Water = Oil and Gas. Accommodation Doctrine. 3 Key Points.

The Texas Supreme Court ruling for a Muleshoe ranch applies the accomodation doctrine to groundwater? Yes, the accomodation doctrine now applies to groundwater and to oil and gas.

What is the accomodation doctrine? It is the mineral owner’s right to use the land’s surface estate to drill for and produce minerals, or in this case, groundwater, with all due regard to the land owner.

Is this a good ruling for landowners? Yes, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association applauded the ruling as it “clarifies surface owners have protections against those who may own an interest in not only the mineral estate, but also the surface estate.”

Coyote Lake Ranch LLC v. City of Lubbock

Lexology |Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman |  When Contract is Silent, Accommodation Doctrine Applies to Water Rights Disputes

Lubbock Avalanche Journal | Texas Supreme Court: Oil and gas law can apply to water dispute for Muleshoe ranch