(a) An agreement for the management, development and operation of two or more tracts in a pool or pools, or portions thereof, in a field as a unit without regard to separate ownerships for the production of oil and gas, including repressuring operations therein, and for the allocation of benefits and costs on a basis set forth in the agreement, shall be valid and binding upon those who consent thereto and may be filed with the supervisor for approval.
Any agreement for the cooperative management, development and operation of two or more tracts in a pool or pools, or portions thereof, in a field for the production of oil or gas, including repressuring operations therein, shall be valid and binding upon those who consent thereto and may be filed with the supervisor for approval.
If in the judgment of the supervisor a unit agreement or cooperative agreement filed for approval is not detrimental to the intent and purposes of this article to arrest or ameliorate subsidence, or otherwise unlawful, the supervisor may approve the agreement. No such agreement approved by the supervisor hereunder or heretofore approved pursuant to applicable law prior to the enactment of this article shall be held to violate any of the statutes of this state prohibiting monopolies or acts, arrangements, agreements, contracts, combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade or commerce.
(b) In the event that at the time of the approval by the supervisor of a unit or cooperative agreement under subdivision (a), the supervisor makes written findings of all of the following:
(1) A primary purpose of the unit or cooperative agreement is the initiation and conduct of repressuring operations in the area covered thereby for the purpose of arresting or ameliorating subsidence.
(2) The initiation and conduct of repressuring operations in the area covered by the unit or cooperative agreement are feasible and compatible with the purposes of this article.
(3) The persons who are entitled to 75 percent of the proceeds of production of oil and gas within the area covered by the unit or cooperative agreement (measured by the production of oil and gas therein in the last calendar year preceding the date of such approval) have become parties to such agreement by signing or ratifying it.
(4) It is necessary, in order to initiate and conduct repressuring operations, that the properties of nonconsenting persons who own working interests or royalty interests in lands within the area covered by the unit or cooperative agreement become subject to the agreement.
(5) The agreement is fair and reasonable, and contains appropriate provisions to protect and safeguard the rights of all persons having an interest in oil and gas production in the area covered thereby.
Then the supervisor shall make and enter an order which shall provide that unless the nonconsenting persons, within 30 days after service upon those persons of the order in the manner specified by the supervisor, become parties to the agreement by signing or ratifying the agreement, the right of eminent domain may be exercised as provided in subdivision (c) for the purpose of acquiring the properties of the nonconsenting persons which are found by the supervisor to be necessary for the initiation and conduct of the repressuring operations.
If the supervisor makes findings in accordance with the foregoing, the findings shall be prima facie evidence of all of the following:
(A) Of the public necessity of the development and operation of the properties in accordance with the unit or cooperative agreement and of the repressuring operations to be initiated and conducted pursuant to the agreement.
(B) That the acquisition of the properties of the nonconsenting persons which are designated by the supervisor is necessary therefor.
(C) That the repressuring and other operations to be initiated and conducted pursuant to the agreement, and the improvements to be made in connection therewith are planned or located in the manner which will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury.
The acquisition and use of land, including oil and gas rights therein, and personal property used in the production of oil and gas within a subsidence area for the purposes and by the persons mentioned in this section under the circumstances herein specified, are public uses on behalf of which the right of eminent domain may be exercised.
(c) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (b), the right of eminent domain for the purposes therein mentioned may be exercised by any city, county, or city and county, which has agreed to commit the properties to be acquired to such unit or cooperative agreement, or which has agreed to convey all or a portion of said properties upon acquisition, for a price not less than the cost of acquiring the same, to working interest owners who are parties to such unit or cooperative agreement and who have agreed to commit such properties to said agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), any condemnation action brought hereunder shall be governed by Title 7 (commencing with Section 1230. 010) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
If a condemnation action or actions to acquire the properties of the nonconsenting persons are promptly commenced and diligently prosecuted to final judgment by which the properties are acquired, no compulsory unit order affecting the area covered by the agreement shall be made by the supervisor under Section 3321 with respect to that area.
(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 193, Sec. 100.)