77-3-401. Oil and gas leases authorized. (1) The board is hereby authorized and empowered to lease in such manner as it may determine, not inconsistent with The Enabling Act and the constitution, any state lands to which the title has vested in the state and in which the oil and gas rights are not reserved by the United States, for prospecting and exploring for oil and gas, mining, drilling, developing, and removing the same upon the terms and conditions herein prescribed to any person, association, corporation, domestic or foreign, or municipality qualified under the constitution and the laws of the state.
(2) This power and authority to lease state lands for such purposes shall extend to and include all lands owned by the state under navigable lakes and streams and shall also extend to and include all those state lands which have been sold but in which the oil and gas rights have been reserved by the state; but in such cases and in all cases where the lands are under lease for grazing, agriculture, or similar purposes, care shall be taken in issuing the oil and gas leases to protect the rights of the purchaser or lessee.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 90, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 261, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 184, L. 1961; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1701(part).
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources
77-3-401. Oil and gas leases authorized
77-3-403. Hearings on questions related to leases
77-3-404. Limitation on area under single lease
77-3-405. Leased lands to be generally compact and contiguous
77-3-406. Number of leases which one person may hold
77-3-407. New leases on lands leased prior to February 28, 1953
77-3-408. Certain state officers not to be interested in leases
77-3-409. Misconduct of officers in relation to oil and gas leases
77-3-410. False statements relating to oil and gas leases
77-3-411. Notice of lease sale required
77-3-412. through 77-3-420 reserved
77-3-422. Lease extension clause
77-3-426. Lessee to prevent waste
77-3-427. Provision for offset wells -- compensatory royalties
77-3-428. Additional development following completion of productive well
77-3-429. Operating agreements
77-3-430. Pooling agreements and unit operations
77-3-434. Manner of making royalty payment
77-3-435. Payments due to state -- audit -- notice -- action
77-3-436. Disposition of royalties and other money
77-3-437. Amendment of existing leases
77-3-438. Assignments of leases
77-3-440. Forfeiture and cancellation of leases
77-3-441. Restriction on new lease following termination of old lease
77-3-442. Disposition of property of lessee upon termination of lease
77-3-443. Reservation in lease for disposition of surface
77-3-444. Limitation on overriding royalties and payments out of production