Oil and gas law in the United States

[Charles R Palace]

Oil and gas law in the United States is the branch of law that
pertains to the acquisition and ownership rights in oil and gas both
under the soil before discovery and after its capture, and
adjudication regarding those rights.

Overview: The law regulating oil and gas ownership in the U.S.
generally differs significantly from laws in Europe because oil and
gas are often owned privately in the U.S. as opposed to being owned by
the national government in many other countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_oil_and_gas_law