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HomeMy WebLinkAbout910216.tiff • A A 2 214 35 RESOLUTION RE : AUTHORIZATION OF OIL AND GAS LEASE COVERING CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNED BY WELD COUNTY , COLORADO , LOCATED IN SECTION 15 , TOWNSHIP 7 NORTH , RANGE 63 WEST OF THE 6TH P . M . , WELD COUNTY , COLORADO WHEREAS , the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County , Colorado , pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter , is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County , Colorado , and WHEREAS , Weld County , Colorado , is the owner of vast acres of mineral lands located in Weld County , Colorado , and WHEREAS , a portion of said mineral acres not currently leased was put up for bid to lease , and WHEREAS , Wilbanks & Associates , Inc . , 1860 Lincoln Street , Suite 800 , Denver , CO 80295 , submitted the high bid to lease 160 . 00 net mineral acres , more or less , described to -wit : NE / 4 of Section 15 , Township 7 North , Range 63 West of the 6th P . M . , Weld County , Colorado WHEREAS , Weld County desires to accept the high bid offer submitted by Wilbanks & Associates , Inc . to lease the above described mineral acreage for $ 25 . 00 per net mineral acre , for a total sum of $ 4 , 000 . 00 , together with a rental fee of ONE DOLLAR ( $ 1 . 00 ) per net mineral acre , which lease is to run for a period of three ( 3 ) years , commencing March 20 , 1991 , and ending at 12 : 00 noon on March 20 , 1994 , unless otherwise held , as stated in the lease agreement which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference . NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County , Colorado , that the high bid offer of Wilbanks & Associates , Inc . , 1860 Lincoln Street , Suite 800 , Denver , CO 80295 be , and hereby is , accepted for a period of three ( 3 ) years with the total sum being as above listed . B 1294 REC 02245358 03 / 28 / 91 12 : 45 0 . 00 1 / 010 910216 F 1009 MARY ANN FEUEERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO , CO Page 2 RE: OIL AND GAS LEASE - WILBANKS & ASSOCIATES, INC. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 27th day of March, A.D. , 1991. ATTEST: Pia% BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, LOR 0 Weld County Clerk to the Board . Gordo acy, irman �'� "I a- '� Clerk to the B� Geor Ken edy, Pro-T em 4" :#" ;11 ' ‘ d`" P AS TO FORM: ./...,de Constance L. Harbert ....„___- G(� ounty Attorney C. W. Kirby b t,o-A4 W. H. Webster B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 “0. 00 2/010 F 1010 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO 910216 Parcel =12 HELD COUNTY OIL AND GAS LEASE Containing 160 acres, more or less; Containing 160 net mineral acres,, more or less: ,,� "LIS LEASE AGRLEMINT, dated this p( / 7n `day of l/y-1�/�./V-tE l.. , 1941 / , made and entered into by and tecween GELD COUNTY, CCLGRADO, a political sutcivision cf the STATE OF CGLORADO, acting by and through the ECARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF TP1 COUNTY OF GELD, for its respective interests, c/o BOARD OF COUNT`-' CClT.ISSIONERS, WELD COUNT': CENTENNIAL CENTER, °'-_` 10TH STRELT, CREELZI, CC 50631, hereinafter tailed Lessor, and: Wijbanks & Associates, Inc. 1860 Lincoln St., Suite 800 Denver, CO 80295 hereinafter called Lessee: WITNESSETE UTEREAS, said Lessee has applied to Lessor for an oil and gas lease covering the lard herein described, and has paid a filing fee in the amount of S10.00, plus a bonus consideration of $ 25.00 per mineral acre, fixed by Lessor as an additional consideration for the granting of this lease, and Lessee agrees to pay an annual rental of $ 160.00 , computed at the rate o£ $ 1.00 , rer mineral acre or fraction thereof per year. WhMREAS, all the requirements relative to said application have been duly complied with and saia application has been approved and allowed by Lessor; THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein, on the part of Lessee to be paid, kept and performed, Lessor does lease exclusively to Lessee for the sole and only purpose of drilling for, development of and production of oil and gas, or either of then, thereon and therefrom with the right to own all oil and gas so produced and saved therefrom and not reserved as royalty by Lessor under the terms of this lease, together with rights-of-way, easements and servitudes for pipelines, telephone and telegraph lines, tanks and fixtures for producing and caring for such product, and housing and boarding employees, and any and all rights and privileges necessary for the exploration and operation of said land for oil and gas, the following described land situated in the County of Weld, State of Colorado, and more particularly described as follows: DESCRIPTION OF LAND SECTION TOWNSHIP RANCE NE1 15 7N 63W TO HAVE AND TO HOLD acid land, and all the rights and privileges granted hereunder to Lessee until the � hour of twelve o'clock noon on the 4-7th day of . 1Q/1.th , 19434 as primary term, and so long thereafter as oil and gas, or either of them, is produced in paying quantities from said land or Lessee is diligently engaged in bona fide drilling or reworking operations on said land, subject to the terms and conditions herein. Drilling or reworking operations shall be deemed to be diligently performed if there is no delay or cessation thereof for a greater period than sixty consecutive days unless an extension in writing is granted by Lessor; provided that such drilling ur reworking operations ara commenced during said primary term or any extension thereof or while this lease is in force by reason of production of oil and gas or either of them, or that such reworking is commenced within sixty days upon cessation of production for the purpose of re-establishing the same, and provided further that such production is commenced during such B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 X0. 