# Advice on monitoring/enforcing depth clause
**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383
**Category:** McClain County, OK
**Created:** [November 25, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383 "2018-11-25T03:30:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Joyce\_Sills](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Joyce_Sills)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/1 "2018-11-25T03:30:57Z")
Because of the good advice I found on this website, I included a depth clause in my leases. But now I’m wondering how it’s enforced. Will the oil companies note its existence and contact me if they propose to drill deeper or do I have to monitor future drilling permits? I hope my question makes sense. If not, let me know and I’ll try to clarify.
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### Author:  [@Frank\_Pfisch](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Frank_Pfisch)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/2 "2018-11-25T19:01:49Z")
Your question makes sense. It is likely someone will note the depth clause and contact you if a deeper prospect develops in the future. That said, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t monitor future activity in your unit periodically.
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### Author:  [@TennisDaze](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/TennisDaze)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/3 "2018-11-25T19:05:14Z")
At the end of the primary term or continuous drilling period, ask the oil company to file a release of the deeper depths. This provides clear information to future lessees that your minerals are open to lease.
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### Author:  [@Joyce\_Sills](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Joyce_Sills)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/4 "2018-11-26T00:05:00Z")
Thanks. I will do that.
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/5 "2018-11-26T18:35:37Z")
Depending upon which company you are dealing with, they may check the leases. If they are going to drill deeper, the discovery phase for a title check for a new OCC hearing for the new well will usually pick up the lease terms relating to a new zone and you will be contacted to lease. In general, but not always, a company may drill the deepest reservoir first in order to hold all the leases and then move up the hole to drill shallower ones. Every once in a while, they may miss an old force pooling or lease and have to come back and lease again. Getting the release of lease for deeper zones is a nice way to make sure it is documented.
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### Author:  [@Joyce\_Sills](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Joyce_Sills)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/6 "2018-11-27T01:57:40Z")
Thanks, Martha. I appreciate your taking the time to provide information/advice. The current well was drilled to the Woodford. I have no idea if going deeper is a possibility within my lifetime (I’m 67) - but even if it’s not, we’re planning to pass our minerals to our kids/grandkids so trying to protect what we have or at least let them know what we have tried to do.
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2018, 4:37am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/7 "2018-11-27T04:37:35Z")
Always good to protect. I put depth clauses on all of mine as well.
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### Author:  [@MRFAdmin\_SV](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/MRFAdmin_SV)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/advice-on-monitoring-enforcing-depth-clause/37383/8 "2025-01-11T18:04:09Z")