BRIAN T. MUST and STEVEN PETRIKIS were interviewed by Roger Wahl of WQZS radio in Meyersdale, PA, on October 3, 2008, regarding litigation to invalidate certain oil and gas leases under Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Minimum Royalty statute.
BRIAN T. MUST and STEVEN PETRIKIS were interviewed by Roger Wahl of WQZS radio in Meyersdale, PA, on October 3, 2008, regarding litigation to invalidate certain oil and gas leases under Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Minimum Royalty statute. As explained by Brian and Steve, the Marcellus Shale, perhaps one of the largest natural gas formations in North America, runs throughout Pennsylvania and has prompted a boom in natural gas exploration and development. The litigation is designed to hopefully assist landowners who leased their gas rights before the potential of the Marcellus Shale was understood. The case presents an issue of first impression in contending that these leases fail to provide a one-eighth royalty to such landowners as required by Pennsylvania law because they allow for certain specified and unspecified deductions from the royalty provided.