00 3/010 F 1011 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) 910 216 primary term or any extension thereof, or while this lease is in force by reason of such drilling or reworking operations cr other production. EXPLORATION - Lessor reserves the right to conduct exploration on the leased land provided such exploration does not interfere with rights granted herein. In consideration of the premises, the parties covenant and agree as follows: 1. RENTAL - If this lease is extended for an additional term as provided for in the EXTENSION paragraph hereof, Lessee shall during such extended period nay to :essor an annual rental at double the rate above specified for the land covered hereby. The rental in effect at the time production is established shall not be increased due to the term of this lease being extended by such production. Rentals set at the time of established production shall be paid during the remaining life o£ this lease, annually, in advance, on or before each anLiversar date hereof. :here sh,.'.l be no r-`•.ne cf unu3c,! rental. 2. ROYALTY - Lessee stall account for any ana all substances produced on the leased land and Lessee shall pay to Lessor as royalty, in addition to the rentals provided, but except for prcducts used en the leased land, unavoidably lost or flared on the leased lard, with approval of Lesser, the following: (a) On oil, 1,14A of the oil produced and saved from the leased land. At the option of Lessor, and with sixty (60) days' notice to Lessee, Lessor may take its royalty oil in kind, in which evert Lessee shall deliver such royalty oil to Lessor on the leased land, free of cost or deduction, into the pipelines or storage tanks designated by Lessor, but Lessee shall not in such case be required to provide free tankage for any such oil for a longer period than one month after the same is run into tanks. With sixty (60) days' notice to Lessee, Lessor may cease taking oil royalty in kind. When paid in cash, the royalty shall be calculated upon the fair market value o£ the oil at the well which shall not be deemed to be less than the price actually paid to Lessee at the well by the purchaser thereof; and In no evert shall the royalties be based upon a market value at the well less than the posted price in the field for such oil, or in the absence of a posted price in the field fcr such oil, upon a market value at the well less than the prevailing price received by other producers in the field for oil of like grade and gravity at the time such oil is run into pipelines or storage tanks. (b) On gas, including casinghead gas or other gaseous substance, 12'-.4 of the fair market value at the well or of the price received by Lessee at the well, whichever is greater, of all gas produced and sold from the leased land or utilized off the land by Lessee. A copy of all contracts for sale of gas shall be furnished to Lessor. Where gas is sold under contract that has been approved by Lessor, the fair market value of such gas for determining the royalties payable hereunder shall be the price at which such gas is sold under such contract. No approval by Lessor of the terms of any such agreement shall operate to make Lessor a party thereto or obligate it thereunder in any way. At the option of Lessor, and with sixty (60) days' notice to Lessee, Lessor may take its royalty in kind. With sixty (60) days' notice to Lessee, Lessor may cease taking gas royalty in kind. (c) All costs of marketing the oil and/or gas produced shall be borne by Lessee and such costs shall not directly or indirectly reduce the royalty payments to Lessor. Except that marketing costs for Lessor's in-kind royalty shall be borne by Lessor. (d) If Lessor owns a lesser interest in the oil and gas deposits of the above-described land than the entire and undivided fee simple estate, then the royalties and rentals herein provided shall be paid to Lessor only in the portion which its interest bears to the whole and undivided fee, but no refund of any bonus consideration shall be made by Lessor hereunder. B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12:45 ,“0. 00 4/010 F 1012 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) 3. RECORDS - Lessee agrees to keep and to have in possession complete and accurate books and records showing the production and disposition of any and all substances produced on the leased lane and to permit Lessor, at all reasonable hours, to examine the same, or to furnish copies of same to Lessor upon request along with purchaser's support documentation. Lessor will not be unreasonable with requests. All raid books and records shall be retained by Lessee and made available in Colorado to Lessor for a period of not less than five years. 4. MEASURIZENTS - All proeuction shall be accurately measured using standards established by ahe American Gas Association (AGA) and/or the Anerican Petroleum Institute (API) and all measurtng devices shall be tamperproof as nearly as possible. Oil royalt es cue within the terms of this lease shall be calculated on actual and accurate measurements within API standards unless a different means of measurement, subiect to Lessor's approval, is provided. 5. PAYMENTS Et FF:ORTS - All payments are: reports cilia hereunder Gall be mace en or he_fore the day such payments ana reports are due. