Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60
§304 Provisions Authorized in Lease
Title 30 › Chapter 5— LEASE OF OIL AND GAS DEPOSITS IN OR UNDER RAILROADS AND OTHER RIGHTS-OF-WAY › § 304
Summary
The Interior Secretary can let a leaseholder, if approved, pause wells that are losing money and restart them when they become profitable. The leaseholder can also abandon wells that stop producing oil or gas.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §304
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any lease granted by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to this chapter may, in the discretion of said Secretary, contain a provision giving the lessee the right, with the approval of said Secretary, to shut down the operation of any well or wells the operation of which has become unprofitable, to resume operations when such resumption may result in profit, and to abandon any well or wells that cease to produce oil and/or gas in paying quantities.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 304
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60