How to File a Royalty Complaint, State by State

Alabama

Oil and gas regulator: State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama

Alabama's State Oil and Gas Board (housed with the Geological Survey of Alabama) lists phone, email and mail contacts for its Tuscaloosa and Daphne offices but publishes no complaint form or royalty-owner complaint process.

Phone/email/mail: Tuscaloosa main office: P.O. Box 869999, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-6999; 205.349.2852; [email protected]. Mobile-area regional office: 28810 US Hwy 98 Suite A, Daphne, AL 36526; 251-626-8214. Link

Royalty payment statute: Ala. Code § 9-17-33

First purchasers (or the operator/owner who takes over paying owners) must pay proceeds within six months of first sale and then within 60 days after the end of each month of sale, and must show specified details (well, month, volumes, price, taxes, decimal interest) on the check stub; a violator owes the unpaid proceeds plus 12% annual interest, and suits go to the circuit court of the county where the well is.

Attorney general: Alabama Attorney General's Office, Consumer Interest Division

The Alabama AG takes consumer complaints through an online form; complaints are handled in the order received and assigned to a Consumer Specialist, who notifies the filer by mail. How to file: Online consumer complaint form on the page; Consumer Hotline 1-800-392-5658 or 334-242-7335.

Arkansas

Oil and gas regulator: Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment), Director's Office

Arkansas's Oil and Gas Commission has a Royalty Owner Complaint Form, filed on paper with the Director's Office. The form is for owners who sent the payor a certified-mail request for information about a payment and got no answer within 45 days. For a missing check, the Commission's owner bulletin says to confirm ownership first and then contact the operator.

Help for owners: If a payor does not answer a royalty owner's certified-mail request for payment information within 45 days, the owner may file a complaint with the Commission; for a missing royalty check, the bulletin says to confirm mineral ownership and contact the operator, and the Commission can supply operator contact information. Source

Mail (printed form): Complete the Royalty Owner Complaint Form, print it, and send it with copies of correspondence to the Director's Office, Oil and Gas Commission, 5301 Northshore Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72118. Link

Phone: Director's Office, 501-683-5814. Link

Attorney general: Arkansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

The Arkansas AG takes consumer complaints online, by email or by phone; a copy goes to the business complained about to try to resolve it, and complaints may be public records. The form says the office does not represent individuals in private disputes. How to file: Online consumer complaint form; or email [email protected] or call 800-482-8982.

California

Oil and gas regulator: California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM)

CalGEM takes written concerns or complaints about oil and gas operators and well sites by email and routes them to the local district office. Its published complaint route is about operations and safety; it does not describe handling royalty payments.

What it does not handle: CalGEM's FAQ says it keeps no financial records on well owners or operators and cannot determine an operator's standing; for surface-owner rights against mineral owners it says to get private legal advice. No CalGEM statement specifically about royalty disputes was found. Source

Email: Written concerns to [email protected]; routed to the local district office. Call 911 for emergencies. Link

Phone: Oil spills meeting reporting thresholds go to the Office of Emergency Services Warning Center (800) 852-7550 or (916) 845-8911, plus the local CalGEM district office. Link

Attorney general: California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

The California AG takes consumer complaints against a business online or by mailed form. The page says the AG cannot give legal advice or represent individuals in personal legal actions. How to file: Online 'Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company' form, or download, print and mail the paper form linked on the page.

Colorado

Oil and gas regulator: Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)

Anyone can file a written complaint with the ECMC about oil and gas operations online, by email, or through the 1-888-235-1101 complaint line, and the online form lists 'Royalties Payment / Missing Production' as a complaint type. ECMC says it aims to close complaints within 60 days and forwards complaints outside its jurisdiction to the appropriate agency.

