This checklist is a quick overview of items to consider when reviewing lease forms.
1. Granting Clause
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Description of leased substances
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Cover project objective: coalbed methane, helium, CO2 or other commercial gases
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Describe the leased substances consistently throughout the document
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Did you intend to include all "other minerals"
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Description of leased premises
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Properly describe depth limitations
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Provide surface access and subsurface easement rights related to the severed
2. Easement and access rights
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Are the access rights specifically described
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Consider whether lease is taken from a split estate or the owner of the fee estate
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Coordinate the access rights with any later reversion or partial termination provisions in the lease
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Have you provided for operations on the leased premises which may benefit adjacent lands
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Surface use obligations related to lessor's operations or restricting lessee's operations, such as set-backs or depth of gathering or flow lines
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Reclamation of surface facilities, including addition of surface damage provisions