# Eagle Valley Energy claiming force majeure for COVID to get free extension to lease
**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329
**Category:** Washington County, TX
**Created:** [April 5, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329 "2021-04-05T01:24:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cooke\_Cook\_family](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Cooke_Cook_family)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329/1 "2021-04-05T01:24:56Z")
We leased our mineral rights in Washington County, Texas, Sept. 2018 for 3 years, which will be up in Sept. 2021. Eagle Valley Energy just asked us to sign a free extension to Sept. 2022, claiming force majeure for COVID.
This does not sound legitimate to me, since they did not have a contract to drill on our lease in calendar year 2020 with a driller who could not drill because of COVID.
Your thoughts, please?
Many thanks!
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### Author:  [@TennisDaze](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/TennisDaze)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329/2 "2021-04-05T04:21:58Z")
Force majeure, if applicable to a lease in its primary term, would only be evaluated due to circumstances at the end of the primary term. It does not matter if there were a few months last year when the state was shut down. Oil is at $60 and RRC is approving permits. There is not any apparent reason why a well could not be permitted and drilled at this time.
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329/3 "2021-04-05T14:42:47Z")
I would also hold off until the near the end of the primary term to renegotiate any new lease. Maybe they will have a rig ready (plenty of time) and maybe someone else will offer a better new lease (or not). Look at your first lease and see if you have a force majeure clause at all. I usually strike them on my leases.
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/eagle-valley-energy-claiming-force-majeure-for-covid-to-get-free-extension-to-lease/61329/4 "2021-07-04T01:25:33Z")
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