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Peter Hays is a commercial oil and gas lawyer. He represents companies and entrepreneurs in upstream, midstream, and downstream hydrocarbons transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and project development.

Pete practices both domestically and internationally, onshore and offshore.  He is board certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

In addition to his M&A and joint ventures practice, Pete regularly advises clients in certain specialty areas, including: 

- advanced due diligence / valuation strategies

- midstream contracts (all types of gas, oil and liquids marketing / takeaway arrangements)

- gas sales agreements (incl. netback pricing arrangements - against power, LNG prices)

- unitization agreements 

- accounting procedures (COPAS and AIPN forms) 

Pete has been focused on oil and gas for his entire legal career.  Before entering private practice, he clerked for Chief Judge Hayden Head of the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and in law school at the University of Texas he was a research clerk for Professor Ernest E. Smith, Rex G. Baker Centennial Chair in Natural Resources Law.  Mid-way through his private practice, he worked as the sole lawyer at a start-up oil and gas company, where he experienced the types of issues that often face oil and gas entrepreneurs, like financing, systems and compliance.  

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, with honors

B.A., The University of Texas at Austin

Texas

Law Clerk, Judge Hayden Head, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Editor, Chambers Global Practice Guide – Energy: Oil and Gas

Member and Advisory Board, Institute for Energy Law (IEL)

Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)

Member, Independent Petroleum Association of America

Member, Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico

Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)

Member, State Bar of Texas

Matters

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale for $4.75 billion.

Unitization of the St. John’s Dome helium and CO2 field in Apache County, Arizona, the first unitization in Arizona (represented operator/developer).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, the Antrim Shale and the Black Warrior Basin for $4 billion.

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Matters

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale for $4.75 billion.

Unitization of the St. John’s Dome helium and CO2 field in Apache County, Arizona, the first unitization in Arizona (represented operator/developer).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, the Antrim Shale and the Black Warrior Basin for $4 billion.

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Green River Basin (Jonah Field), the Uintah Basin (Drunkards Wash), the San Juan Basin and in South Texas, for $2.5 billion.

Unitization of the Jubilee Field in Ghana, the first unitization in Ghana (represented operator).

Negotiation of a long-term gas supply arrangement for a power plant, where the price for gas was tied to the price received for power (i.e., a power netback price).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, including Devils Tower, Goldfinger and Spiderman, for $4.7 billion.

Acquisition and joint venture to study the commercialization of in-situ shale oil production on federal R&D leasehold in Colorado.

Multi-series oil and gas investment fund, utilizing capital of major institutional investors to acquire a diversified portfolio of mature upstream oil and gas assets throughout the U.S., together with establishment of risk-allocated commodity hedging scheme by series.

Sale of upstream and midstream assets in Colombia, including the Cusiana Field and the OCENSA Pipeline, for $1.9 billion.

Long-term warehousing and foreign trade zone management agreement for storage of offshore drilling equipment (represented service provider).

Acquisition of substantial upstream assets in Barnett Shale through exercise of preferential right, together with renegotiation (buy-down) of fixed payment obligations under long term gas gathering contracts, for total consideration of $980 million.

Acquisition and development of an LNG liquefaction plant project in South Texas.

Country-entry farmin in Suriname, including review of legal regime.

Acquisition of multiple prospects in core and exploratory regions of the Bakken Shale on an ongoing promote-basis (consideration not publicly announced).

Country-entry farmin in US Gulf of Mexico for Asian company, including resolution of regulatory matters.

Acquisition of oil and gas prospects in the Granite Wash (including interest in the Bivins Ranch development project).

Country-entry farmin in Liberia, including analysis of foreign investment requirements and other regulatory matters.

Sale of upstream and midstream assets in the Marcellus Shale, together with transfer of firm interstate pipeline capacity to major markets in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions, for $210 million.

Unitization and project development work in conjunction with pre-salt discoveries in offshore Brazil.

Sale of oil and gas leases in the Permian (Delaware Basin) on a promote basis, together with joint venture/AMI arrangement to develop controlled mineral interests.

Unitization of the Val d’Agri oil field in Italy.

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Anadarko Basin for $2 billion. 

Crude oil and natural gas offtake arrangements for hydrocarbon developments located offshore Africa, South America and in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Haynesville Shale for $1.3 billion, and the establishment of a joint venture with the seller to develop the assets.

Acquisition of an undivided interest in a salt-water disposal system servicing the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma, and the establishment of a joint venture to operate the assets. 

Unitization of an offshore gas and condensate field in Equatorial Guinea. 

Acquisition of upstream assets in the Barnett Shale for $2.25 billion, and the establishment of a joint venture with the seller to develop the assets. 

Development of prospective acreage on a large private ranch in Texas that had been underexplored due to unavailability of heirs, including negotiation of seismic exploration arrangements, lease option arrangements, and exploration and development agreements. 

Restructuring of a $950 million joint venture covering upstream and midstream assets in the Marcellus Shale. Acquisition of the Caracara prospect in the Llanos Basin, Colombia for $920 million. 

Carve-out (horizontal severance) and sale of shallow rights portion (Cotton Valley) of upstream assets in joint development area covering Haynesville Shale for $130 million, and negotiation of shared assets agreement for joint-use of upstream and midstream facilities between shallow rights owners and deep rights owners. 

Acquisition of upstream assets in the Eagle Ford Shale for $225 million. 

Development of gas gathering and processing (cryo) and water services business in an underserved, prospective region of the Bakken Shale, including firm services contracts to support project (represented project developer). 

Sale of upstream assets in the Barnett Shale for $490 million. 

Assisted with bid preparation for Mexico hydrocarbon bid rounds, including analysis of model contract (PSC) (certain bidders). 