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construee to extend t`e expiration of the primary term hereof. Oil royalty payments and supporting eocuments shall be submitted prior to the last day of the month following each month's sale of production, and gas royalty payments and supporting documents shall be submitted prior to the last day of the second month following each month's sale of production. All payments stall be made by cash, check, certified check or money order. Payments having restrictions, qualifications, or encumbrances of any kind whatsoever shall not be accepted by Lessor. A penalty for a late payment shall be charges as set forth in the PENALTIES paragraph herein. 6. PENALTIES - A penalty shall be imposed for, but not limited to late payments, improper payments, operational deficiencies, violation of any covenant of this lease, or false statements made to Lessor. Penalties shall be determined by Lessor unless otherwise provided for by law and may be in the form of, but not limited to, interest, fees, fines, and/or lease cancellation. A penalty schedule shall be prepared by Lessor and shall become effective immediately after public notice. Said schedule may be changed from time to time after public notice. 7. LAW - The terms and conditions of this lease shall be performed and exercised subject to all laws, rules, regulations, orders, local ordinances or resolutions applicable to and binding upon the administration of lands and minerals owned by the County of Weld, and to laws, rules and regulations goveraing oil and gas operations in Colorado. Violations shall result in penalties as provided for by law or as set forth in the aforementioned schedule or shall, at the option of Lessor, result in default as provided hereinafter. 8. SURRENDER - Lessee may at any time, by paying to Lessor all amounts then due as provided herein, surrender this lease insofar as the same covers all or any portion of the lard herein leased and be relieved from further obligations or liability hereunder with respect to the land so surrendered; provided that no partial surrender or cancellation o£ this lease shall be for less than contiguous tracts of approximately forty (40) acres or Governmental lot corresponding to a quarter-quarter section; provided further that this surrender clause and the option herein reserved to Lessee shall cease ana become absolutely inoperative immediately and concurrently with the institution of any suit in any court of law by Lessee, Lessor or any assignee o£ either to enforce this lease, or any of its terms expressed or implied. In no case shall any surrender be effective until Lessee shall have made full provision for conservation of the leased products and protection of the surface rights of the leased land. B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 X0.00 5/010 F 1013 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) . 7/ 6Z/ to 9. ASSIGNMENTS - (a) Lessee, with prior written consent of Lessor, shall have the right to assign the entire leasehold interest of said Lessee in all or part of the land covered hereby, but not less, however, than contiguous tracts of approximately forty (40) acres or Governmental lot corresponding to a quarter-quarter section for any partial assignment, and for approval of such assignment Lessor shall make an assignment charge in an amount to be determined by Lessor. Prior to written approval by Lesser of assignment of this lease, Lessee (assignor) shall not be relieved of its obligations under the terms and conditions herein. An assignment shall not extend the term of this lease. (b) If any assignment of a portion of the land covered hereby shall be approved, a new lease shall be issued to the assignee covering the assigned land, containing the same terms and conditions as this lease, and limited as to term as this lease is limited, and the assignor shall be released and discharged from all further obligations acd liabil ties as to thft portion 3C assigned. (c) Lessee shall notify Lessor of all assignments of undivided percentage or other interests. Said interests will not be recognized cr approved by Lessor, and the effect of any such assignments will be strictly and only between the parties thereto, and outside the terms of this lease: and no dispute between parties to any such assignment shall operate to relieve Lessee from performance of any terns or conditions hereof or to postpone the time therefor. Lessor shall at all times be entitled to look solely to Lessee or his assignee shown en its books as being the sole owner hereof, and fcr the sending of all notices required by this lease and for the performance of all terns and conditions hereof. (d) Although not binding on Lessor, all instruments of every kind and nature whatsoever affecting this lease should be filed with the Lessor. 10. OVERRIDING ROYALTY - Any and all reservations or assignments or overriding royalties shall be subject to approval by Lessor. The total of said overriding royalties shall not exceed five percent (5%), including any overriding royalty previously provided for unless production exceeds a monthly average of fifteen (15) barrels per day or ninety thousand cubic feet of gas per day (90 MCF/D). In the event that production drops to this amount or less, any overriding royalties which exceed five percent (5%) may be suspended. Lessor's approval of a reservation or assignment of an overriding royalty shall not bind Lessor for payment of said overriding royalty and shall not relieve Lessee of any of its obligations for payment of royalties to Lessor as provided by ROYALTY paragraphs herein. 