Oil and gas company seeks mineral rights to Jeff Co land

A Colorado corporation has filed an application in Jefferson County District Court, seeking the rights oil and gas rights to a piece of land in Jefferson County.

Samson Oil and Gas claims it is engaged in oil and gas exploration and development in Jefferson County and has discovered a tract of land in Calvert with an unleased interest.

According to Samson's application filed July 30 in Jefferson County District Court, Bernadine Hucks owned the piece of land in question, but has not paid taxes on it for at least five years.

Although Samson has searched for Hucks to obtain permission to develop the land for oil and gas production, it has been unable to locate her, the suit states.

Unless it obtains the court's permission to use Hucks' land for production, Samson will not be able to obtain valid oil and gas leases, the complaint says.

"Plaintiff has invested substantial sums in purchasing leasehold interests in adjacent land, and Plaintiff needs to acquire this land in order to properly develop the adjacent lands," the suit states. "Further, Plaintiff would show that activities for the exploration and development of oil and gas are now being conducted in the vicinity of the above described lands, which activities may give rise to a possibility that the above described lands will suffer drainage therefrom."

In its complaint, Samson is asking the court to appoint it receiver for the mineral interests in Hucks' land and to deliver it oil, gas and mineral leases.

It will be represented by Thomas J. Sibley of Beaumont.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D187-430.