Akandas, Inc. v. Klippel

The opinion of the court was delivered by

ABBOTT, J.:

The plaintiffs sought judgment that certain oil and gas leases had expired. The resolution of that issue depends upon the interpretation of a document entitled “Unitization Agreement.”

The plaintiffs and their predecessors in interest are mineral interest owners who entered into oil and gas leases. Each lease contains a habendum clause, specifying an initial or primary term ranging from one month to five years and a secondary term for “as long thereafter as oil or gas, or either, is produced from said land” or words to that effect. None of…