11. OFFSET WELLS - Lessee agrees to protect the leased land from drainage by offset wells located on adjoining lands not owned by Lessor, when such drainage is not compensated for by counter-drainage. It shall be presumed that the production of oil and gas from offset wells results in drainage from the leased land, unless Lessee deronstrates to Lessor's satisfaction, by engineering, geological, or other data, that production from such offset well does not result in such drainage, or that the drilling of a well or wells on the leased land would nor accomplish the purposes of protecting the deposits under the leased land. Lessor's decision as to the existence of such drainage shall be final, and Lessee shall comply with Lessor's order thereon or surrender this lease as to any such undeveloped acreage as designated by Lessor. 12. DEVELOPMENT - Upon discovery of oil and gas or either of them on the leased land, Lessee shall proceed with reasonable diligence to develop said land at a rate and to an extent commensurate with the economic development of the field In which the leased land lies. 13. POOLING CLAUSE - Lessee may at any time or times pool any part or all of said land and lease or any stratum or strata with other lands and leases, stratum or strata, in the same field so as to constitute a spacing unit to facilitate an orderly or uniform well-spacing pattern or to comply with any order, rule, or regulation of the State or Federal regulatory or conservation agency having jurisdiction. Such pooling B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 X0. 00 6/010 (Rev. 11/86) F 1014 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO shall be accomplished or terminated by filing of record a declaration of pooling, or declaration of termination of pooling, and by mailing or tendering a copy to Lessor, or to the depositor,' bank. Drilling or reworking operations upon or production from any part of such apacing unit shall be ccrsidered for all purposes of this lease as operations or productions from this lease. Lessee shall allocate to this lease the proportionate share of production which the acreage in this lease included in any such spacing unit bears to the total acreage in said spacing unit. 14. UNITIZATICN - COMMUN''_.TZATION - Ir. the eve.-:c Lessor permits the land herein leased co be included within a communitizatien or unitization agreement, the terms of this lease may be deemed to be modified to conform to such agreement. When only a portion cf the land under this lease is committed by an agreement, Lessor may segregate the land and issue a separate_ lease for each portion not committed thereunder; the term of such separate lease shall be limited as to the original term of this lease. The terns of the lease on that portion remaining in t`.e unit shall be deemed to to modified to conform to such agreement. Nonoredreing lenses ahall te^:anate on the First an::-crsar' dote c: the leasr- follow' the teamna"rr date of tte unit or part thereof modifying the lease, but in no event prior to the end of the pritar' term of the lease or the extension term of the lease. 15. PRODUCTION - Lessee shall, subject to applicable laws, regulations and orders, operate and produce all wells upon the leased land so long as the same are capable of producing in paying quantities, and shall operate the same so as to produce at a rate commensurate with the rate of production of wells on adjoining lands within the same field and within the limits of good engineering practice, except for such times as there exist neither market nor storage therefor, and except for such limitations on or suspensions of production as may be approved in writing by Lessor. Lessee shall be responsible for adequate site security on all producing properties. 16. SRUT-III WELLS - If Lessee shall complete a well on the leased land productive of gas and Lessee is unable to produce such gas due to a lack of suitable market therefor, Lessor may grant Lessee suspension of his obligations to produce hereunder until a suitable market for such gas can be found, and during any such suspension period, it shall be deemed that gas is being produced hereunder in paying quantities. Except, however, that beginning on the anniversary date next, of the year of an extension of the lease by reason of a shut-in well, Lessee shall pay to Lessor a shut-in royalty equal to $2 per acre of the lease per annum in addition to the annual rental. The minimum amount of such shut-in royalty payment shall be $240. Each year's shut-in royalty shall be forfeited to Lessor except for the shut-in royalty paid for the year during which the well begins production. The maximum extension of the lease, due to the existence of a shut-in well, shall be five years beyond the extension term as described in the EXTENSION paragraph herein. The granting of any further extensions shall be at the sole option of Lessor. 17. OPERATSCNS - No exploration, drilling or production operation, including permanent installations, shall be within 200 feet of any existing building or other improvement, including water well or reservoir, without the written permission of the owner of said improvements. Lessee shall keep a correct log of each well drilled hereunder, shoving by name or description the formations passed through, the depth at which each formation was reached, the number of feet of each size casing set in each well, where set, and the total depth of each well drilled. Lessee, within thirty (30) days after the completion or abandonment of any well drilled hereunder, shall file in the office of Lessor a complete and correct log of such well, together with a copy of the electric log and the radioactivity log of the well when such logs, or either cf them, are run; and also a copy of all drill stem test results, core records and analyses, record of perforations and Initial production tests, if any. If any of