Sec. 52.151. AUTHORIZATION TO OPERATE AREAS AS UNITS. (a) The commissioner, on behalf of the state or any fund that belongs to the state, may execute agreements that provide for operating areas as a unit for the exploration, development, and production of oil or gas or both and to commit to the agreements:

(1) the royalty interests in oil, gas, or both oil and gas, reserved to the state or any fund of the state by law, in a patent, in a contract of sale, or under the terms of an oil and gas lease legally executed by an official, board, agent, agency, or authority of the state; or

(2) the free royalty interests, whether leased or unleased, reserved to the state pursuant to Section 51.201 or 51.054 of this code.

(b) Before executing an agreement authorized by Subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner must find that the agreement is in the best interest of the state.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2456, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 948, Sec. 28, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 897, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.