Adjudicating Communitization Agreements

Description 

Students will understand the purpose of a communitization agreement, and how they impact oil and gas leases. Students will learn to adjudicate a communitization agreement and the different types of approvals associated with the communitization agreement in accordance with 43 CFR 3105, H-3105-1, Cooperative Conservation Provisions, and H-3160-9, Communitization Agreements.

Target Audience

Fluid mineral adjudicators or anyone performing their duties including but not limited to Land Law Examiners and Legal Instruments Examiners.

Course Goal

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to adjudicate communitization agreements and the different types of approvals associated with the communitization agreements.

Course Objectives

To reach the course goal, students will be given knowledge to:

• Understand the concepts, benefits and purpose of a Communitization Agreement,
• Understand the Guidance, Regulations, and Requirements for communitization agreements, 
• Understand the different types of approvals that occur with Communitization Agreements, 
• Adjudicate a Communitization Agreement, in accordance with 43 CFR 3105, H-3105-1, Cooperative Conservation Provisions, H-3160-9, Communitization Agreements and MLRS Knowledge Articles.

Note

To receive course credit, enroll in the course on the DOI Talent (DOIT) course page, take the pre-test, follow the KRC directions below, self-certify course completion, and complete the post-test with 70 percent or more.

Directions 

Before starting, it is recommended students print the Communitization Agreement Approval Presentation Slides in 3 Slide Handout format and the exercise materials (found within the Toolbox below).  While completing the course it is also recommended students refer to the current version of the 3105, Cooperative Conservation Provisions, and 3160-9, Communitization Agreements, handbooks for sample letters and decisions (see the Reference Docs attachment, in the Toolbox, for a link on where to find). 

View the Course PowerPoint and either listen to the recording or read the script (located under "Course Materials"), stopping as appropriate, to complete the following exercises:

Exercise (pause on slide 28, finish the exercise, then resume to hear the solution, pause on slide 31, finish the exercise, then resume to hear the solution, pause on slide 72, finish the exercise, then resume to hear the solution, and then pause on slide 74, finish the exercise, then resume to hear the solution).

Special Requirements

This is a self-paced course, and the transcript is available therefore, interpreters are not provided. 

Training Course Materials

• Link to Presentation (1 hour 35 minutes)
• Script (written account of what is heard, for each slide, in the course PowerPoint)

Toolbox

• Reference Docs - Includes a link to the Adjudicator SharePoint site which contains adjudication handbooks, Data Entry Standards, and links to popular websites in the Shared Documents.
• Presentation Slides in Adobe Format - this is the best format for a presentation view without audio.
• Presentation Slides with Presenter Notes.
• Presentation Slides in 3 Slide Handout format – with Fillable form fields.
• MLRS Knowledge Article References - Includes links to the MLRS Knowledge Article References in MLRS which contains step by step directions for data entry.
• CA Worksheets
  • CA Amendment Worksheet
  • CA Approval Worksheet
  • CA Approval Receipt-Pending Worksheet
  • CA Designation of Co-Operator Worksheet
  • CA Successor Operator Worksheet
  • CA Termination – Cessation of Production Worksheet
  • CA Termination – Voluntary Worksheet
• CA Form Letters
  • CA Amendment Approval Form Letter
  • CA Approval Form Letter
  • CA Certification-Determination Form
  • CA Invalidation Form Letter
  • CA Successor Operator Form Letter
• Preliminary Federal Agreement Royalty Allocation Notice Form Letter.
• Verification of Eligibility Checklist.

Exercises

• Spacing Exercise (On Slides 28, 31)
• Class CA Preliminary Approval Exercise (On Slide 48)
  • CA Receipt/Pending Checklist 
  • CA Application
  • Spacing Order 794-2024
  • Well Completion Report
  • Prelim Agreement Royalty Allocation Notice
• Class CA Final Approval Exercise (On Side 62)
  • CA Approval Checklist 
  • OG Plat
  • SRP WYW149996
  • CA Approval Letter
• Preliminary Approval Exercise (On slide 72)
• CA Receipt/Pending Checklist 
• CA Application
• Spacing Order 132-2021
• Well Completion Report
• Prelim Agreement Royalty Allocation Notice
• Final Approval Exercise (On slide 74)
  • CA Approval Checklist 
  • OG Plat
  • SRP WYW30211
  • CA Approval Letter

To view your Adobe documents in a presentation (full screen) format using Chrome,

1. Select the Open in Acrobat button. This button is only available in Chrome.
2. Select the Enable All Features button. The Full Screen view will not be an option while in Protected View.
3. Select the View option on the Menu bar.
4. Select the Full Screen Mode option from the View menu.

To view your Adobe documents in a presentation (full screen) format using Edge,

1. Right click the link.
2. Select the copy link option from the shortcut list.
3. Open Acrobat.
4. Select the File option from the menu bar.
5. Select the Open option from the File menu.
6. Paste the address in the File name box.
7. Select the Open button.
8. Select the Enable All Features button. The Full Screen view will not be an option while in Protected View.
9. Select the View option on the Menu bar.
10. Select the Full Screen Mode option from the View menu.

For answers to questions relating to the course content (communitization agreements approval), please contact your State Office’s lead or Supervisory Adjudicator. 

If you have questions regarding the course requirements and credit, please contact the course training coordinator, Hillary Conner, at hconner@blm.gov or 602-905-5533.