the information required by this paragraph Ss contained in reports required to be filed with the 011 and Gas Conservation Commission of Colorado, the requirements of this paragraph for such information may be satisfied by such -filing with said Commission, except for copies of the reports as are required by the following paragraph, and provided that all such information is immediately available to Lessor. Any proprietary information so submitted shall not be subject to public inspection under Colorado law. B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 X0.00 7/010 F 1015 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK 6 RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) / Oz) /�, Lessee shall bury pipelines below plow depth. Lessee shall set and cement sufficient surface casing to protect the fresh water wells of the area. 18. NOTIFICATION - Lessee shall notify Lessor anal the surface lessee or surface owner of the location of each drill site at least two weeks prior to commencing drilling operations thereon. Lessee shall notify Lessor before commencing to plug and abandon any well by copy of Lessee's request for approval or sundry notice of intent to plug and abandon. 19. BONDS - Lessee shall be liable for all damages to the surface of the land, livestock, growing crops, water wells, reservoirs, or improvements caused by Lessee's operations on said land. No operations shall be commenced on the land hereinabove described unless and until Lessee shall have filed a good and sufficient bond with Lessor, in an amount to be fixed by Lessor, to secure the payment for such damages as may be caused by Lessee's operations on said land and to assure compliance with all the terms and previsions of this lease, tte laws of the State of Lelnrado, arr. zf.e ruins arc; -=.=_+n;•ticr.s hurez- ctgrrtainir.g. A bond may Le held in effect for the life of production of and well. 20. SETTLF1TNT - Lessee shall not remove any machinery, equipment or fixtures place? on said land, other than drilling equipment, nor draw the casing from any well unless and until all payments and obligations currently due Lessor under the terms of this lease shall have been paid or satisfied. Any machinery, equipment or fixtures left on this land for a period of more than six (6) months after the expiration hereof, shall automatically become the property of Lessor. 21. OMER DISCOVERY - Should Lessee discover any valuable products other than oil and gas, on or within the leased land, Lessee shall within seven (7) days report such discovery to Lessor, in which even- Lessee and Lessor may negotiate a provision for production of such discovery. - 22. WATER - This lease does not grant permission, express or implied, to Lessee for water exploration, drilling, or establishing water wells without the written permission of the surface owner. If Lessor is the surface owner, said permission shall not be unreasonably withheld. If Lessee desires to establish or adjudicate any water right for beneficial use on the leased lard, any such adjudication or application shall be in the name of Lessor if Lessor is the surface owner. The same shall apply to any nontributary water rights established on the leased land which may be put to beneficial use off said land. 23. DEFAULT - Upon failure or default of Lessee to comply with any of the terms and provisions hereof including but not limited to the failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations governing Colorado oil and gas operations, Lessor is hereby authorized upon notice and hearing, as hereinafter provided, to cancel this lease as to all of the leased land so claimed or possessed by Lessee hereunder. In the event of any such default or failure, Lessor shall, before making any such cancellation, send to Lessee by certified mail, to the post office address of said lessee as shown by the records of Lessor, a notice of intention to cancel for such failure or default, specifying the same, stating that if within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing said notice, Lessee shall correct such failure cr default, no cancellation will be made. If such failure or default is not corrected within thirty (30) days after the mailing of such notice, and if Lessee does not request a hearing on such notice within thirty (30) days, this lease will terminate and be cancelled by operation of this paragraph without further action by Lessor, or further notice to Lessee. 24. EXTENSION - If Lessee fails to make discovery of oil and gas, or either of them, in paying quantities during the primary term hereof, or during drilling operations commenced during the primary term hereof, Lessee may make written application to Lessor for an extension of this lease for a term equal to the primary term as to all of the mineral acres covered hereby (excluding any mineral acres theretofore surrendered as £n the SURRENDER Paragraph provided, or assigned as in the ASSIGNMENTS Paragraph provided). The granting of such extension shall be at the sole option of Lessor at double the rental for the primary term hereof. B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 40. 00 8/010 F 1016 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) 25. HOLD HARMLESS - Lessee shall indemnify Lessor against all liability and loss, and against all claims and actions, including the defense of such claims or actions, based upon or arising out of damage or injury, including death, to persons cr property caused by or sustained in connection with operations on this leased land or by conditions created thereby, or based upon any violation of any statute, ordinance, or regulation. 