Kenan v. Hilliard Oil & Gas, Inc. (In Re George Rodman, Inc.)

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

RICHARD L. BOHANON, Bankruptcy Judge.

The issue on this motion for summary judgment objecting to defendant’s claim is whether perfection of a statutory lien by an operator of an oil and gas leasehold unit in Oklahoma is effective against the trustee for the bankruptcy estate of a non-operating working interest owner.

The facts are uncontested and show that defendant Hilliard was operator of an oil and gas leasehold spacing unit created by an order of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. In July, 1982, Hilliard and the debtor entered into a model form operating agreement in…