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Texas law on any date › Vernon's Civil Statutes

Vernon's Civil Statutes §13

Text in force on

In force on Oct 19, 1962 · this text took effect (date not stated) · amended later, effective Aug 23, 1963

FORFEITURE OF LEASE; DAMAGES; SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE; LIEN OF STATE

If the owner of the rights acquired under this Act shall fail or refuse to make the payment of any sum due thereon, either as rental or royalty on the production, within thirty (30) days after same shall become due, or if such owner or his authorized agent should make any false return or false report concerning production, royalty or drilling, or if such owner shall fail or refuse to drill any offset well or wells in good faith, as required by his lease, or if such owner or his agent should refuse the proper authority to access to the records and other data pertaining to the operations under this Act, or if such owner, or his authorized agent, should fail or refuse to give correct information to the proper authorities, or fail or refuse to furnish the log of any well within thirty (30) days after production is found in paying quantities, or if any of the material terms of the lease should be violated, such lease shall be subject to forfeiture by the Board by an order entered upon the minutes of the Board reciting the facts constituting the default, and declaring the forfeiture. The Board may, if it so desires, have suit instituted for forfeiture through the Attorney General of the State. Upon proper showing by the forfeiting owner, within thirty (30) days after the declaration of forfeiture, the lease may, at the discretion of the Board and upon such terms as it may prescribe, be reinstated. In case of violation by the owner of the lease contract, the remedy of the State by forfeiture shall not be the exclusive remedy but suit for damages or specific performance, or both, may be instituted. The State shall have a first lien upon all oil and/or gas produced upon the leased area, and upon all rigs, tanks, pipe lines, telephone lines, and machinery and appliances used in the production and handling of oil and gas produced thereon, to secure any amount due from the owner of the said lease.

History:

Source: the Legislature's file server, seen Nov 08, 2026.

Every version on file

Attorney General opinions that cite it

A research copy. The official text is the Legislature's (statutes), the Secretary of State's (Texas Administrative Code) or eCFR's (federal rules). Not legal advice.