What it does not handle: Under C.R.S. 34-60-118.5, ECMC's payment-of-proceeds jurisdiction applies only absent a bona fide dispute over interpreting a contract; if such a dispute exists the Commission declines jurisdiction and the parties may go to district court. The statute also says nothing imposes on the Commission a duty to interpret the contract from which the payment obligation arises. Source

Help for owners: Absent a bona fide contract-interpretation dispute, the Commission can determine when proceeds were due, whether a permitted reason for delay existed, and the amount of proceeds plus interest owed; it may assign costs and award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party. Source

Online form: ECMC Complaint Submission form; its required 'Complaint Type' list includes 'Royalties Payment / Missing Production' Link

Email: [email protected] Link

Phone: Central complaint line 1-888-235-1101 (not staffed 24 hours); staff help complete a written complaint Link

Royalty payment statute: C.R.S. § 34-60-118.5

Unless a lease or other agreement provides otherwise, first payment is due within six months after the end of the month of first sale, then monthly within 60 days (oil) or 90 days (gas) after the month of sale; late payment not excused by the statute's listed reasons (unconfirmed interest, reasonable doubt about identity/whereabouts/title, or litigation) earns simple interest at twice the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City discount rate. Each payment must come with a statement showing items such as volumes, price, taxes, the owner's decimal interest, and deductions, and on a certified-mail request the payer must explain deductions within 60 days.

Notice before suit: Before seeking relief under this section for late payment, the payee must send the payer written notice by certified mail; the payer then has 20 days to pay with interest or explain in writing why it has not paid. Source

Attorney general: Colorado Attorney General - Consumer Protection

The Colorado AG collects complaints to spot trends and, when appropriate, investigate or sue on the public's behalf, and may route some disputes to its Consumer Mediation Program; it states it cannot give legal advice or investigate an individual's case. How to file: Online: choose a problem area on the File a Complaint page (e.g. Products | Services, Scams, Securities | Investments, Something Else) to reach the online complaint form.

Illinois

Oil and gas regulator: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management

IDNR's Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management takes citizen complaints about oil and gas operations on a paper complaint form sent to the local district office. The form's complaint categories are about well sites, leaks, pits and abandoned wells; royalty payment is not one of them.

Mail/fax/email form: Complete the Citizen Complaint Form and mail, fax or email it to the district office where the complaint originated: Mount Carmel 618-262-2106 ([email protected]); Centralia 618-533-8979 ([email protected]); Springfield 217-782-7756 ([email protected]). Link

Royalty payment statute: 765 ILCS 520/10 (Oil and Gas Rights Act, Sec. 10)

Payors must pay proceeds within 150 days after the end of the month of first purchase, then on the lease's schedule or, if none, within 60 days (oil) or 90 days (gas) after the end of the month of sale; late payments carry interest at the New York Federal Reserve Bank's rate on loans to depository institutions unless a written agreement sets another rate, except where payment is held for title problems.

Notice before suit: Before suing, the payee must give the payor written notice by mail of the nonpayment; the payor then has 30 days to pay or state in writing a reasonable cause. Suit is brought in the county where the well is located. Source

Attorney general: Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

The Illinois AG's Consumer Protection Division takes consumer complaints online or by mailed form and offers informal dispute resolution. Its consumer page says the office is prohibited from representing citizens privately. How to file: Online consumer complaint (preferred) or printable form returned by mail; consumer fraud hotlines: Chicago 1-800-386-5438, Springfield 1-800-243-0618.

Kansas

Oil and gas regulator: Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), Conservation Division

Kansas oil and gas complaints go to the KCC Conservation Division district office for the well's location. The KCC says it has no jurisdiction over royalty payments and points owners to the operator and oil purchaser, who may hold the owner's division order.

What it does not handle: The KCC states it does not have jurisdiction over royalty payments. Source

Phone / in person (district office): Contact the KCC Conservation Division district office that serves the well's location. Link

Royalty payment statute: K.S.A. 55-1614 to 55-1622a (interest on late oil and gas payments; payment information; royalty owner information requests)

Kansas does not set a payment deadline as such; instead the payor owes interest (1.5 points above the New York Fed's rate on loans to depository institutions, K.S.A. 55-1614(h)) on payments not made starting 60 days after the end of the month of first sale, with no interest on the first 60 days of sales if paid within 120 days after the month of initial sale; small accumulations are 'excluded payments', interest waivers must be in a signed writing that expressly references the act (55-1616), the district court of the producing county is a proper venue and the prevailing party may recover costs and reasonable attorney fees at the court's discretion (55-1617).

Attorney general: Kansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

The Kansas AG's Consumer Protection Division investigates scams and mediates and prosecutes Consumer Protection Act violations; complaints against a business are filed online. The page says the office cannot give private legal advice and not every dispute falls under its jurisdiction. How to file: Online complaint form for a complaint against a business, reached from the File a Complaint page via 'Business'.

