West Sussex Energy Partners · OGM-011 · Wyoming edition
Editorial update: October 16, 2026. General educational information.
An assignment or release requires examination of its legal description, effective date, depths, acreage, reserved rights and the lease-maintenance history. Trace recorded instruments and any required agency approval before determining present leasehold status.
Start with the original lease
Record parties, lease number or recording reference, covered tracts, primary term, formations, royalty, pooling authority, retained-acreage and termination language. Distinguish the lessor’s fee mineral title from the lessee’s contractual and leasehold rights.
Trace assignments
Review every recorded assignment and conveyance in the leasehold chain, identifying depth, formation, tract, percentage, effective date, overrides, working interest, net revenue interest, reversion provisions and retained obligations. An assignment of operating rights is not automatically equivalent to full assignment of the record title of a federal lease.
Test current lease status
Review production in paying quantities where relevant, shut-in or cessation facts, lease payment history, continuous development, unit commitment and releases. Some facts may not appear in the recorded deeds or assignment indexes. Confirm status with operator records, WOGCC well information and actual agreements.
Federal and state lease distinctions
For federal or Wyoming state leases, obtain the administering agency’s official lease case file, serial number and approved assignments. Confirm which entity owns record title, operating rights and any necessary approvals. Do not infer federal assignment status from county instruments alone.
Sample leasehold status table
For each tract show original lease, tract and depth, primary-term end, source of claimed maintenance, current assignee, gross working interest, overriding burdens, unit participation, unreleased defects, title documents and last verified date. Preserve the distinction between reported and legally confirmed status.
Owner workflow
Identify the lessee or operator paying revenue; request original lease and recorded assignments; check field production and relevant unit orders; inspect depth and retained acreage; document any disputed termination or conflicting rights; seek title counsel before asserting termination or ratifying a disputed lease.
Authorities
WOGCC records; BLM leasing; Wyoming Title 30; recorded instruments and original federal or state agency approvals as applicable.
Sources and scope
This guide provides general education. Verify effective dates and the application of authorities to the particular facts. Consult the linked official sources and the original deeds, leases, orders and other records before acting. Browsing this guide or sending an inquiry does not create a professional engagement; services require a separate written agreement.
Verification guidance: Verify assignments, releases, retained acreage and depth limits against the recorded lease documents before stating current lease status.
