Allen v. Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

OPINION

BRYNER, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Monte Allen appeals a decision of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission dismissing as moot his petition for compulsory unitization of two oil and gas leases that expired the day after Allen petitioned. We hold that the commission has discretion to order unitization effective upon the date of filing of a proper petition and that its exercise of this discretion is a matter for case-specific determination rather than a matter of jurisdiction. Because the commission does not dispute that Allen's petition was proper when filed or that a retroactive…