Energy & Oil and Gas Local Counsel

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Energy and Oil & Gas Local Counsel

Lafayette and the surrounding parishes have long served as a hub for oilfield services, pipeline work, and onshore and offshore operations. Out-of-state firms representing operators, service companies, contractors, and mineral owners often need Louisiana counsel who understands both the Civil Code framework and the state's oil and gas statutes.

Oilfield Services and MSAs

The Louisiana Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act, La. R.S. 9:2780, makes void and unenforceable provisions in agreements pertaining to wells for oil, gas, or water (or drilling for minerals) to the extent they require defense or indemnity for death or bodily injury caused by the sole or concurrent negligence or fault of the indemnitee (or its agents, employees, or directly responsible independent contractors). The statute also addresses additional-insured coverage, defines "agreement" broadly to cover services connected with wells, and carves out certain operating and farmout agreements. Only the offending provision is voided, not the whole MSA. Whether it applies is fact-specific, so we help you analyze it early.

Offshore Matters

On the Outer Continental Shelf adjacent to Louisiana, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. §1333(a)(2)(A)) adopts the adjacent state's laws as surrogate federal law to the extent they are applicable and not inconsistent with federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court held in Parker Drilling Management Services v. Newton (2019) that state law is adopted only where federal law does not address the issue. That can bring Louisiana law, including the anti-indemnity statute, into offshore disputes, while maritime law may govern others. We help your team work through those choice-of-law questions.

Mineral Leases and Royalties (Louisiana Mineral Code)

• The Louisiana Mineral Code, La. R.S. 31:1 et seq., governs mineral rights, servitudes, royalties, and mineral leases.
• A lessee must perform as a reasonably prudent operator for the mutual benefit of itself and the lessor (La. R.S. 31:122).
• Before suing over late or improper royalty payment, a mineral lessor must give the lessee written notice (La. R.S. 31:137); the lessee then has thirty days to pay or state in writing a reasonable cause for nonpayment (La. R.S. 31:138), and La. R.S. 31:139–141 set out the effect on remedies.
• Mineral servitudes are generally subject to prescription of nonuse for ten years (La. R.S. 31:27).

Pipelines and Servitudes

Right-of-way and servitude agreements, surface damage claims, and disputes involving pipeline construction across private property in Acadiana parishes.

Liens on Well Work

The Louisiana Oil Well Lien Act (La. R.S. 9:4861 et seq.) provides privileges for certain work and supplies related to wells, with its own filing requirements and deadlines.

How We Support Your Team

Pro hac vice sponsorship in Louisiana state courts and the Western District of Louisiana, co-signing and filing, records research in parish conveyance and mortgage records, Louisiana-law memos, and hearing and deposition coverage in Lafayette, Vermilion Parish, and across Acadiana.

Sources: La. R.S. 31:137; La. R.S. 31:138; La. R.S. 9:2780; 43 U.S.C. §1333; Parker Drilling v. Newton.