Harken Southwest Corp. v. Board of Oil, Gas & Mining

ZIMMERMAN, Chief Justice:

Harken Southwest Corporation (“Harken”) operates several oil and gas wells in San Juan County. In March of 1994, Harken applied to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (“Division”) for designation of thirteen wells drilled between 1990 and 1992 as “wildcat” wells. Wildcat wells drilled after January 1, 1990, are exempt from severance taxes during the first twelve months of production. Utah Code Ann. § 59-5-102(2)(d). The Division refused to confer wildcat status on six of the wells, and Harken appealed to the Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining (“Board”). The Board…