Paul P. Santoyo

OIL AND GAS TITLE AND DUE DILIGENCE

Representing oil and gas exploration companies, Paul advises on all facets of operational activities and issues, including:

• Represents diverse client base, including publicly traded companies, independent E&P companies and private equity and private equity-backed groups in connection with their operations throughout the State of Texas with specific emphasis on the South Texas, Eagle Ford Shale, West Texas, Permian Basin, East Texas and Eaglebine regions and plays.
• Advises on acquisition of both producing and non-producing assets, including negotiating letters of intent and purchase and sale agreements, conducting due diligence work and reviewing and drafting of title documentation, and resolving title disputes.
• Prepares original title opinions, supplemental title opinions and division order title opinions.
• Prepares limited title reports focusing on specific assets or interests held or to be acquired by the client, including working interests, overriding royalty interests, mineral and royalty interests, non-participating royalty interests and surface interests as well as identifying potential defects and risks and suggesting practical curative documentation and action.
• Counsels clients in connection with title defects and risks and assists with curative documentation or action necessary to mitigate such risks.
• Prepares title instruments affecting ownership, including conveyancing instruments, partitions, stipulations of interest agreements as well as affidavits of heirship.

OPERATIONAL COUNSELING

• Represents exploration and production companies in all facets of exploration and development of prospects, including preparation of pooling and unit designations, dissolution and reformation of units and production sharing and allocation agreements.
• Advises clients in connection with lease compliance and administration issues, including compliance with pooling provisions, royalty payment obligations and drafting and negotiating curative documentation.
• Counsels clients on mineral and royalty ownership disputes and transfers.
• Conducts due diligence in connection with acquisition of oil and gas leases, including asserting and resolving title defect issues and coordinating with and managing brokers in field.
• Negotiates leases, producing sharing and allocation agreements, surface use agreements and related agreements on behalf of operators, mineral and land owners.
• Reviews title instruments affecting mineral and royalty ownership, and coordinates with oil and gas payors to distribute production proceeds in accordance with such instruments.