The bundle below: Understanding unconventional oil and gas development through analysis of lease agreements

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 92; pp. 214 - 219
• Main Authors: Bugden, Dylan, Kay, David, Glynn, Russell, Stedman, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2016; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Collection; Data acquisition; Data collection; Energy policy; Fracking; Geographic distribution; Geographical distribution; Impact analysis; industry; Intellectuals; issues and policy; Landlord tenant relations; landowners; Lease; Leases; leasing; oils; Petroleum; Petroleum industry; Rules; Social sciences; Studies; Unconventional oil and gas development; Lease; Fracking; Unconventional oil and gas development
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.012

Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) has recently become the subject of much research. However, neglected during this effort are the leases signed between landowner and industry that act as the foundation for development and may influence the distribution and intensity of associated impacts. These leases amount to an inscribed collection of rules and practices that define a wide variety of conditions related to development. The temporal and geographic distribution of lease terms may directly influence a number of phenomena of interest to scholars studying UOGD. In order to advance research on the subject, we (1) describe and outline research topics that could be addressed by applying social science methods to the analysis of leases and specific lease provisions, (2) discuss challenges and strategies for data collection and (3) review policy implications of lease related research. •Leases are neglected in research on unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD).•Content of lease provisions may shape outcomes and impacts associated with UOGD.•Leases are a crucial piece of the larger UOGD policy picture.