Royalty Interests, NPRs, Executive Interests

This was presented at the 2026 Appalachian Land Institute.

This intermediate-level presentation explores the legal principles governing royalty interests, non-participating royalty interests (NPRIs), and executive rights in oil and gas transactions. Participants will examine the validity, creation, and application of royalty interests and NPRIs in leasing activities across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The presentation will address ownership of executive rights, the duties and obligations owed to non-participating royalty interest owners, and the interaction between statutes, common law, and lease provisions. Through practical examples and jurisdiction-specific analysis, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these interests affect leasing decisions and mineral ownership rights.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Understand the default legal rules governing royalty interests, NPRIs, and executive rights in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
• Identify lease and deed language that modifies or alters default ownership and leasing rules.
• Analyze the rights and obligations of executive rights holders and non-participating royalty interest owners.
• Apply state-specific legal principles to real-world leasing scenarios.
• Determine the appropriate parties from whom leases should be obtained based on ownership interests and executive rights.

This session is designed for professionals with a working knowledge of oil and gas law who are seeking to strengthen their ability to evaluate ownership interests, interpret conveyance documents, and navigate complex leasing situations.