26. CONDEeiA"'ION - If the leased land shall be taken in any condemnation proceeding, this lease shall automatically terminate as of the dace of taking. The award for such condemnation shall be paid to Lessor, except for any specific award(s) paid to Lessee for severed oil and gas reserves, in which evert XXXXXXXXXXX of such specific award(s) shall be paid to Lessor in lieu of royalty lost by virtue of the condemnation. Improvements shall be removed by Lessee per terms in the SETTLEMENT Paragraph herein. If only a portion of the leased land is taken by condemnation, Lessor may, at its option, terminate this lease or terminate only that portion of the lease so taken. 27. ERRORS - Every effort is made by Lessor to avoid errors in all procedures including but not limited to auction listings and lease preparation. Lessor shall not be liable for any inconvenience or loss caused by errors which may occur. Lessee shall notify Lesser immediately upon discovery of any errors or discrepancy whatever. 28. ARCHAEOLOGY - Lessee shall not destroy, disturb, mar, collect, remove or alter any prehistoric or historic resources of any kind on Weld County lands as provided by law. These resources include but are not limited to all artifacts of stone, wood or metal, pictographs, structures, and bones. A discovery of anything o£ prehistoric or historic nature shall be reported to Lessor or the State of Colorado Archaeologist immediately. 29. DEFINITIONS - (a) "Gas" as used herein shall mean all gases (combustible and noncombustible), including but not limited to all gaseous hydrocarbons, gaseous compounds, carbon dioxide, and helium. (b) "Oil and gas" as used herein shall include all substances produced as by-products therewith, including but not limited to sulfur. (c) "'Paying euattities" as used herein shall mean and refer to quantities of oil and gas or of either of them sufficient tc pay for the current cost of producing same. 30. REIRS AND ASSIGNS - The benefits and obligations of this lease shall inure to and be binding upon the heirs, legal representatives, successors or assigns of Lessee; but no sublease or assignment hereof, or of any interest herein, shall be binding upon Lessor until the same has been approved ty Lessor as explained in the ASSIGNMENTS' paragraph provided. 31. WARRANTY OF TITLE - Lessor does not warrant title to the leased premises, but it shall, upon request, allow Lessee access to such abstracts and other title papers as it has in its files. There shall be no obligation on Lessor's part to purchase new or supplemental or other title papers nor to do any curative work in connection with title to the subject lands. All abstracts of title, whether new or supplementary, obtained by Lessee and covering the subject lands shall become the property of and be delivered to Lessor after Lessee has completed its title examination and curative work, subject, however, to the right of Lessee to use such abstracts upon, request at any time during the term of the Lease. B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 X0. 00 9/010 F 1017 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, CO (Rev. 11/86) �1 / o (en \ N IN WITNESS WHEREOF, lessor has hereunto signed and caused its name to be signed by the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF WELD, with the seal of the office affixed, and Lessee has signed this agreement, toe day and year first above written. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, CO 10 19/2/2/41 b .. ✓the $'oa g;a �i/vrLJ LESSEE: Wilbanks & Associates, � Inc. BY- Thccas E. Clark, Vice-President STATE OF COLORADO ) ) Ss. COUNTY OF WELD ) /444 The"Vieqqllng instrument was acknowledged before me this �p% day of -�- , 19 94 City ' 'L.� a. WieMib,>��handiandroffinial seal. aG: ..0 My r7 q My COMmilSty paCtiizdd: 3' / - ( �. 'uF °` `&./41nGest./ Gl • 74/72/.7`914-4-v-e-, k" Notary Public U iA k 10 B 1294 REC 02245358 03/28/91 12: 45 ER W CO, COF 1018 MARY ANN FEUERSTEIN CLERK & RECORDER WELD CO, C (Rev. 11/86) a OFFICE OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PHONE(303) 356-4000. EXT. 4200 P.O.. Box 758 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632 C. COLORADO January 31, 1991 J . Michael Morgan Lohf, Shaiman, and Ross, P.C. 900 Cherry Tower 950 South Cherry Denver, CO 80222 RE: Denial of Extension of Oil and Gas Leases Dear Mr. Morgan: The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, is in receipt of your January 24, 1991, letter. Your letter requests an extension o£ Oil and Gas Leases for the following properties in Township 7 North, Range 63 West of the 6th P.M. , Weld County, Colorado: All of Section 21; and the Northeast Quarter (NE1/4) , South Half (S1/2) Northwest Quarter (NW1/4) , Southeast Quarter (SE1/4) , Southwest (SW1/4) of Section 15 . The Leases for these properties expired on Sunday, August 5 , 1990. Mr. Dean L. Cummins applied to the Clerk to the Board' s Office for six-month extensions of the Leases on Friday, August 3 , 1990. Given that the Board of County Commissioners did not meet on Sunday, the next available meeting when the Board could consider the extensions was Monday, August 6, 1990. The Board extended the Leases for the requested six-month terms , making the Resolution which approved the extensions effective August 5 , 1990. This was done using the "nunc pro tune" language. The Leases were extended to and until February 5, 1991 . Mr. Cummins was advised by Bruce T. Barker, Assistant Weld County Attorney, on or about Friday, August 3, 1990, and/or Monday August 6 , 1990 , that the Leases were extended to and until February 5, 1991. Mr. Cummins did not attend the Board' s August 6 , 1990, meeting. Enclosed you will find a copy of the letter which Mr. Cummins sent