A. For a coalbed methane gas well that was force-pooled prior to July 1, 2015, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall, on or before January 1, 2016, apply to the Board for the release of the funds in escrow and give written notice of such application to all conflicting claimants identified in the pooling orders, or to the successors of such claimants where the successors are known to the coalbed methane gas well operator or have identified themselves to the coalbed methane gas well operator or the Board. Such notice shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of § 45.1-361.19 and, if unknown persons or unlocatable conflicting claimants are subject to escrow, such notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the drilling unit is located once each week for four successive weeks. The application shall include a detailed accounting in accordance with subdivision 5 of § 45.1-361.22. The Board shall order payment of the principal and accrued interest, less escrow account fees, held in escrow, along with all future royalties attributable to the drilling unit, to each gas claimant identified in the pooling order unless, within 45 days of the coalbed methane gas well operator's notice of its application, the coal claimant provides the Board and the coalbed methane gas well operator with evidence of a proceeding or agreement. The Board, pursuant to its authority granted by § 45.1-361.15, may extend the time for filing the application and delay the payment of funds for gas title conflicts, the existence of unknown gas claimants, the existence of unlocatable gas claimants, unresolved gas heirship issues, or other reasons beyond the reasonable control of the coalbed methane gas well operator and shall not order payment where the gas claimant fails to provide the Board with information needed under applicable law or regulation to distribute the funds.

B. For a coalbed methane gas well force-pooled on or after July 1, 2015, the Board, in its pooling order, shall direct the coalbed methane gas well operator to pay royalties to the gas claimant unless the coal claimant provides the coalbed methane gas well operator and the Board with evidence of a proceeding or agreement not later than the time and place of the pooling hearing. The coalbed methane gas well operator shall provide written notice of the hearing to the gas claimants and coal claimants in accordance with § 45.1-361.19. However, the Board, pursuant to its authority granted by § 45.1-361.15, shall not order the coalbed methane gas well operator to make payment to a gas claimant where there are gas title conflicts, unknown gas claimants, unlocatable gas claimants, unresolved gas heirship issues, or other reasons beyond the reasonable control of the coalbed methane gas well operator or where the gas claimant fails to provide the coalbed methane gas well operator with the information required under applicable law or regulation to pay royalties. In such cases, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall provide each affected gas claimant and the Board with written notice of the same in accordance with the applicable provisions of § 45.1-361.19. Where payment is not required to be made due to the gas claimant's failure to provide needed information under applicable law or regulation, the notice shall identify the information that is needed to enable the payment to be made.

C. For a coalbed methane gas well voluntarily pooled at any time, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall pay royalties, including past royalties held, to each gas claimant unless, within 45 days of the coalbed methane gas well operator's provision of written notice to the coal claimant that the operator will be paying royalties to the gas claimants, the coal claimant provides the coalbed methane gas well operator and each gas claimant with evidence of a proceeding or agreement. For units voluntarily pooled before July 1, 2015, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall provide such written notice to the gas claimants and coal claimants on or before January 1, 2016. For units voluntarily pooled on or after July 1, 2015, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall provide such written notice to the gas claimants and coal claimants not later than 45 days after production commences. However, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall not be required to make payment to a gas claimant where there are gas title conflicts, unknown gas claimants, unlocatable gas claimants, unresolved gas heirship issues, or other reasons beyond the reasonable control of the coalbed methane gas well operator or where the gas claimant fails to provide the coalbed methane gas well operator with information to process or pay royalties. In such cases, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall provide each affected gas claimant with written notice of the same. Where payment is not required to be made due to a gas claimant's failure to provide needed information, the notice shall identify the information that is needed to enable the payment to be made.

D. Any pending judicial or arbitration proceeding shall be pursued by the coal claimant with diligence and shall not be voluntarily dismissed or nonsuited without the consent of the gas claimant. No default judgment shall be entered against a gas claimant. Royalties shall be paid as determined by the final order in the proceeding. A prevailing gas claimant shall be entitled to recover from that coal claimant reasonable costs and attorney fees if such person substantially prevails on the merits of the case and the coal claimant's position is not substantially justified.

E. A coalbed methane gas well operator paying funds to a gas claimant in accordance with this section shall have no liability to a coal claimant for the payments made by the coalbed methane gas well operator to a gas claimant.

F. This section shall not operate to extinguish any other right or cause of action or defenses thereto that may exist including, but not limited to, claims for an accounting or a claim under § 8.01-31. Nothing in this section shall create, confer, or impose a fiduciary duty.

2015, c. 396.