West Virginia Code
Article 1. Mineral Development by a Majority of Cotenants
§37B-1-2. Declaration of Public Policy; Legislative Findings


It is declared to be the public policy of this state and in the public interest to:
(1) Foster, encourage and promote exploration for and development, production, and conservation of oil, natural gas and their constituents;
(2) Prohibit waste of oil, natural gas, and their constituents and unnecessary surface loss of oil, natural gas, and their constituents;
(3) Encourage the maximum recovery of oil, natural gas, and their constituents;
(4) Safeguard, protect and enforce the correlative rights of operators and mineral owners in that each such operator and mineral owner may obtain his or her just and equitable share of production;
(5) Safeguard, protect and enforce the integrity of the passive royalty owner’s interest in his or her minerals.
(6) Safeguard, protect and enforce the rights of surface owners; and
(7) Protect and enforce the clear provisions of contracts lawfully made.