Whenever the supervisor finds that it is in the interest of the protection of geothermal resources from unreasonable waste, the lessors, lessees, operators, or other persons owning or controlling royalty or other interests in the separate properties of the same producing or prospective geothermal resources area, may, with the approval of the supervisor, enter into agreements for the purpose of bringing about the cooperative development and operation of all or a part or parts of the area, or for the purpose of bringing about the development or operation of all or a part or parts of such area as a unit, or for the purpose of fixing the time, location, and manner of drilling and operating of wells for the production of geothermal resources. Any such agreement shall bind the successors and assigns of the parties thereto in land affected thereby and shall be enforceable in an action for specific performance. No such agreement when approved by the supervisor hereunder 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.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 369, Sec. 10.)