15-1122. Same; effect of resolution, order and election; landowner may petition court; proceedings. The land area described in such resolution and order shall constitute the drilling unit, and the approval of the proposal to drill such gas well, as evidenced by the result of said election, shall operate as a consent of all owners of natural gas underlying that portion of said drilling unit lying within the corporate limits of said city to the taking of such gas by said city and shall entitle the city to an acreage allowable equal to the number of acres lying within the corporate limits of said city and included in said drilling unit: Provided, however, That any owner of land situated within the corporate limits of said city feeling aggrieved by the interests and authority granted to said city by this act and by the approval of the proposal submitted at said election, may within ninety days after the date of said election, petition the district court of the county in which said city is located setting out any facts tending to show that such action will work undue hardship or operate inequitably as to the said petitioner.

Copy of the petition and of a summons shall be served upon the mayor of the city and the city shall within twenty days thereafter file answer thereto, and the cause shall be heard and determined by the court as a proceeding in equity, and the court shall find the facts and make such orders and enter such decree in the premises as the law and equities of the case require and in case the court finds in favor of the petitioner, the acreage owned by said petitioner shall be excluded from said drilling unit and the acreage allowable for natural gas production to said city shall be reduced accordingly. Any owner of land or mineral rights situated within the corporate limits of said city and included in said drilling unit who shall fail to petition the district court as herein authorized and have a determination of his or her rights, if any, shall thereafter be forever barred.

History: L. 1947, ch. 171, § 5; April 9.