to the Board of County Commissioners dated October 12, 1990. As you can see, Mr. Cummins makes no mention of the "nunc pro tune" language. Also enclosed you will find a copy of a letter dated October 16 , 1990, from Gene R. Brantner, Chairman for the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado., and addressed to Mr. Cummins. Your letter implies that the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County and its employees were negligent in two ways. First, you seem to believe that Mr. Cummins was damaged by the fact that he did not receive a copy of the Resolution until October 5, 1990. Second, you state that the "nunc pro tune" language in the Resolution was "informal, " and therefore, ineffective. You believe that Mr. Cummins should have been given a "new grant" of the expired Oil and Gas Lease on August 6, 1990. The Board of County Commissioners finds it inconceivable how Mr. Cummins can argue that he was somehow deprived of two months of the extended Lease. The mere fact that Mr. Cummins did not bother to stop by the Board' s Office to obtain a copy of the August 6 , 1990, Resolution shows that Mr. Cummins was not concerned about its contents. Your implication that the Board's employees were somehow negligent in failing to send Mr. Cummins a copy of the Resolution is inconsistent with your own client' s apparent lack of concern and due diligence. Please be advised that the Board of County Commissioners extends all of its leases only by Resolution. The Board has used this method of extending leases for many years with no objections from oil and gas companies and/or their attorneys. In this case , it was and is now the Board' s opinion that the Leases were extended from August 5 , 1990 , to and until February 5, 1991. The Board views both Mr. Cummins' October 12 , 1990, letter, and your January 24, 1991 , letter, as attempts to force the Board into extending the Leases beyond the February 5 , 1991 , expiration dates for no additional consideration. The Board will not extend the leases further. The Board finds that Mr. Cummins was informed of the extension on or about August 3 , 1990, and/or August 6 , 1990. He had ample opportunity to obtain a copy of the Resolution and to object to any of the language contained therein shortly after the Resolution was signed on August 6, 1990. He chose not to do so. If you should have any questions regarding this letter or if you wish to discuss this matter further, please feel free to call Bruce T. Barker, Assistant Weld County Attorney, at 356-4000, extension 4391. Sincerely, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD ORADO on E. La , Chairman BTB:GEL:r !/ OFFICE OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PHONE (303) 356-4000, ExT. 4200 P.O. Box 758 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632 I C. COLORADO October 16, 1990 Dean L. Cummins 1223 28th Avenue, Suite 1 Greeley, CO 80631 RE: Extension of Oil and Gas Leases Dear Mr. Cummins: This letter is in response to your letter dated October 12, 1990, which requests extension of two oil and gas leases executed by Weld County with Pan- Canadian Petroleum Company as Lessee. Enclosed please find a copy of the Board's Resolution dated August 6, 1990, nunc pro tunc August 5, 1990. The Resolution extends the expiration date for the two oil and gas leases to February 5, 1991. The leases cover land described as the Northeast Quarter (NE}) , South Half (Si) Northwest Quarter (NW ) , Southeast Quarter (SE}) , and Southwest Quarter (SW}) , Section 15, Township 7 North, Range 63 West of. the 6th P.M. , Weld County, Colorado. It is the Board's understanding that you were advised by Bruce T. Barker, Assistant Weld County Attorney, on or about Friday, August 3, 1990, and/or Monday, August 6, 1990, that the leases had been extended to and until February 5, 1991. Your October 12, 1990, letter states that you were first advised of the extension as of October 5, 1990; however, the Board believes that you are incorrect in your representation. In any event, the Board finds it hard to believe that you somehow failed to contact the Clerk to the Board's Office soon after August 6, 1990, in order to ascertain whether or not the leases had been extended for your requested of 6 month period of time. The Board hereby denies your request for an extension of the lease termination date beyond February 5, 1991. Sincerely, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO line ifil.61/4--t-s Gene R. Brantner, Chairman BTB:GRB:rm xc: Bruce T. Barker, Asst. County Attorney LOHF, SHAIMAN & ROSS A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION ATTORNEYS AT LAW 900 CHERRY TOWER 950 SOUTH CHERRY DENVER. COLORADO 80222 FACSIMILE (303) 753 9997 TELEPHONE (303) 753-9000 VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS J. MICHAEL M O RGA N January 24, 1991 Gordon E. Lacy, Chairman Board of County Commissioners Weld County Courthouse 915 10th Street P.O. Box 758 Greeley, Colorado 80631 Re: Request for Extension of Oil and Gas Leases Section 21: E1/2, W1/2, Township 7 North, Range 63 West of the 6th P.M. , Weld County, Colorado Section 15: NE1/4 , S1/2NW1/4, SE1/4 , SW1/4 , Township 7 North, Range 63 West of the 6th P.M. , Weld County, Colorado Dear Chairman Lacy: We represent Dean L. Cummins, who has contractual agreements with Pan Canadian Petroleum Company, lessee under two oil and gas leases covering the above described real property. The leases were granted by Weld County as lessor, and were to expire by their terms on August 5, 1990. Prior to expiration, Mr. Cummins, on behalf of Pan Canadian and pursuant to the County's policy on extending leases, requested lease extensions for a period of