Kentucky

Oil and gas regulator: Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Department for Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas

Kentucky's Division of Oil and Gas takes citizen complaints by phone or email through the Division Director, whose listing also covers mineral rights questions. By statute, formal complaints that drilling or mining operations break the oil and gas law go to an administrative hearing.

Phone/email: The Division Director's listing covers regulations, mineral rights questions, citizen complaints and field operations: 502-782-6214, [email protected]. Division switchboard 502-782-5695. Link

Attorney general: Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection

The Kentucky AG offers mediation for consumers who cannot resolve a complaint with a business, through an online form or by phone; scams can be reported separately by phone or online. How to file: Online consumer mediation form (secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/AttorneyGeneral/ConsumerMediationForm); Consumer Protection phone 502-696-5389; scams 888-432-9257.

Louisiana

Oil and gas regulator: Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy (C&E; formerly the Department of Energy and Natural Resources / DNR), Office of Conservation

Louisiana's oil and gas regulator is now the Department of Conservation and Energy (renamed from DENR on Oct. 1, 2025). Its published route is incident reporting by phone for oil and gas, injection-well, E&P-waste and pipeline problems; no royalty-payment complaint process was found on its sites.

What it does not handle: The department's royalty FAQ (archive site) says its royalty office only collects royalties on state-owned lands and water bottoms and cannot answer questions about royalties owed to individuals from leases on privately held lands; it recommends private counsel. Source

Phone: Oil & gas incidents: 225-342-5540 (Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM); after hours and weekends 225-342-5515 or 225-342-5505. Environmental emergencies (oil & gas incidents, injection wells, E&P waste, pipelines) should first be reported to State Police, 24-hour hotline 877-925-6595. Link

Phone/email: General department contact: 225-342-0510, [email protected] Link

Royalty payment statute: La. R.S. 31:137-141 (Mineral Code, nonpayment of royalties); La. R.S. 31:212.21-212.23 (royalty owners other than the mineral lessor)

A mineral lessor must give the lessee written notice of a failure to pay royalties timely or properly before suing; the lessee then has 30 days to pay or state in writing a reasonable cause for nonpayment, and if it does neither the court may award double the royalties due, interest and a reasonable attorney's fee and may dissolve the lease.

Notice before suit: Written notice to the lessee is required before a suit for damages or lease dissolution; the lessee has 30 days after receipt to pay or respond in writing. Source

Attorney general: Louisiana Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section

The Louisiana AG takes consumer disputes about unfair or deceptive business practices online or on a printed form, and may refer a dispute to another agency or forward it to the business. The page says criminal matters such as fraud go to local law enforcement. How to file: Online consumer dispute form or a printable form; Consumer Protection Hotline 1-800-351-4889.

Michigan

Oil and gas regulator: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Geologic Resources Management Division (oil and gas)

Michigan's oil and gas regulator is EGLE's Geologic Resources Management Division, reachable through county field staff, with a 24-hour hotline for environmental emergencies. EGLE says leases and the sale of mineral rights are private contracts between the parties.

What it does not handle: EGLE's Mineral Rights FAQ says the rights to develop minerals, and their purchase and sale, are private contractual matters to be negotiated between the parties. Source

Phone/email: EGLE publishes an area assignment map of oil and gas field staff by county and a staff telephone and email list; permitting and technical services manager 517-230-8233. No oil-and-gas complaint form is published. Link

Phone: Environmental emergencies (including oil releases): 24-hour Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) hotline 800-292-4706. Link

Royalty payment statute: MCL 324.61503a and 324.61503b (Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Part 615)

Gas lessees must send lessors plain-English monthly revenue statements showing the unit price and itemized deductions, prepare an annual accounting, and start statements and payments promptly once divisions of interest are determined; payment may be deferred for title problems, an unknown address, or totals under $50. For leases entered after March 28, 2000, postproduction costs may not be deducted unless the lease explicitly allows them, and a lessee may not condition royalty payment on signing a division order except as the section allows (a division order with specified contents).

Notice and information requests: No pre-suit notice requirement appears in these sections. If a lessee charges postproduction costs, it must tell the lessor in writing that an itemized explanation is available, and provide it on written request. Source

Attorney general: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection

The Michigan AG takes consumer complaints through an online form linked from its complaints page, with phone lines for questions about filing. How to file: Online consumer complaint form (secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx); questions 517-335-7599 or, in state, 877-765-8388.

