Chevron Oil Company v. Noel D. Clark, W. C. Richardson, P. J. Gay, D. E. Vasser and Miss-La-Tex Oil and Gas Corporation

SIMPSON, Circuit Judge:

This is an interpleader action, filed by Chevron Oil Company (Chevron), to determine the ownership of 42% of the working interest 1 in a producing oil well located in the SE Vi of the SE % of Section 36, Township 5 North, Range 1 East, Franklin County, Mississippi. The district court, sitting without a jury, ruled in favor of appellees Clark, et al. We conclude that the district court was partially in error, and we therefore affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

Chevron owned an oil and gas lease, granted by the United States, on the land in question (as well as…