account for overhead based on the following rates for any Major Construction project in excess of $ ___: |
See Attached Addenda | |||
A. | ___% of first $100,000 or total cost if less, plus | ||
B. | ___% of costs in excess of $100,000 but less than $1,000,000, plus | ||
C. | ___% of costs in excess of $1,000,000. |
Total cost shall mean the gross cost of any one project. For the purpose of this paragraph, the component parts of a single project shall not be treated separately and the cost of drilling and workover xxxxx and artificial lift equipment shall be excluded. | ||
3. | Catastrophe Overhead | |
To compensate Operator for overhead costs incurred in the event of expenditures resulting from a single occurrence due to oil spill, blowout, explosion, fire, storm, hurricane, or other catastrophes as agreed to by the Parties, which are necessary to restore the Joint Property to the equivalent condition that existed prior to the event causing the expenditures, Operator shall either negotiate a rate prior to charging the Joint Account or shall charge the Joint Account for overhead based on the following rates: |
A. | ___% of total costs through $100,000; plus |
37
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
See Attached Addenda | |||
B. | ___% of total costs in excess of $100,000 but less than $1,000,000; plus | ||
See Attached Addenda | |||
C. | ___% of total costs in excess of $1,000,000. | ||
See Attached Addenda |
Expenditures subject to the overheads above will not be reduced by insurance recoveries, and no other overhead provisions of this Section III shall apply. | ||
4. | Amendment of Rates | |
The overhead rates provided for in this Section III may be amended from time to time only by mutual agreement between the Parties hereto if, in practice, the rates are found to be insufficient or excessive. | ||
IV. PRICING OF JOINT ACCOUNT MATERIAL PURCHASES, TRANSFERS AND DISPOSITIONS |
Operator is responsible for Joint Account Material and shall make proper and timely charges and
credits for all Material movements affecting the Joint Property. Operator shall provide all
Material for use on the Joint Property; however, at Operator’s option, such Material may be
supplied by the Non-Operator. Operator shall make timely disposition of idle and/or surplus
Material, such disposal being made either through sale to Operator or Non-Operator, division in
kind, or sale to outsiders. Operator may purchase, but shall be under no obligation to purchase,
interest of Non-Operators in surplus condition A or B Material. The disposal of surplus
Controllable Material not purchased by the Operator shall be agreed to by the Parties.
1. | Purchases | |
Material purchased shall be charged at the price paid by Operator after deduction of all discounts received. In case of Material found to be defective or returned to vendor for any other reasons, credit shall be passed to the Joint Account when adjustment has been received by the Operator. | ||
2. | Transfers and Dispositions | |
Material furnished to the Joint Property and Material transferred from the Joint Property or disposed of by the Operator, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, shall be priced on the following basis exclusive of cash discounts: |
A. | New Material (Condition A) |
(1) | Tubular Goods Other than Line Pipe |
(a) | Tubular goods, sized 2% inches OD and larger, except line pipe, shall be priced at Eastern mill published carload base prices effective as of date of movement plus transportation cost using the 80,000 pound carload weight basis to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property for which published rail rates for tubular goods exist. If the 80,000 pound rail rate is not offered, the 70,000 pound or 90,000 pound rail rate may be used. Freight charges for tubing will be calculated from Lorain, Ohio and casing from Youngstown, Ohio. | ||
(b) | For grades which are special to one mill only, prices shall be computed at the mill base of that mill plus transportation cost from that mill to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property as provided above in Paragraph 2.A.(1)(a). For transportation cost from points other than Eastern xxxxx, the 30,000 pound Oil Field Haulers Association interstate truck rate shall be used. | ||
(c) | Special end finish tubular goods shall be priced at the lowest published out-of-stock price, f.o.b. Houston, Texas, plus transportation cost, using Oil Field Haulers Association interstate 30,000 pound truck rate, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. |
38
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
(d) | Macaroni tubing (size less than 2% inch OD) shall be priced at the lowest published out-of-stock prices f.o.b. the supplier plus transportation costs, using the Oil Field Haulers Association interstate truck rate per weight of tubing transferred, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. |
(2) | Line Pipe |
(a) | Line pipe movements (except size 24 inch OD and larger with walls 3/4 inch and over) 30,000 pounds or more shall be priced under provisions of tubular goods pricing in Paragraph A.(1)(a) as provided above. Freight charges shall be calculated from Lorain, Ohio. | ||
(b) | Line pipe movements (except size 24 inch OD and larger with walls 3/4 inch and over) less than 30,000 pounds shall be priced at Eastern mill published carload base prices effective as of date of shipment, plus 20 percent, plus transportation costs based on freight rates as set forth under provisions of tubular goods pricing in Para-graph A.(1)(a) as provided above. Freight charges shall be calculated from Lorain, Ohio. | ||
(c) | Line pipe 24 inch OD and over and 3/4 inch wall and larger shall be priced f.o.b. the point of manufacture at current new published prices plus transportation cost to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. | ||
