Sec. 85.67. FORFEITURE; OTHER REMEDIES; LIEN. (a) If the owner of the rights acquired under this subchapter fails or refuses to make the payment of any sum due thereon, either as rental, royalty on production, or other payment, within 30 days after same becomes due, or if the owner or his authorized agent makes any false return or false report concerning production, royalty, drilling, or mining, or if the owner fails or refuses to drill any offset well or wells in good faith, as required by his lease, or if the owner or his agent refuses the proper authority access to the records and other data pertaining to the operations under this subchapter, or if the owner or his authorized agent fails or refuses to give correct information to the proper authorities, or fails or refuses to furnish the log of any well within 30 days after production is found in paying quantities, or if any of the material terms of the lease are violated, the lease is subject to forfeiture by the board by an order entered upon the minutes of the board reciting the facts constituting the default and declaring the forfeiture.
(b) The board may have suit instituted for forfeiture through the attorney general.
(c) On proper showing by the forfeiting owner, within 30 days after the declaration of forfeiture, the lease may, at the discretion of the board and on such terms as it may prescribe, be reinstated.
(d) In case of violation by the owner of the lease contract, the remedy of the state by forfeiture is not the exclusive remedy, but suit for damages or specific performance, or both, may be instituted.
(e) The state shall have a first lien upon all oil, gas, sulphur, mineral ore, and other minerals produced upon the leased area and upon all rigs, tanks, vats, pipeline, telephone lines, and machinery and appliances used in the production and handling of oil, gas, sulphur, mineral ore, and other minerals produced thereon, to secure any amount due from the owner of the lease.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 3200, ch. 1024, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1971.