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Landmarks of a Century in Oil and Gas Law: Twenty Cases That Shaped Texas Oil and Gas Jurisprudence

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The law of oil and gas built through Texas jurisprudence has informed the laws of states and countries across the globe. But many still find that it is a daunting task to understand the cases that have built these laws and their respective  importance. Recently, the State Bar of Texas Section on Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law published Landmarks of a Century in Oil and Gas Law: Twenty Cases That Shaped Texas Oil and Gas Jurisprudence.

As the title suggests, the book highlights twenty of the most impactful oil and gas opinions of the century.  The text of each opinion is printed, and then followed by expert commentary regarding the case, its origins, and implications. Most of these expert analyses are two to four pages long and are written with the non-expert in mind.  While I admit to merely skimming the opinions, I found the commentaries both readable and illuminating.

Also included in the book is commentary from the Law Center’s own Professor Emeritus Jacqueline Weaver, one of the world’s foremost energy law experts. Professor Weaver provides the commentary for W.T. Waggoner Estate v. Sigler Oil Co. (1929). She describes its impact on the Texas law governing the law of implied covenant, especially the implied covenant to develop. The commentaries of all the contributors hold to this high standard and make for an engaging read. For an energy law novice, this book is a revelation- and I’m sure experts in the field would agree. You can find Landmarks of a Century in Oil and Gas Law at the O’Quinn Library, where it is available for checkout.

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