Appalachia
Oliva Gibbs advises C-suite executives, landmen, and in-house counsel at oil, gas, and mineral companies operating throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania—the heart of the Appalachian Basin. Our attorneys handle a broad range of legal matters with experience in title, transactional, litigation, and regulatory work.
We resolve complex title and mineral ownership disputes, represent clients in forced pooling and unitization matters, and litigate lease terminations, royalty disputes, and post-production cost allocations. Our firm also guides Appalachia energy operators through state-specific regulations and represents them in regulatory enforcement actions through negotiation, administrative appeals, and litigation.
Appalachia energy law solutions
As exploration and production grow in the region, so does the need for targeted legal solutions to address complex chain-of-title issues, evolving regulations, litigation, and high-value transactions.
Mineral rights & resource development
The patchwork of state-specific regulations across Appalachia adds another layer of complexity that requires local insight and industry-specific expertise. As the region continues to evolve as an energy hub, proactive legal strategies are needed to manage risk, ensure compliance, and protect long-term mineral and operational interests.
Title & surface use
Oliva Gibbs collaborates with upstream operators and landmen across the Appalachian Basin to provide precise title opinions and resolve complex surface use matters.
- Drafting drilling title opinions, supplemental title opinions, and division order title opinions,
- Conducting quiet title actions and curative work to resolve chain-of-title defects before development,
- Preparing and reviewing complex lease agreements, pooling arrangements, and
- Negotiating and preparing state-specific surface use agreements.
Learn more about title services
Transactional expertise
Oliva Gibbs provides strategic transactional support to oil and gas companies operating in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays, as well as other areas throughout the basin. Our attorneys can assist with:
- Preparing and reviewing master services, purchase and sale, and joint operating agreements; plus,
- Managing regulatory filings for leasehold transfers and assignments to ensure smooth ownership transitions.
Learn more about transactional services
Litigation & dispute resolution
Oliva Gibbs works closely with land teams, in-house legal counsel, and C-suite executives to manage the full spectrum of litigation, regulatory hearings and appeals, and alternative dispute resolution. Our experience includes:
- Managing claims involving title, mineral ownership, and lease disputes,
- Defending surface access rights and negotiating surface damage claims,
- Addressing royalty claims and post-production cost deduction controversies,
- Handling pooling and unitization applications, hearings, and orders,
- Resolving mineral severance and split estate disputes that arise from competing surface and mineral rights,
- Handling regulatory and administrative actions related to oil and gas operations, and
- Representing clients in contractual disputes involving master service agreements, joint operating agreements, third-party vendors, and more.
Learn more about litigation services
The law & Appalachia’s resources
The Marcellus and Utica Shale formations are two of the most prolific oil and natural gas sources in the U.S. and sit beneath much of the Appalachian region.
The Marcellus Shale is valued for its natural gas, which fuels residential, industrial, and power generation needs across the country. Meanwhile, the Utica Shale produces oil, natural gas, and valuable natural gas liquids, such as ethane, propane, and butane. These shale plays, along with advancements in drilling technology, have turned Appalachia into a vital hub of American energy production.
Our attorneys combine regional insight and specialized expertise to support clients in shaping the future of Appalachia energy development. Details matter in energy resource development and management, and that’s where Oliva Gibbs’ experienced legal guidance can make a difference.
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