(d) | Line pipe, including fabricated line pipe, drive pipe and conduit not listed on published price lists shall be priced at quoted prices plus freight to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property or at prices agreed to by the Parties. |
(3) | Other Material shall be priced at the current new price, in effect at date of movement, as listed by a reliable supply store nearest the Joint Property, or point of manufacture, plus transportation costs, if applicable, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. | ||
(4) | Unused new Material, except tubular goods, moved from the Joint Property shall be priced at the current new price, in effect on date of movement, as listed by a reliable supply store nearest the Joint Property, or point of manufacture, plus transportation costs, if applicable, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. Unused new tubulars will be priced as provided above in Paragraph 2.A.(1) and (2). | ||
B. | Good Used Material (Condition B) | ||
Material in sound and serviceable condition and suitable for reuse without reconditioning: |
(1) | Material moved to the Joint Property At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A. | ||
(2) | Material used on and moved from the Joint Property |
(a) | At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A, if Material was originally charged to the Joint Account as new Material or | ||
(b) | At sixty-five percent (65%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A, if Material was originally charged to the Joint Account as used Material. |
(3) | Material not used on and moved from the Joint Property At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price as determined by Paragraph A. |
The cost of reconditioning, if any, shall be absorbed by the transferring property. | |||
C. | Other Used Material |
(1) | Condition C | ||
Material which is not in sound and serviceable condition and not suitable for its original function until after reconditioning shall be priced at fifty percent (50%) of current new price as determined by Paragraph A. The cost of reconditioning shall be charged to the receiving property, provided Condition C value plus cost of reconditioning does not exceed Condition B value. |
39
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
(2) | Condition D | ||
Material, excluding junk, no longer suitable for its original purpose, but usable for some other purpose shall be priced on a basis commensurate with its use. Operator may dispose of Condition D Material under procedures normally used by Operator without prior approval of Non-Operators. |
(a) | Casing, tubing, or drill pipe used as line pipe shall be priced as Grade A and B seamless line pipe of comparable size and weight. Used casing, tubing or drill pipe utilized as line pipe shall be priced at used line pipe prices. | ||
(b) | Casing, tubing or drill pipe used as higher pressure service lines than standard line pipe, e.g. power oil lines, shall be priced under normal pricing procedures for casing, tubing, or drill pipe. Upset tubular goods shall be priced on a non upset basis. |
(3) | Condition E | ||
Junk shall be priced at prevailing prices. Operator may dispose of Condition E Material under procedures normally utilized by Operator without prior approval of Non-Operators. |
D. | Obsolete Material | |
Material which is serviceable and usable for its original function but condition and/or value of such Material is not equivalent to that which would justify a price as provided above may be specially priced as agreed to by the Parties. Such price should result in the Joint Account being charged with the value of the service rendered by such Material. | ||
E. | Pricing Conditions |
(1) | Loading or unloading costs may be charged to the Joint Account at the rate of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per hundred weight on all tubular goods movements, in lieu of actual loading or unloading costs sustained at the stocking point. The above rate shall be adjusted as of the first day of April each year following January 1,1985 by the same percentage increase or decrease used to adjust overhead rates in Section III, Paragraph 1.A(3). Each year, the rate calculated shall be rounded to the nearest cent and shall be the rate in effect until the first day of April next year. Such rate shall be published each year by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies. | ||
(2) | Material involving erection costs shall be charged at applicable percentage of the current knocked-down price of new Material. |
3. | Premium Prices | |
Whenever Material is not readily obtainable at published or listed prices because of national emergencies, strikes or other unusual causes over which the Operator has no control, the Operator may charge the Joint Account for the required Material at the Operator’s actual cost incurred in providing such Material, in making it suitable for use, and in moving it to the Joint Property; provided notice in writing is furnished to Non-Operators of the proposed charge prior to billing Non-Operators for such Material. Each Non-Operator shall have the right, by so electing and notifying Operator within ten days after receiving notice from Operator, to furnish in kind all or part of his share of such Material suitable for use and acceptable to Operator. | ||
4. | Warranty of Material Furnished By Operator | |
Operator does not warrant the Material furnished. In case of defective Material, credit shall not be passed to the Joint Account until adjustment has been received by Operator from the manufacturers or their agents. |
V. INVENTORIES
The Operator shall maintain detailed records of Controllable Material.