Mississippi

Oil and gas regulator: Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board (MSOGB)

The Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board publishes field-inspector contacts by county and its Jackson office address, but no online complaint form or royalty-owner complaint process was found on its site.

Phone: The Board publishes a county-by-county Inspectors Map listing field inspectors and the Field Director's office number (601-576-4925); no complaint form is published. Link

Mail: Board office: 500 Greymont Ave., Suite E, Jackson, MS 39202-3446. Link

Royalty payment statute: Miss. Code Ann. § 53-3-39

Purchasers (or the operator/owner who takes on paying royalty owners) owe interest on royalty proceeds not paid within 120 days after first sale, and on suspended royalties, at the greater of 8% a year or 2% above the federal discount rate (the federal discount rate alone when title is not marketable); no interest is due on regular payments made within 60 days after the end of the month of sale.

Attorney general: Mississippi Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

The Mississippi AG's Consumer Protection Division takes consumer complaints through an online form handled by consumer mediators. How to file: Online consumer complaint form, handled by a consumer mediator.

Montana

Oil and gas regulator: Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC), Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

The BOGC investigates complaints about oil and gas operations and takes questions through its Billings office, but for leasing and royalty issues it recommends consulting an attorney and notes that the royalty statute directs failures to pay to district court. If a question is outside the Board's jurisdiction, staff will try to direct the caller to the right company, agency, or person.

What it does not handle: The BOGC page says royalty-payment failures under MCA 82-10-1 are resolved in district court and recommends an attorney for leasing and royalty issues; questions outside the Board's jurisdiction are redirected. Source

Phone: BOGC Billings office, 2535 St. Johns Avenue, Billings, MT 59102, (406) 656-0040 Link

Public comment / protest: Comments directly to the Board at its regularly scheduled business meetings; protests of drilling applications under the rules cited on the page Link

Royalty payment statute: MCA §§ 82-10-101 through 82-10-104 (Title 82, Ch. 10, Part 1, Royalty Interests)

Royalties are due within 120 days after first marketing and then within 60 days (oil) or 90 days (gas); unpaid royalties bear interest at the maximum rate authorized under MCA 31-1-107, suits go to the district court of the county where the well is located, and the prevailing party recovers costs and reasonable attorney fees. Producers must send a statement with each payment listing items such as volumes, taxes withheld, net value, and every charge by line item.

Notice and information requests: Under MCA 82-10-101, an owner may make a written demand for an accounting and for payment of royalty due; if the obligor fails to account and pay within 60 days, the owner may sue in the district court of the county where the lands are located, and the successful party recovers reasonable attorney fees and costs. MCA 82-10-102 says this is a special remedy additional to, and not a substitute for, other remedies given by law to royalty owners. Source

Attorney general: Montana Department of Justice - Office of Consumer Protection (OCP)

Montana's OCP takes complaints about unfair acts by businesses (its examples include contract disputes and billing disputes) and deceptive advertising; if it has authority it sends your complaint to the business for a response, otherwise it may refer you to another agency. How to file: Contact the business first; then mail or fax the downloadable complaint form. Questions: 406-444-4500 or [email protected]. The online form was down for maintenance as of 2026-11-02.

Nebraska

Oil and gas regulator: Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (NOGCC)

Nebraska's NOGCC regulates oil and gas exploration and production and can be reached at its Sidney office (308.254.6919) or [email protected]. Its website has no complaint form and no statement about royalty payment disputes.

Phone: NOGCC office, 1625 Dorwart Drive, Sidney, NE 69162, 308.254.6919 Link

Email: 'Contact Us' link on the NOGCC home page is a mailto to [email protected] Link

Attorney general: Nebraska Attorney General - Consumer Protection (Consumer Affairs Response Team)

The Nebraska AG takes complaints about misleading or deceptive business practices after you have tried to resolve the issue with the business; its dispute-resolution process is voluntary and needs both sides' cooperation, and it does not represent individual consumers. How to file: Online complaint form (linked as 'File a Complaint'), or print the PDF form and mail it to Consumer Affairs Response Team, Nebraska Attorney General's Office, 2115 State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509. Consumer line (402) 471-2785.

