West Virginia § 36-4-9c Penalties for nonpayment of royalties under the terms of oil and natural gas leases during production from conventional vertical wells

West Virginia Statutes

§ 36-4-9c — Penalties for nonpayment of royalties under the terms of oil and natural gas leases during production from conventional vertical wells

West Virginia § 36-4-9c

Ch. 36ESTATES AND PROPERTY

Art. 4COVENANTS

This text of West Virginia § 36-4-9c (Penalties for nonpayment of royalties under the terms of oil and natural gas leases during production from conventional vertical wells) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 36-4-9c (2026).

Text

(a)With regard to conventional vertical oil, natural gas wells, and derivative natural gas liquids only, permitted under §22-6-1et seq. of this code, unless otherwise provided for in writing or unless there is a bona fide dispute between the parties, any lessee or operator of oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids, or their successors or assigns, who fails to pay a royalty payment for mineral production to a lessor, or their successors and assigns, under the terms of a lease or other agreement within six months after the date payment is due under the terms of the lease or other agreement, shall be liable to such lessor or landowner, or their successors or assigns, in an amount equal to three times the market value of the unpaid royalty for which payment is due.

(b)The provisions of su

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(a) With regard to conventional vertical oil, natural gas wells, and derivative natural gas liquids only, permitted under §22-6-1et seq. of this code, unless otherwise provided for in writing or unless there is a bona fide dispute between the parties, any lessee or operator of oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids, or their successors or assigns, who fails to pay a royalty payment for mineral production to a lessor, or their successors and assigns, under the terms of a lease or other agreement within six months after the date payment is due under the terms of the lease or other agreement, shall be liable to such lessor or landowner, or their successors or assigns, in an amount equal to three times the market value of the unpaid royalty for which payment is due.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall apply to all royalty payment disputes filed with a court of competent jurisdiction on or after July 1, 2025.

(c) Non-exclusive jurisdiction and venue are proper in the county in which the subject well and leasehold is located.

(d) The prevailing party may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs in addition to and not withstanding any other rights, remedies, and penalties otherwise provided by law.