Contact: Rick Doehne at ude.metsystu@enheodr

Geophysical Exploration

A permit is required to conduct a geophysical survey on the University lands.  The permit is issued by the University Lands office in Midland and is effective for three months. A permit fee is required except under exceptional circumstances.  A geophysical exploration permit allows one crew to conduct operations for one client for the period of the permit.  A surface damage rate is established at the time of permit issuance.  Surface damage fees are paid to The University of Texas System with the exception of personal damages (e.g., loss of livestock or crops) which are paid directly to the affected grazing lessee.  The geophysical exploration permit stipulates certain requirements for conducting geophysical surveys on the University lands.  There are also requirements to provide University Lands with the following: (1) post-plots, (2) data interpretations (held confidential for 20 years), and (3) a commitment to make the data available to the industry at market rates after 10 years.

Surface/Near-Surface Exploration

A permit is required to conduct a surface/near-surface exploration survey on the University lands.  The permit is issued by the University Lands office in Midland and is effective for three months. A permit fee is required except under exceptional circumstances.  A surface/near-surface exploration permit allows one crew to conduct operations for one client for the period of the permit.  A surface damage rate is established at the time of permit issuance.  Surface damage fees are paid to The University of Texas System with the exception of personal damages (e.g., loss of livestock or crops) which are paid directly to the affected grazing lessee.  The surface/near-surface exploration permit stipulates certain requirements for conducting surface/near-surface exploration surveys on the University lands.  There are also requirements to provide University Lands with the following: (1) post-plots, (2) data interpretations (held confidential for 20 years), and (3) a commitment to make the data available to the industry at market rates after 10 years.

Mineral Exploration

A mineral exploration permit is required to explore for minerals other than oil and gas on the University lands.  The permit is issued by the University Lands office in Midland and is negotiable as to terms. A permit fee may be required except under exceptional circumstances.  Compensation for surface damages is negotiated at the time of permit issuance.  Surface damages are paid to The University of Texas System with the exception of personal damages (e.g., loss of livestock, crops, personal property, etc.) which are paid directly to the affected grazing lessee.

The mineral exploration permit is a contractual agreement stipulating certain requirements both in the conduct of the permit holder while exploring on the University lands and in providing University Lands with information obtained from the exploration activities.