Concorde Resources Corp. v. Williams Production Mid-Continent Co.

2016 OK CIV APP 37, 379 P.3d 1157, 2015 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 129, 2015 WL 11116921
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedNovember 24, 2015
DocketCase No. 112,340
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 2016 OK CIV APP 37 (Concorde Resources Corp. v. Williams Production Mid-Continent Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Concorde Resources Corp. v. Williams Production Mid-Continent Co., 2016 OK CIV APP 37, 379 P.3d 1157, 2015 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 129, 2015 WL 11116921 (Okla. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION BY

KEITH RAPP, PRESIDING JUDGE:

{1 The defendant, Redbud E & P, Inc. (Redbud), appeals a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, Concorde Resources Corporation (Concorde), quieting title in Concmde as to certain oil and gas leases,1

T2 The defendants, Kepeo Emergy, Inc. (Kepeo); Pyle, Carey and Collie, Inc. (PCC); Smith, Smith and Smith, a general partnership (Smith); and Naney Jackson Dawson (Dawson) did not appear at trial and they have not appeared in this appeal,. The trial court judgment, as it pertains to these defendants is final.

13 In addition, the trial court found in favor of Redbud and Kepco as to Concorde's claims of interference with business relationships and malicious pursuit of quiet title, This ruling has not been appealed and is final.

BACKGROUND

¶4 In 1978, Gary A. Callahan acquired oil and gas leases from PCC, Smith and Dawson, or their predecessors, covering the SW/ and the N/2 SE/4 and SW/4 SE/4 and NW/4 Section 12, TON, RI5E, Melntosh County, Oklahoma. The parties refer to these as the Callahan Leases or Original Leases.

15 A gas well was drilled in 1981 to the Booch formation by Concorde's predecessor. The well was shut-in in 1982. The well was renamed the Connors #1, Concorde's owner testified that Concorde acquired the Original Leases.2 Concorde has paid shut-in royalty payments at all relevant times, although apparently limited to the SW/4.

1 6 In 1990, Concorde acquired new oil and gas leases from PCC, Smith and Dawson, or their predecessors in title (New Leases).3 These leases described only the SW/4 Section 12, TON, R1I5E, Melntosh County, Oklahoma. The owner of Concorde testified that the reason for the New Leases was to reduce the spacing and reduce the shut-in payment. On cross-examination, he affirmed Concorde's position that the Connor #1 has been capable of production in paying quantities since it was drilled and completed in 1982, He continued and agreed that the cireumstance would serve to hold the Callahan Leases (Omgmal Leases).4

[1159]*115917 The first issue now is whether the Original Leases and New Leases terminated because of the inability of the Connors #1 well to produce in paying quantities when it was "turned on" in July of 2008, The second issue for determination is whether Redbud and its predecessors acquired the Old Leases as to the Formations as a result of the OCC pooling order.

18 The history of Connor #1, shows that Concorde deepened the well in 1990 to the Middle Booch formation, without success. From that time to 2008, Concorde did: not perform any other activities in connection with the well other than checking well pressure, usually twice a year, and the pressure reading was between 380 and 440 pounds, Concorde did not expend funds during that time period for operation or maintenance of the well.5 From 1990 to July of 2008, Concorde did not sell any gas from Connor #1, Also, Concorde did no further exploration. Concorde does not dispute this inactivity.

19 Without contradiction, Concorde maintained that there was no pipeline connection available until July 2008, and the trial court found that to be true. The parties stipulated that Redbud would not assert breach of the implied covenant to market.

{10 A pipeline became available in 2008, Concorde's owner testified that Concorde connected to the pipeline in July 2008, tested the line and waited for a gas sales contract. According to the witness, the well was turned on without any problem, such as water or any need for repairs, and gas was sold.

111 A compressor was added. According to Concorde's witness, this equipment aided in transportation of the gas in the pipeline and had no function for production. Dating from about 1990, the well had a water tank and separator. Concorde replaced both in June 2008.6 According to Concorde's owner, the well was "turned on" and began producing gas,. The well was not "loaded" with water and the water produced was consistent with water produced generally in gas production: Concorde's records reflect 110 barrels of water during the first approximately 80 days of production in 2008, Redbud maintains that this is excessive and shows that the well was "loaded" with water, The trial court found that the water removal did not equate to adding additional equipment or repair.

{12 Concorde presented Mr. Davis, the person who assisted with the 1990 deepening of the well. He was qualified as a person having drilled many wells and as a former employee of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). Mr. Davis explained that water was used in the drilling to deepen the well and then the well was dried. He confirmed the regulatory method for testing pressure and testified that the well was then testing for about 400 pounds and estimated it was capable of producing substantial volumes of gas. On unspecified future dates, he again checked and there was pressure at the wellhead. In his opinion the well was capable of producing gas in paying quantities when it was shut-in.7 Mr. Davis testified that the compressor functioned for transportation rather than production.

113 On cross-examination, Mr. Davis agreed that he did not know the capability of the well in 2008. He also stated that without a separator, the gas purchaser would not purchase the gas with water content.

[1160]*116014 Concorde's vice-president, Mr. Dobbs, testified about checking the well over time.8 It always had pressure of approximately 890 pounds. He presented the financial history of the well showing gas sales and the net after taxes and costs, including depreciation. He also agreed that the Connor #1 well would hold the Old Leases, assuming production capability. On redirect, he testified that Red-bud's pooling order did not cover the formation being produced by Connor #1.

15 Concorde sold gas from the well in July, August and September of 2008 and received $24,000.00. Concorde resumed operation of the well after the first appeal in this case and the well has produced since then.9

T16 In 2006 and 2007, Redbud, or its predecessors, obtained oil and gas leases, which in combination covered the SW/4 and NW/4 and E/2 SE/4 and NE/4 SE/4 Section 12, TIN, R15E, Melntosh County, Oklahoma (Redbud Leases).10 Concorde learned of this and proposed drilling and sent a letter demanding a release of the leases by Redbud's predecessor as to the SW/4 of Section 12, TON, R15E, MelIntosh County, Oklahoma.

1 17 The refusal to release resulted in this lawsuit by Concorde to quiet title and to obtain damages against Kepco, Williams and Mahalo. The trial court ruled against the damages claims and Redbud did not appeal that ruling. Kepeo, Williams and Mahalo (all now Redbud) counterclaimed to adjudicate Concorde's leases as expired and to quiet their respective titles. Kepeo did not appear for trial.

{18 Redbud maintained first that the Original Leases and the New Leases expired because Concorde has not shown that the only existing well was capable of producing in paying quantities. Redbud presented an expert petroleum engineer who testified that his opinion was that the Connor #1 was not capable of production in paying quantities in 2008.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2016 OK CIV APP 37, 379 P.3d 1157, 2015 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 129, 2015 WL 11116921, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/concorde-resources-corp-v-williams-production-mid-continent-co-oklacivapp-2015.