We find this news somewhat surprising. The West Virginia Oil & Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) has been pushing hard to get legislation passed in WV’s short legislative session on an issue we call “forced pooling lite”–WV Senate Bill 576 which addresses the issues of co-tenancy and joint development (see Analysis of New WV Bill SB 576 re Co-Tenancy & Joint Development). WVONGA pulled out all the stops. They organized a bus-in rally at the Capital where nearly 1,000 people showed up to support the legislation (see WVONGA Delivers ~1,000 at Rally to Support Co-Tenancy, Joint Dev.). It most certainly had an impact. The legislation passed the Senate last week and headed to the House (see WV’s “Forced Pooling Lite” Bill Passes Senate, Heads to House). We thought there was no way in Hades this bill would not pass and pass quickly. But then it hit a brick wall. Or should we say, it hit a “pot” wall. Word has leaked out that there isn’t enough time left in the current session to consider the bill because the House has spent so much time “dealing with the cannabis legislation.” That is, talking about pot smoking in the Mountain State. For medical purposes, of course (wink, wink, nod, nod). There’s been so much talk about pot smoking, forced pooling lite got lost in the fog. Could it still pass, at a later date?…
