Oil & Gas Law

Tom West is well known as a leading authority on New York’s oil and gas well siting program.  He played a key role in the 2005 amendments of Environmental Conservation Law Article 23 that overhauled New York’s compulsory integration program and the respective rights and obligations of statutory participants and well operators.  The West Firm is continually at the forefront of issues that are of paramount importance to the Oil and Gas Industry, such as:

• Statutory owners’ right to well data and well site access;
• Calculation of risk penalties and costs for “transition” and “old”  wells;
• Mineral rights lease disputes;
• Confidentiality of ownership tabulations under the Freedom of Information Law;
• Well permitting and project siting, including interstate and intrastate transmission projects; and
• Arbitration, dispute resolution, compulsory integration hearings, well spacing hearings, administrative adjudication, and litigation.

In addition, The West Firm offers a complete array of services to simplify and effectively manage all aspects of the voluntary and compulsory integration processes, saving well operators time and money.  For example, our office will prepare and issue notices to the uncontrolled owners, appear on behalf of our clients at compulsory integration hearings, and complete filings of the final integration orders with the appropriate County Clerks.  Similarly, we can also prepare and file Notices of Voluntary Integration and Unitization for leased tracts, protecting the interests of the well operator in its leaseholds.  The West Firm is committed to making the process as cost-effective and manageable as possible for our clients.  We rely on state-of-the-art technology and updated software to ensure accuracy and efficiency.  Let The West Firm create a program to meet your specific needs.