If drilling is not started or pursued as required, the lease may be forfeited; later, the owner may seek reinstatement in some cases.
Sec. 52.174. FAILURE TO DRILL OFFSET. If such persons fail or refuse to begin the drilling of such well or wells within the time required or to prosecute such drilling as necessary for the purpose intended herein, any lease of such land executed under the provisions of this law shall be subject to forfeiture by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and he shall forfeit same when he is sufficiently informed of the facts which authorize a forfeiture, and shall, on the wrapper containing the papers relating to such lease, write and sign officially words declaring such forfeiture, and the lease and all rights thereunder shall thereupon be forfeited together with all payments made thereunder. Notice of such action shall forthwith be mailed to the persons shown by the records of the General Land Office to be the owners of the surface and the owners of the forfeited lease at their last known addresses as shown by the records of said office. Upon proper showing by the owner of the forfeited lease within 30 days after the declaration of forfeiture, the lease may, at the discretion of the commissioner and upon the terms of this subchapter and such other terms as he may prescribe, be reinstated. If such lease be not reinstated within such time, or if the commissioner finds that any unleased land included in this law is being drained, the commissioner shall notify the person at his last known address, as shown by records of the General Land Office to be the surface owner, that the oil and gas is subject to sale or lease by the owner of the soil in accordance with this law, and that drilling is required. If such owner shall fail or refuse to obtain the commencement of such a well within 100 days after the date of such notice, the relinquishment herein granted and the rights acquired thereunder shall be subject to forfeiture by the commissioner by endorsing on the file wrapper containing the papers relating to the sale of the land, words indicating such forfeiture, and such rights shall thereupon be forfeited, and notice of such forfeiture shall be forwarded to the county clerk of the county wherein the land is situated. The rights of any owner of the soil which may have ipso facto terminated under prior laws shall be reinstated and are hereby reinstated, together with all rights acquired thereunder except where rights of third parties may have intervened. All rights herein reinstated shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this subchapter. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2458, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.