In the interest of the public welfare and to promote conversation and increase the ultimate recovery of oil, gas, and associated minerals from the Unit and to protect the rights of the owners of interest in the lands included in the Unit, it is deemed necessary and desirable to enter into this Agreement, in conformity with (Applicable Statutory reference), to unitize the Oil and Gas Rights in and to the Unitized Formation in order to conduct a secondary recovery, pressure maintenance, or other recovery program as provided for in this Agreement.
The South Dakota Unit Agreement is a legal contract that establishes the terms and conditions for the efficient and fair development and production of oil and gas resources within a designated unit area in South Dakota. This agreement is designed to ensure the optimal utilization of these resources by allowing multiple operators to collaborate and pool their resources. One type of South Dakota Unit Agreement is the Voluntary Unit Agreement. This type of agreement is entered into voluntarily by the working interest owners of the oil and gas properties within the unit area. The agreement outlines the specific terms and conditions under which the owners will jointly develop and produce the resources. It typically includes provisions regarding the allocation of costs, royalties, and production volumes among the participating parties. Another type of South Dakota Unit Agreement is the Compulsory Unit Agreement. This agreement is imposed by the South Dakota Oil and Gas Conservation Commission when all the working interest owners within a designated unit area do not agree to voluntarily pool their resources. The commission may order the creation of a unit and impose the terms and conditions outlined in the compulsory unit agreement to ensure the orderly development and production of the resources. The South Dakota Unit Agreement typically includes key provisions such as the establishment of a unit area, which defines the boundaries within which the resources are being developed. It also addresses the allocation of costs, revenues, and production among the participating parties. The agreement may specify the methods for conducting operations, the drilling and spacing requirements, and the duration of the agreement. The South Dakota Unit Agreement enables operators to overcome the challenges associated with fragmented ownership of oil and gas properties within a unit area. By pooling their resources, operators can achieve economies of scale, reduce redundancies, and maximize production efficiencies. This agreement also creates a mechanism for resolving disputes among the participating parties and ensures a fair distribution of costs and royalties. In summary, the South Dakota Unit Agreement is a legally binding document that allows multiple operators to collaborate and pool their resources for the efficient and fair development and production of oil and gas resources within a designated unit area in South Dakota. The agreement may be voluntary or compulsory, depending on the agreement of the working interest owners. It establishes the terms and conditions governing the allocation of costs, revenues, and production among the participating parties, while also addressing operational requirements and dispute resolution mechanisms.