Negotiation of long-term asset management agreement for firm transportation on TETCO pipeline, including replacement of credit support and regulatory/risk analysis. 

Negotiation of suite of oil and gas gathering, processing and transportation agreements (with sales option) to monetize production for major development in the Permian (Delaware Basin), including stabilization/batch transportation arrangements to preserve oil export optionality (represented shipper).

Insights

Article · Source: The Energy Law Advisor

June 25, 2019
The New Midstream Transactions

View all

Matters

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale for $4.75 billion.

Unitization of the St. John’s Dome helium and CO2 field in Apache County, Arizona, the first unitization in Arizona (represented operator/developer).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, the Antrim Shale and the Black Warrior Basin for $4 billion.

See more
Icon close

Close

Matters

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale for $4.75 billion.

Unitization of the St. John’s Dome helium and CO2 field in Apache County, Arizona, the first unitization in Arizona (represented operator/developer).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, the Antrim Shale and the Black Warrior Basin for $4 billion.

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Green River Basin (Jonah Field), the Uintah Basin (Drunkards Wash), the San Juan Basin and in South Texas, for $2.5 billion.

Unitization of the Jubilee Field in Ghana, the first unitization in Ghana (represented operator).

Negotiation of a long-term gas supply arrangement for a power plant, where the price for gas was tied to the price received for power (i.e., a power netback price).

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, including Devils Tower, Goldfinger and Spiderman, for $4.7 billion.

Acquisition and joint venture to study the commercialization of in-situ shale oil production on federal R&D leasehold in Colorado.

Multi-series oil and gas investment fund, utilizing capital of major institutional investors to acquire a diversified portfolio of mature upstream oil and gas assets throughout the U.S., together with establishment of risk-allocated commodity hedging scheme by series.

Sale of upstream and midstream assets in Colombia, including the Cusiana Field and the OCENSA Pipeline, for $1.9 billion.

Long-term warehousing and foreign trade zone management agreement for storage of offshore drilling equipment (represented service provider).

Acquisition of substantial upstream assets in Barnett Shale through exercise of preferential right, together with renegotiation (buy-down) of fixed payment obligations under long term gas gathering contracts, for total consideration of $980 million.

Acquisition and development of an LNG liquefaction plant project in South Texas.

Country-entry farmin in Suriname, including review of legal regime.

Acquisition of multiple prospects in core and exploratory regions of the Bakken Shale on an ongoing promote-basis (consideration not publicly announced).

Country-entry farmin in US Gulf of Mexico for Asian company, including resolution of regulatory matters.

Acquisition of oil and gas prospects in the Granite Wash (including interest in the Bivins Ranch development project).

Country-entry farmin in Liberia, including analysis of foreign investment requirements and other regulatory matters.

Sale of upstream and midstream assets in the Marcellus Shale, together with transfer of firm interstate pipeline capacity to major markets in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions, for $210 million.

Unitization and project development work in conjunction with pre-salt discoveries in offshore Brazil.

Sale of oil and gas leases in the Permian (Delaware Basin) on a promote basis, together with joint venture/AMI arrangement to develop controlled mineral interests.

Unitization of the Val d’Agri oil field in Italy.

Sale of oil and gas fields in the Anadarko Basin for $2 billion. 

Crude oil and natural gas offtake arrangements for hydrocarbon developments located offshore Africa, South America and in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Acquisition of upstream and midstream assets in the Haynesville Shale for $1.3 billion, and the establishment of a joint venture with the seller to develop the assets.

Acquisition of an undivided interest in a salt-water disposal system servicing the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma, and the establishment of a joint venture to operate the assets. 

Unitization of an offshore gas and condensate field in Equatorial Guinea. 

Acquisition of upstream assets in the Barnett Shale for $2.25 billion, and the establishment of a joint venture with the seller to develop the assets. 

Development of prospective acreage on a large private ranch in Texas that had been underexplored due to unavailability of heirs, including negotiation of seismic exploration arrangements, lease option arrangements, and exploration and development agreements. 

Restructuring of a $950 million joint venture covering upstream and midstream assets in the Marcellus Shale. Acquisition of the Caracara prospect in the Llanos Basin, Colombia for $920 million. 

Carve-out (horizontal severance) and sale of shallow rights portion (Cotton Valley) of upstream assets in joint development area covering Haynesville Shale for $130 million, and negotiation of shared assets agreement for joint-use of upstream and midstream facilities between shallow rights owners and deep rights owners. 

Acquisition of upstream assets in the Eagle Ford Shale for $225 million. 

Development of gas gathering and processing (cryo) and water services business in an underserved, prospective region of the Bakken Shale, including firm services contracts to support project (represented project developer). 

Sale of upstream assets in the Barnett Shale for $490 million. 

Assisted with bid preparation for Mexico hydrocarbon bid rounds, including analysis of model contract (PSC) (certain bidders). 

Negotiation of long-term asset management agreement for firm transportation on TETCO pipeline, including replacement of credit support and regulatory/risk analysis. 

Negotiation of suite of oil and gas gathering, processing and transportation agreements (with sales option) to monetize production for major development in the Permian (Delaware Basin), including stabilization/batch transportation arrangements to preserve oil export optionality (represented shipper).

Insights

Article · Source: The Energy Law Advisor

June 25, 2019
The New Midstream Transactions

View all

Credentials

J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, with honors

B.A., The University of Texas at Austin

Texas

Law Clerk, Judge Hayden Head, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Editor, Chambers Global Practice Guide – Energy: Oil and Gas

Member and Advisory Board, Institute for Energy Law (IEL)

Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)

Member, Independent Petroleum Association of America

Member, Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico

Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)

Member, State Bar of Texas