Sec. 85.61.  OPERATIONS UNDER LEASE:  EFFECT ON RENTAL PAYMENTS, TERM OF LEASE.  If, during the term of any lease issued under the provisions of this subchapter, the lessee is engaged in actual drilling and mining operations for the discovery of oil, gas, sulphur, mineral ore, and other minerals on land covered by any such lease, no rentals shall be payable as to the tract on which the operations are being conducted as long as the operations are proceeding in good faith;  and if oil, gas, sulphur, mineral ore, and other minerals are discovered in paying quantities on any tract of land covered by any lease, then the lease as to that tract shall remain in force as long as oil, gas, sulphur, mineral ore, and other minerals are produced in paying quantities from the tract.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 3198, ch. 1024, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1971.