All natural gas which has previously been reduced to possession, and which is subsequently injected into underground storage in any strata or formation shall at all times be deemed the property of the injector, his heirs, successors or assigns; and in no event shall such gas be subject to the right of the owner of the surface of said lands or of any mineral interest therein, under which said strata or formation lie, or of any person other than the injector, his heirs, successors and assigns, to produce, take, reduce to possession, waste or otherwise interfere with or exercise any control thereover, provided that the injector, his heirs, successors and assigns shall have no right to gas in any stratum, formation or portion thereof, in which storage rights have not been acquired pursuant to this act [70-6-1 to 70-6-8 NMSA 1978], or otherwise purchased.
History: 1953 Comp., § 65-9-8, enacted by Laws 1963, ch. 139, § 8.
ANNOTATIONSAm. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Rights and liabilities with respect to natural gas reduced to possession and subsequently stored in natural reservoir, 94 A.L.R.2d 543.