DGS has played a key role in litigation of national significance directed at coalbed methane, an energy source that has come to the fore since the early 1990s.  That representation ranges from establishing the general rule that coalbed gas is owned by the oil and gas owner and not the coal estate owner, to cases challenging whether the federal government properly leased lands throughout the West that were to be used for coalbed methane development purposes.  We are currently defending leading oil and gas companies against claims that federal agency decisions providing for the drilling of tens of thousands of wells in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana and in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico and Colorado are unlawful.

DGS has also assisted a wide range of clients in operational matters involving coalbed methane development in the Powder River Basin, the San Juan Basin, the Raton Basin, coalbed methane areas in Utah, and elsewhere.  For instance, such development frequently raises complicated water use and disposal and air issues.  DGS has successfully worked with federal, state, and tribal regulators; landowners; and oil and gas developers in successfully resolving those issues.

DGS clients frequently acquire and sell coalbed methane properties throughout the West.  DGS assists those clients in such transactions and has developed transactional documents that address unique coalbed methane operational, royalty, consent, and other issues.  In particular, we have extensive experience in the negotiation and drafting of the base agreements for development of coalbed methane so as to deal with the unique issues associated with dewatering and high density phased drilling.