Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-102
§103 Patents for Oil or Gas Lands Not Denied Because of Transfer Before Discovery of Oil or Gas; Acreage Limitation; Nonapplication to Withdraw Lands
Title 30 › CHAPTER 3 — LANDS CONTAINING COAL, OIL, GAS, SALTS, ASPHALTIC MATERIALS, SODIUM, SULPHUR, AND BUILDING STONE › SUBCHAPTER III — PETROLEUM, OTHER MINERAL OIL, OR GAS LAND ENTRIES UNDER MINING LAWS › § 103
Summary
Land claimed under the mining laws before March 2, 1911 that contains petroleum, mineral oil, or gas keeps the right to a patent even if the locator transferred interests before oil or gas was discovered. If the claim is valid, up to 160 acres may be patented to the holder(s), unless the land was withdrawn from mineral entry when development began.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §103
Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In no case shall patent be denied to or for any lands located or claimed prior to March 2, 1911, under the mining laws of the United States containing petroleum, mineral oil, or gas solely because of any transfer or assignment thereof or of any interest or interests therein by the original locator or locators, or any of them, to any qualified persons or person or corporation, prior to discovery of oil or gas therein, but if such claim is in all other respects valid and regular, patent therefor not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in any one claim shall issue to the holder or holders thereof, as in other cases. The above provisions shall not apply where such lands were at the time of inception of development on or under such claim withdrawn from mineral entry.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 103
Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102