Virginia Oil and Gas Update

This Update covers the period from August 1, 2011, to July 31, 2012. During this time, the Virginia Legislature has amended and reenacted sections 55-154.2 and 45.1-181 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mineral right ownership and mine voids. During this same time period, Pamela Meade Sargent, United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division, addressed two cases regarding ownership of coalbed methane and the necessity to join coal owners as parties.