Pitco Production Co. v. Chaparral Energy, Inc.

OPALA, V.C.J.

¶ 1 The dispositive issue presented on cer-tiorari is whether the terms of a joint operating agreement that designates one party as operator of the unit area and whose language refers to the “operator” in singular form permits the election of more than one unit operator in a Corporation Commission-designated spacing and drilling unit. We answer in the negative. 2

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ANATOMY OF THE LITIGATION

¶2 Chaparral and Cheyenne (appellants) and Piteo (appellee) are working interest owners in a Corporation Commission-designated drilling and spacing unit. Two wells have been drilled in the unit…