New Mexico

Oil and gas regulator: New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Oil Conservation Division (OCD)

New Mexico's Oil Conservation Division regulates oil and gas wells and operations and responds to public complaints as part of its inspection work; owners reach it through the OCD contact page and district offices. The OCD pages reviewed do not describe any role in royalty payment disputes, which the Oil and Gas Proceeds Payment Act leaves to court proceedings with attorney-fee recovery.

Email / phone / office: No dedicated public complaint form was found on the OCD site. The OCD Contact Us page lists group email addresses (e.g. Environmental Group [email protected], Admin Compliance Group [email protected]), the Santa Fe office and district offices in Artesia, Aztec and Hobbs, a dated staff contact list, and after-hours numbers (505) 320-0243 (north) and (505) 670-8745 (south). Link

Royalty payment statute: Oil and Gas Proceeds Payment Act, NMSA 1978 §§ 70-10-1 to 70-10-6

Proceeds must first be paid within six months after the first day of the month following first sale, then within 45 days after the end of the month in which the payor receives payment, unless a valid contract provides otherwise; suspended funds earn interest (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas discount rate plus 1.5%), a payor that fails to pay on time after receiving the required owner information owes 18% per year unless excused (e.g. a good-faith title objection), and the prevailing party recovers court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.

Attorney general: New Mexico Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General)

New Mexico's Department of Justice takes tips and complaints online through its Guided Help tool or electronic complaint system, or on a paper form returned to one of its offices. The page does not mention royalty disputes. How to file: Guided Help tool, the Electronic Complaint & Tip Submission system, or a paper Complaint/Information Form (English or Spanish) returned to an office location.

North Dakota

Oil and gas regulator: North Dakota Industrial Commission, Department of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Division

The Oil and Gas Division regulates drilling and production and takes spill and incident reports, but its mineral-owner page says it does not review private leases or contracts and that failure to pay royalties under NDCC 47-16-39.1 is resolved in district court in the county where the mineral interest is located.

What it does not handle: The Division does not calculate mineral values, review private lease information, or review private contracts; it directs owners to an oil and gas attorney for leasing issues and to district court for royalty-payment failures. Source

Help for owners: A state program that connects royalty owners and well operators with an independent ombudsman for royalty payment issues; request online, call (701) 328-5110 option 1, or email [email protected]. It will not work on issues under regulatory review or in litigation, or issues older than the previous 6 years. Source

Phone: Oil and Gas Division main line (701) 328-8020 Link

Online form: Spills, leaks, fires and blowouts: verbal report to Division staff, then online initial notification through the ND Unified Spill Reporting System Link

Royalty payment statute: N.D.C.C. § 47-16-39.1

If an operator does not pay royalties within 150 days after the oil or gas is marketed, it must pay 18% annual interest on the unpaid royalties without the owner having to ask; suits go to the district court of the county where the well is located, and the prevailing party recovers court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. The section does not apply to owners taking in kind, where a title dispute affects distribution, where the owner cannot be located after reasonable inquiry, or to minerals managed by the board of university and school lands.

Attorney general: North Dakota Attorney General - Consumer Protection Division

The Consumer Protection Division takes complaints from ND residents, or about transactions with a North Dakota business; after screening it may refer you to another agency, try to mediate if within its authority, or refer you to a private attorney. How to file: Online complaint form or print the form and mail it; Consumer Protection (701) 328-3404 or 1-800-472-2600 (within ND only). Anonymous complaints are not processed.

Ohio

Oil and gas regulator: Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management

Ohio's Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management takes complaints about specific wells and operations through an online issue form, plus a 24-hour One-Call line for emergencies. Royalty payment is not one of the listed issue types.

Online form: ODNR 'Report an Issue' online form. Issue types: potential orphan well, water supply issue, non-producing well, gas/oil/brine release, well site construction issue, pipeline issue, odor, noise, dust, road impact, failure to restore disturbed land. Link

Phone: Oil and gas emergencies: One-Call 1-844-OHCALL1 (1-844-642-2551). Division headquarters, 2045 Morse Road, Building F-2, Columbus, OH 43229: (614) 265-6922. County inspectors are listed by county. Link

Royalty payment statute: Ohio Rev. Code § 1509.30 (reports to holder of royalty interest); see also § 2305.041 (time limit for royalty-payment suits)

Ohio has no general royalty-payment deadline or interest statute among the sections found. Section 1509.30 lets a royalty holder in a natural gas well ask the well owner for the volume paid on, the price per Mcf and metered volumes, to be supplied within 15 days or by the end of the current payment period, whichever is later. Section 2305.041 sets the time limit for suits over the calculation or payment of royalties by reference to § 1302.98.

