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Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60

§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 Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

A leaseholder can, at any time, file a written notice at the proper land office giving up all rights under an oil or gas lease or giving up rights to part of the leased area. The giving up takes effect on the day it is filed. Even after filing, the leaseholder and their bond/guarantor must pay any unpaid rents or royalties and must put wells on the given-up land in the proper condition for suspension or abandonment under the lease and rules. After that date the leaseholder is freed from new duties for the released land, but they and their bond still owe responsibility for any breaches that happened before filing, except they are not liable for a past 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

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60