Natural Resources Code § 53.069

Sec. 53.069. FORFEITURE OF LEASE. (a) A lease and all rights under a lease are subject to forfeiture by action of the commissioner if the lessee or his assignee, sublessee, receiver, or other agent in control of the lease: (1) fails or refuses to pay any royalty within 30 days after it becomes due; (2) fails or refuses to the proper authorities access to the records relating to the operations; or (3) knowingly fails or refuses to give correct information to the proper authorities. (b) The commissioner may declare the forfeiture when he is sufficiently informed of the facts that authorize the forfeiture. He shall write on the wrapper containing the papers relating to the lease words declaring the forfeiture and shall sign it officially. Then the lease and all rights under the lease together with payments made under it are forfeited. (c) Notice of the forfeiture shall be mailed to the person shown by the records of the land office to be the owner of the surface and the owner of the forfeited lease at their last known addresses as shown in the land office records. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2472, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.