Recent Publications

Here are a few of our recent publications - check back as we will be updating this page often

  • Understanding the American Natural Gas Boom
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    Natural gas is seen by many to provide significant environment benefit beyond that of other types of fossil fuels. As the cleanest burning carbon based fuel, it produces 45% less carbon dioxide waste product than that of coal and 30% less than oil. It is estimated by some that by substituting natural gas in place of the traditional use of coal and oil, the output of greenhouse gasses produced in the United States could alone mitigate much of the negative carbon footprint believed to cause climate change.
  • Understanding And Negotiating The Oil And Gas Lease
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    We are providing information to help others better understand the oil and gas exploration and production process and related leasing considerations. Everyone, including natural resource producers, benefit from this educational effort. An educated public is less apprehensive about the process of exploring for and developing oil and gas resources and, hence, easier to communicate and negotiate with. The availability of this information will hopefully reduce the number of disputes caused by fundamental misunderstandings as to the leasing process and the need for certain customary clauses. These clauses are not only the foundation of the leasing arrangement, but are important to both the landowner and the company in an efficient and productive project.
  • Pugh Clause
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    A Pugh Clause provides for the severance of the lease into separate tracts whenever less than all of the leased land is included in a single pool or unit. Phrased differently, a Pugh Clause allows the part of the leased property that is part of a pooled unit to be characterized as being placed into the secondary term and held by production, but treat the rest of the leased property not part of the pooled unit as a stranger to the original lease. Hence, the part of the leased premises that is part of the pool is segregated from the rest of the lease.
  • Interstate Pipelines : Questions and Answers
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    Before an interstate pipeline can be built, facility owners and contractors must ensure that all necessary paperwork is first filed to secure permission from the various governing entities. Regulating agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), seek to be as efficient as possible in granting permits balancing the same with the public's interest.
  • Re: House Bill 09-1194
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq.
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    To the House Committee Members:

    I have been requested to provide a position to your Committee pertaining to House Bill 09-1194 defining the accrual date as to any cause of action upon discovery of a breach of royalty obligation.
  • Fact Sheet
    Article by: Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    "The 2007 Colorado Legislature has seen a high volume of oil and gas related bills proposed, pertaining to numerous issues that have come to light since the recent increase in oil and gas activity in Colorado. The following is a brief summary of the major oil and gas related bills and their current status."
  • Oil and Gas Landowner Issues: Montana State University
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    "The key to a successful relationship as a mineral owner with your Oil and Gas lessee is an understanding of the Oil and Gas lease. While understanding your Oil and Gas lease takes some work, the general concepts and principals can be understood by anyone. The Oil and Gas lease is nothing more than a contract. Yes, it is a very specialized type of contract, but a contract nonetheless. It is necessary to understand and read the document closely. Most Oil and Gas leases are fairly straight forward.

    Understanding certain sections depend on comprehension of terms used in the Oil and Gas business. You will have to learn these terms, but again that is not too difficult. Ultimately, if you realize that the Oil and Gas lease is your ally and not your enemy, you are on the road to protecting your legal rights."
  • How To Conduct Your Own Mineral Title Research
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    "Doing your own mineral title research can be quite tedious and frustrating for if you are unfamiliar with title work. The intention of this article is to briefly explain the importance of reviewing your mineral properties' chain of title and to give a short "how to" on conducting your own mineral title research. There will be a follow up installment next month on "What Was Really Conveyed In Your Mineral Title"."
  • Understanding the Oil and Gas Lease and Factors Affecting Termination of the Oil and Gas Lease Resulting in Cancellation
       - (or How I learned to love my Oil and Gas lease and treat it as a friend)
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    "The key to a successful relationship as a mineral owner with your Oil and Gas lessee is an understanding of the Oil and Gas lease. While understanding your Oil and Gas lease takes some work, the general concepts and principals can be understood by anyone. The Oil and Gas lease is nothing more than a contract. Yes, it is a very specialized type of contract, but a contract nonetheless. It is necessary to understand and read the document closely. Most Oil and Gas leases are fairly straight forward. Understanding certain sections depend on comprehension of terms used in the Oil and Gas business. You will have to learn these terms, but again that is not too difficult. Ultimately, if you realize that the Oil and Gas lease is your ally and not your enemy, you are on the road to protecting your legal rights."
  • Surface Use Agreement: Representation of the Surface Owner
    Article by: Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq. and Rosanna Slingerland
    The Law Offices of Ralph A. Cantafio, P.C.

    "It is this general characteristic of dominant and subservient estates that at first confuses many people as it pertains to mineral rights. Colorado, and again most of the western United States, permits the severance of estates. For the purposes of this discussion, the two estates are referred to as those involving surface rights and mineral rights. It is important to understand that the owner of property can sell the surface rights to his property, but retain or otherwise convey to another third party the rights to the minerals. This type of transaction causes what initially is described as a unified estate to become severed. The mineral estate is said to be severed from the surface estate. These mineral rights include, when properly drafted, the rights to oil, natural gas, and many minerals, including, but not limited to coal, copper, etc."