American Bar Association

The Shale Energy Revolution American Bar Association

The shale gas revolution has created an unparalleled opportunity for investment and economic development while the industry's fast-paced and unconventional growth has resulted in a vast wave of litigation issues. Written by attorneys with extensive experience in this developing area of the law, The Shale Energy Revolution perceptively addresses these challenges. Beginning with an overview of the geology, exploration, drilling and production of shale plays, this concise guide introduces the shale plays and their individual properties regionally. The authors identify common litigation issues in shale plays, including recovery of personal injury and property damages related to hydraulic fracturing; lawsuits between governmental entities; and challenges to disclosure regulations related to the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. The third chapter highlights common contractual disputes related to royalties, pooling and unitization, and implied covenants to market and for furtherdevelopment. Water rights and water use are the central topic of the book's concluding chapter.
Competition for water and a significant uptick in regulation related to the use of water will generate litigation related to the use of water in oil and gas operations The final chapter in The Shale EnergyRevolution provides a broad regional overview of the statutory and regulatory schemes that govern water use in oil and gas producing states, and highlights potential areas for disputes.