Court Opinion

ID: 9679807
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:08:22.537111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:21.067880
License: Public Domain

HUGPIES, Justice
(concurring).
I am of the opinion that this case is moot insofar as complaint is made of the manner in which the wells were drilled. They have been drilled. Since a well may be lawfully drilled pending decision of a Rule 37 Case the Commission, of necessity, must retain its jurisdiction and authority to see that such well is drilled in accordance with its rules and regulations. This is the character of authority exercised by the Commission in this case under its Rule 54.. .1 know of no reason for a court to enjoin production from' a well at the request of a third party because of his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the well was drilled albeit as authorized by the Commission.
As to the question of notice it is significant to me that Sec. (b) of Rule 54 does not provide for notice but only that authorization to cross property lines in directionally drilling a well will only be granted “as the result of a hearing on such matter.”
The hearing insofar as crossing property lines is concerned could only be for the purpose of ascertaining to the satisfaction of the Commission that the applicant had a good faith claim of right to cross such property lines.
The jurisdiction of the Commission could not be enlarged by the giving of notice. *939Regardless of the character of notice and regardless of the extent of hearing had the Commission could not grant authority for one person to trespass on the property of another.
This, to me, explains the lack of requirement of notice in the Rule. It would be idle for the Commission to give notice of its intention to perform and act beyond its jurisdiction. I, therefore, am of the opinion that notice to Humble was not necessary.
I fully agree with the Court’s opinion that there was no abuse of discretion in denying injunctive relief based on Humble’s claimed violation of mineral leasehold rights.