At the present time, oil and gas is becoming a valuable commodity. Oil companies are trying to lease as many properties as they can in exploration of oil with huge lease fees. In addition to the leasing bonus, landowners are being given more of the royalty interests. As demand for oil and gas grows, more landowners will be approached about leasing their properties. The following is some considerations that each landowner ought to think about including in any lease.

First, the landowner should try to protect standing timber, ditches, drainage, crops, roads, gates, and fences. When an oil company comes on the land to explore for oil, they are not worried about what is on the surface. The oil company needs to be responsible to restore the land to as near a condition they found it in when they started their operations. In the lease, the landowner might consider placing in language that provides a licensed forester or appraiser will determine any damages to the property. In addition, the oil company should be responsible for maintaining any roads and making repairs to any roads on the leased property.

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