Attorney general: Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section

The Ohio AG takes consumer complaints online or by phone through its Help Center; a copy of the complaint may be sent to the business complained about. How to file: Online complaint form (filecomplaint.ohioattorneygeneral.gov) or by phone through the Help Center, (800) 282-0515.

Oklahoma

Oil and gas regulator: Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), Oil and Gas Conservation Division - Consumer Services Department

Oklahoma's Corporation Commission has a Consumer Services Department that acts as a go-between for mineral and surface owners and oil and gas companies and answers questions on royalty payments, leasing, spacing and pooling. Owners can file an oil and gas complaint online or by mail, but the OCC's royalty-owner booklet says the Commission has no power over payment of proceeds; the district court has jurisdiction.

What it does not handle: The OCC's royalty-owner booklet (Oct. 2022) says the Commission has no power or function over payment of proceeds (the district court has jurisdiction) and no jurisdiction or authority over lease disputes. Source

Help for owners: Consumer Services is the OCC's named contact for mineral owners in communicating with oil and gas companies and an information center on royalty payments; the OCC also publishes a royalty-owner booklet (last revised October 2022). Source

Online form: OCC Oil and Gas Complaint Form (linked from the Crude Oil & Natural Gas complaints page). Link

Mail: Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation Division, Attn: Public Assistance, P.O. Box 171, Oklahoma City, OK 73101. Link

Phone: Consumer Services Department (405) 521-2331; fax (405) 521-3099. Link

Royalty payment statute: Production Revenue Standards Act, 52 O.S. § 570.1 et seq. (payment timing and interest: § 570.10; court jurisdiction and remedies: § 570.14)

Proceeds must first be paid within six months after first sale and then by the end of the second month after the month of sale (the third month for certain royalty gas proceeds remitted to the operator); late proceeds earn 15% per year, while proceeds held because title is not marketable earn a lower rate (prime rate since Nov. 1, 2018, capped at 6%); district courts have sole and exclusive jurisdiction, the prevailing party recovers costs including reasonable attorney and expert fees, and the limitations period is five years.

Attorney general: Oklahoma Attorney General, Consumer Protection Unit

The Oklahoma AG's Consumer Protection Unit takes consumer complaints about deceptive, fraudulent or unfair advertising or sales practices, often resolving them by phone or written mediation. Complaints are filed by emailing the completed form. How to file: Download the consumer complaint form, save it as a PDF and email it to [email protected] with 'Complaint' in the subject line; consumer representatives at (405) 521-2029 or (833) 681-1895.

Pennsylvania

Oil and gas regulator: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Office of Oil and Gas Management

Pennsylvania DEP takes environmental complaints, including about oil and gas wells, online or by phone. DEP says it does not regulate lease agreements or get involved in lease or payment matters.

What it does not handle: DEP says lease agreements are private contracts and it does not audit payments, check meters or tanks, or otherwise get involved in lease matters. Source

Online form: DEP environmental complaint form online; reviewed during business hours (Mon-Fri 8 am-4 pm). Link

Phone: 866-255-5158 Link

Royalty payment statute: Oil and Gas Lease Act, Act of July 20, 1979, P.L. 183, No. 60, §§ 1.3, 3.2, 3.3, as amended by Act 66 of 2013 (P.L. 473) and Act 153 of 2022 (P.L. 2147)

Leases must guarantee at least a one-eighth royalty, and check stubs must show specified details (well, month, volumes, price, deductions, decimal interest). For production from an unconventional formation, unless the lease says otherwise, proceeds are due within 120 days of first sale and then within 60 days after the end of the month of sale, with a mandatory interest penalty at the legal rate for late payment (exceptions for title defects, bona fide disputes or missing owners).

Notice and information requests: For missing payment information (unconventional wells), the owner may send a written request by certified mail; if the payor does not supply the information or a reason within 60 days, the owner may sue and recover attorney fees and court costs. The Act states no pre-suit notice requirement for late payment itself. Source

Attorney general: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection

The Pennsylvania AG takes consumer complaints about fraud, scams or unfair business practices online or on a printed form mailed to the office. How to file: Online consumer complaint form or a printed form mailed to the office.

