LAW - 685 Oil and Gas Law

(2 hrs.)

The course will provide an overview of oil and gas law, from its traditional roots in the common law of property and contract to more recent developments in administrative law and regulations. The course will introduce students to the topics involved with the practice of oil and gas law, with an eye toward preparing for an oil and gas section of a bar exam (e.g., Texas). In addition to traditional issues such as surface management, drainage, royalties, and the oil and gas lease, the course will consider modern-day complexities posed by exploration in the eastern United States, offshore drilling, and hydralic fracturing. Students will explore the shift in the law solely from a focus on production to a concern for safety and the environment.