six months. The request was accompanied by the required payment of $6, 604 . When informed that the Board would probably not approve the extensions until after expiration of the leases, Mr. Cummins' agent suggested that, to be unquestionably effective, the extensions should contain express language of grant and lease revival. The Board acted to grant the extensions on August 6, 1990, nunc pro tunc, August 5, 1990. Thereafter, Mr. Cummins was orally informed that the extensions had been granted. However, despite Gordon E. Lacy January 24 , 1991 Page 2 repeated requests, written Resolutions granting extensions were not delivered to him until October 5, 1990. He then found that though the leases had previously expired, the documents did not contain express language of grant or revival, but sought instead to revive the expired leases through nunc pro tunc language. By letter to the Board of October 12 , 1990, Mr. Cummins sought partial relief by requesting a 60 day extension to make up for time lost by failure of County employees to deliver the extensions. This request was denied by the Board for the stated reason that Mr. Cummins had been orally informed of extension, and that this was sufficient. For reasons stated below, we believe as a matter of law that oral notification was not sufficient to extend the leases. Mr. Cummins' request for lease extension was and is motivated by a desire to put together a deal which will result in exploratory drilling during the extended term. Such drilling, if successful, will be of benefit to Weld County by providing it with royalty income. Despite diligent efforts, Mr. Cummins has not yet been successful in putting together a deal which will result in drilling prior to expiration of the term. This failure is due, in large part, to the fact that the extensions were not delivered to him until two months after execution, and when delivered were in a form which raises questions as to their effectiveness. In the first instance, potential participants in the drilling deal were simply not willing to rely upon oral statements that "the extensions are in the mail". Uneasiness could also be caused by the informality of the Resolutions, which purported to revive expired leases through nunc pro tunc language, rather than through express grant and revival language. We have advised Mr. Cummins that hesitancy on the part of potential drilling participants was justified. A general rule of law provides that deeds, leases and other conveyances are not effective until delivered. See: 51C C.J.S. , Landlord & Tenant, § 219 (". . . in order for a lease to be operative, there must be a delivery of the instrument by the lessor. ") ; 2 Kuntz, Law of Oil and Gas, §22 .5 (". . .transfer of an interest in oil and gas requires delivery of the deed.") ; Larison v. Taylor, 266 P. 217 (Colo. 1928) , ("Delivery is essential to the complete execution of a deed so as to pass title. ") . Based upon this rule, we conclude that until the extensions were delivered to Mr. Cummins Gordon E. Lacy January 24, 1991 Page 3 on October 5, 1990, they were not effective, and those who dealt with Mr. Cummins would have done so at their peril. Though extensions of six months duration were requested, paid for, and approved by the Board, Mr. Cummins received extensions which were effective for only four months, but which have been virtually useless to Mr. Cummins because of the disruption caused by delayed delivery. The Resolutions granting extensions are informal. They neither expressly describe the rights granted nor purport to revive expired leases. We would argue that, as a matter of equity, the County should be estopped from denying the validity of the extensions. However, as a matter of law, courts have held that absent the same formalities required of the original lease, and language which contains a "new grant", an expired oil and gas lease is not revived. See Summers, Law of Oil and Gas, §302 (extension of an oil and gas lease ". . .must satisfy the same requirements and be executed with the same formalities as the original lease.") ; Williams and Meyers, Oil and Gas Law, §658 . 4 . Uneasiness on the part of potential participants regarding the effectiveness of the extensions would certainly be justified. Based upon the above, we do not believe that Mr. Cummins actually received the benefit of extensions which he requested, for which he expended over $6, 000, and which the Board intended to approve. Equity and fairness demand that Mr. Cummins be granted substitute extensions which are both clearly effective and are for the duration intended by both Mr. Cummins and the Board. Mr. Cummins therefore requests, on behalf of Pan Canadian, that the County execute new extensions which contain express language of grant and revival, that such extensions be for a term of six months from execution, and that such extensions be delivered to Mr. Cummins immediately upon execution. As explained above, if the foregoing request is not granted, Mr. Cummins will not have received the benefit of extensions he purchased and reasonably expected to receive. Consequently, if substitute extensions are not granted, Mr. Cummins requests, in the alternative, that his purchase price of $6, 604 be refunded, and that the County's mineral interests in the two tracts described above be sold and disposed of by the County, as required by C.R.S. 1973 , Section 39-11-143 (4) (b) . Gordon E. Lacy January 24, 1991 Page 4 If you have questions or concerns regarding the above requests, please advise. Very truly yours, �J J Mi ae or n cc: William H. Webster George Kennedy Constance L. Harbert C. W. Kirby Thomas O. David, Esq. Donald D. Warden Dean L. Cummins Hello