Illinois Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2025The Illinois Oil and Gas Advisory Board held its quarterly meeting on January 23, 2025. The following is a summary of reports and actions conducted at the meeting.
IPRB Releases 2024 Illinois Oil ProductionBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2025The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board through its Executive Director, Seth Whitehead, has released the volumes of crude oil production in the State of Illinois for 2024. Production of oil in Illinois has been somewhat static since 1997.
President Trump Issues Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy”By Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2025On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order No. 14154 entitled “Unleashing American Energy.” This article contains highlights of the Executive Order.
Senate Bill Addresses Bonding Requirements for WellsBy Craig H. HedinMineral Law, March 2025Senate Bill 2463 was introduced on February 7, 2025, to amend 225 ILCS 725/6 of the Illinois Oil and Gas Act as to the amounts required as a bond for plugging obligations and other matters. The current Act provides that permittees who have not paid well fees for two consecutive years shall submit to the Department a bond to cover the costs of plugging a well and restoring the well site in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 or as determined by the Department by rule or submit a blanket bond not to exceed $100,000.00 for all wells. In the alternative to a surety bond, an applicant may provide cash, a certificate of deposit, or an irrevocable letter of credit. Once the applicant has paid well fees for two consecutive years, the bond or letter of credit is released, or the certificate of deposit funds is returned.
Update on Status of Corporate Transparency ActBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2025On March 21, 2025, FinCEN issued an interim final rule that removes U.S. entities from the definition of “reporting company” and added a new exemption to expressly exempt U.S. entities from the reporting requirements of the CTA.
2025 Oil and Gas Assessment ScheduleBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2024The Supervisors of Assessments for oil and gas producing counties have met to approve the assessment schedule for 2025.
New Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act & CCS Project UpdateBy Laura HarmonMineral Law, December 2024On July 18, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed SB1289 creating the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration, which addresses environmental and safety regulations, prohibition of the injection of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery, ownership of pore space, integration and unitization of pore space for CO2 sequestration before the IDNR.
Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2024A summary of the Oil and Gas Advisory Board's quarterly meeting on November 7, 2024.
USEPA Finalizes Rule to Collect Waste Emissions ChargeBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2024On November 12, 2024, the USEPA announced the final rule with respect to collecting a WEC to better ensure that methane gas reaches the market rather than polluting the air. The final rule implements the directive of Congress and incentivizes operators to take action to conserve energy resources for consumers and to reduce methane emissions.
Climate Change Litigation – States vs. StatesBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, October 2024Much has been written about states, cities, organizations, and other plaintiffs commencing litigation alleging that energy companies have misled the public about the damage that fossil fuels contribute to climate change. The lawsuits claim billions of dollars in damage from destructive weather allegedly attributable to climate change. Most cases have either been filed or returned to states for consideration. To date, SCOTUS has declined to address the issues raised by the litigation.
IDNR/OOGRM Announces Well Plugging ProgramBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, October 2024The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management, has announced well plugging assistance through a Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, October 2024The Oil and Gas Advisory Board had its quarterly meeting on August 8, 2024.
Illinois Supreme Court Addresses Liability Based on Environmental Statutes and RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2024The Illinois Supreme Court recently issued an opinion on whether there can be liability based upon a violation of the Illinois environmental statutes and regulations governing underground storage tanks in Laura E. Rice, et al. v. Marathon Petroleum Corp., et al.
Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2024A summary of the discussion at the May 2024 Oil and Gas Advisory Board meeting.
USEPA Finalizes New Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published its methane regulations in the Federal Register on March 8.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, May 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, April 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
Corporate Transparency Act 2021By Matthew L. McArthyMineral Law, March 2024Effective January 1, all non-exempt entities are required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report with the U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board: 2023 Oil ProductionBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2024The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board monitors oil production in the state of Illinois. The IPRB has recently issued a report for the 2023 production on a monthly and daily basis and the barrels produced by each county. The following sets forth the data with respect to production.
Mineral Tenancy in Common LitigationBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2024The appellate court recently held that a mineral tenant in common does not have a legal right to take oil and gas from a common property without the permission of the co-tenants who may file a civil action to seek damages to redress the injuries to their respective interests.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
2024 Oil and Gas Assessment ScheduleBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2023The supervisors of assessment for oil and gas producing counties have met to ratify the 2024 Oil and Gas Assessment Schedule.
Fifth District Appellate Court Issues Decision on Mineral Tenancy in Common QuestionBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2023In September 2023, the appellate court held that under Illinois law, a mineral tenant in common does not have a legal right to take oil and gas from a common property without the permission of the co-tenants who may file a civil action and seek damages to redress the injuries to their respective interests.
The Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2023A summary of the discussion at the November 2023 Oil and Gas Advisory Board meeting.
