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Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-102

§187b Oil or Gas Leases; Written Relinquishment of Rights; Release of Obligations

Title 30 › CHAPTER 3A — LEASES AND PROSPECTING PERMITS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 187b

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A leaseholder of federal oil or gas land can give up all or part of their lease any time by filing a written relinquishment at the proper land office. The relinquishment takes effect when it is filed, but the leaseholder and their bond or guarantor must still pay any rent and royalties already owed and make the wells ready for suspension or abandonment under the lease and rules. After filing, the leaseholder is freed from future duties for the lands given up, but they and their bond remain responsible for any lease breaches that happened before the filing, except for a failure to drill.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §187b

Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in section 187 of this title, a lessee may at any time make and file in the appropriate land office a written relinquishment of all rights under any oil or gas lease issued under the authority of this chapter or of any legal subdivision of the area included within any such lease. Such relinquishment shall be effective as of the date of its filing, subject to the continued obligation of the lessee and his surety to make payment of all accrued rentals and royalties and to place all wells on the lands to be relinquished in condition for suspension or abandonment in accordance with the applicable lease terms and regulations; thereupon the lessee shall be released of all obligations thereafter accruing under said lease with respect to the lands relinquished, but no such relinquishment shall release such lessee, or his bond, from any liability for breach of any obligation of the lease, other than an obligation to drill, accrued at the date of the relinquishment.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Savings Provision

See note set out under section 181 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 187b

Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102