1. Periodic Inventories, Notice and Representation
40
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
At reasonable intervals, inventories shall be taken by Operator of the Joint Account Controllable Material. Written notice of intention to take inventory shall be given by Operator at least thirty (30) days before any inventory is to begin so that Non-Operators may be represented when any inventory is taken. Failure of Non-Operators to be represented at an inventory shall bind Non-Operators to accept the inventory taken by Operator. | ||
2. | Reconciliation and Adjustment of Inventories | |
Adjustments to the Joint Account resulting from the reconciliation of a physical inventory shall be made within six months following the taking of the inventory. Inventory adjustments shall be made by Operator to the Joint Account for | ||
overages and shortages, but, Operator shall be held accountable only for shortages due to lack of reasonable diligence. | ||
3. | Special Inventories | |
Special inventories may be taken whenever there is any sale, change of interest, or change of Operator in the Joint Property. It shall be the duty of the party selling to notify all other Parties as quickly as possible after the transfer of interest takes place. In such cases, both the seller and the purchaser shall be governed by such inventory. In cases involving a change of Operator, all Parties shall be governed by such inventory. | ||
4. | Expense of Conducting Inventories |
A. | The expense of conducting periodic inventories shall not be charged to the Joint Account unless agreed to by the Parties. | ||
B. | The expense of conducting special inventories shall be charged to the Parties requesting such inventories, except inventories required due to change of Operator shall be charged to the Joint Account. |
41
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT— 1989
Addendum – 1
This Addendum is attached to and made a part of that certain 1984 XXXXX Onshore Model Accounting
Procedure which is Exhibit C to that certain Operating Agreement dated ___, 2006,
by and between and EnerVest Operating, L.L.C. (the contract operator).
With respect to Direct Charges pursuant to Section II.8.A and Overhead pursuant to Section III.1.i,
III.1.ii, III.1.iii, III.1.A(1) and III.3-A-C, the following elections are hereby made for the
following region:
, LP – States of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York
II.8.A
|
10 | % | ||||
III.1.i
|
x | Fixed Rate Basis | ||||
___ | Percentage Rate Basis | |||||
III.1.ii
|
___ | shall be covered by the overhead rates | ||||
x | shall not be covered by the overhead rates | |||||
III.1.iii
|
___ | shall be covered by the overhead rates | ||||
x | shall not be covered by the overhead rates | |||||
III.1.A(1) | Drilling Well Rate: $10,000 | |||||
Producing Well Rate: $0 | ||||||
III.1.B(1)(a)
|
N/A | % | Note: Utilizing Fixed Rate not Percentage Rate Basis | |||
III.1.B(1)(b)
|
N/A | % | ||||
III.2-A
|
10 | % | ||||
III.2-B
|
10 | % | ||||
III.2-C
|
10 | % | ||||
III.3-A
|
N/A | % | Note: Covered by WI ownership well insurance. | |||
III.3-B
|
N/A | % | ||||
III.3-C
|
N/A | % |
42
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT — 1989
A.A.P.L. FORM 610 — MODEL FORM OPERATING AGREEMENT— 1989
Addendum – 1
This Addendum is attached to and made a part of that certain 1984 XXXXX Onshore Model Accounting
Procedure which is Exhibit C to that certain Operating Agreement dated October 1, 2005, by
and between Xxxxxx and Blake Corporation and EnerVest Operating, L.L.C. (the contract operator).
With respect to Direct Charges pursuant to Section II.8.A and Overhead pursuant to Section III.1.i,
III.1.ii, III.1.iii, III.1.A(1) and III.3-A-C, the following elections are hereby made for the
following region:
, LP — State of Louisiana, Monroe Field
II.8.A
|
10 | % | ||||
III.1.i
|
x | Fixed Rate Basis | ||||
___ | Percentage Rate Basis | |||||
III.1.ii
|
___ | shall be covered by the overhead rates | ||||
x | shall not be covered by the overhead rates | |||||
III.1.iii
|
___ | shall be covered by the overhead rates | ||||
x | shall not be covered by the overhead rates | |||||
III.1.A(1) | Drilling Well Rate: $7,390 | |||||
Producing Well Rate: $0 | ||||||
III.1.B(1)(a)
|
N/A | % | Note: Utilizing Fixed Rate not Percentage Rate Basis | |||
III.1.B(1)(b)
|
N/A | % | ||||
III.2-A
|
10 | % | ||||
III.2-B
|
10 | % | ||||
III.2-C
|
10 | % | ||||
III.3-A
|
N/A | % | Note: Covered by WI ownership well insurance. | |||
III.3-B
|
N/A | % | ||||
III.3-C
|
N/A | % |
43