Texas

Oil and gas regulator: Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), Oil & Gas Division - Field Operations

The RRC's Oil & Gas Division investigates complaints about oil and gas exploration, production and transportation, such as well operations, through its district offices. It does not handle royalty payment disputes, which it treats as private lease and contract matters.

What it does not handle: The RRC says it has no authority over lease and royalty matters, including leasing, payment of royalties and the right to receive royalties, and that it cannot intervene in royalty matters or say whether an operator is complying with a lease; it points owners to their own attorney. Source

Help for owners: The RRC publishes a Royalties FAQ summarizing the payment-timing statute and keeps public production and permit records (online from January 1993) that owners can use to check their interests; it does not resolve payment disputes. Source

Phone / in person (district office): Contact the appropriate RRC Oil & Gas District Office; district offices are listed on the RRC Locations page. Link

Royalty payment statute: Tex. Nat. Res. Code §§ 91.401-91.406 (Chapter 91, Subchapter J, Payment for Proceeds of Sale)

First payment is due within 120 days after the end of the month of first sale; after that, payment follows the lease, or if the lease is silent, within 60 days (oil) or 90 days (gas) after the end of the month of sale; late payments bear interest (§ 91.403), payments may be withheld without interest for title disputes or doubts (§ 91.402(b)), and a winning plaintiff recovers reasonable attorney's fees and at least $200 (§ 91.406).

Notice before suit: Before suing for nonpayment, the owner must give the payor written notice by mail; the payor then has 30 days after receipt to pay or state in writing a reasonable cause for nonpayment. Suit may be brought in the county where the well is located. Source

Attorney general: Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Consumer Protection Division

The Texas AG takes online consumer complaints about false, misleading or deceptive business practices. The page says complaints are public under Texas law, the office cannot give legal advice, and a complaint number does not mean an investigation is open. How to file: Online complaint form (General, Privacy or AI form); supporting documents may be uploaded.

Utah

Oil and gas regulator: Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM) and Board of Oil, Gas and Mining

Utah's DOGM has a royalty-owner function: owners should first contact the operator, and if that fails they can contact the Board of Oil, Gas and Mining for mediation or send a certified-mail notice asking for an investigation. By statute, a person owed proceeds can petition the Board for a hearing, and the Board can order an accounting and penalties for unjustified delay.

What it does not handle: DOGM says its royalty auditors' scope does not cover some other concerns, such as mineral rights and drilling technicalities, and points owners to other resources. By statute, if the Board does not set a hearing after investigation and negotiation, the petitioner gets the information gathered and may seek a remedy in court. Source

Help for owners: DOGM auditors help royalty owners with payment accuracy and disputes; the Board mediates and, on a certified-mail notice or petition, has the Division investigate and negotiate, and can hold a hearing. Source

Mail (certified): For missing payment or payment information, notify the Board of Oil, Gas and Mining by certified mail and request an investigation Link

Petition: A person entitled to proceeds may petition the Board for a hearing on why proceeds have not been paid (Utah Code 40-6-9(4)) Link

Phone: DOGM main line (801) 538-5340, 1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210, Salt Lake City Link

Royalty payment statute: Utah Code §§ 40-6-9 and 40-6-9.1

Unless a valid contract provides otherwise, proceeds are due within 180 days after the first day of the month following first sale, then within 30 days after the end of the month in which the payor is paid; proceeds that cannot be paid on time must go into an interest-bearing escrow account. An owner may petition the Board, which sets the matter for Division investigation and negotiation within 60 days and may hold a hearing; for unjustified delay the Board can order an accounting, interest of 1-1/2% per month where proceeds were not escrowed, and a penalty of up to 25%. Section 40-6-9.1 lists what each check stub must show, and lets an owner who does not receive it notify the Board by certified mail and request an investigation.

Attorney general: Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection (takes Utah consumer complaints; the Attorney General's contact page lists a criminal-complaint route only)

In Utah, consumer complaints go to the Department of Commerce's Division of Consumer Protection, which enforces consumer protection laws and may not open a case without supporting documents; it tells filers they may need an attorney to pursue their own remedies. How to file: Online complaint portal or download and mail the paper form to Utah Division of Consumer Protection, Attention: Complaint Processor, 160 East 300 South, PO Box 146704, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741; questions (801) 530-6601.

West Virginia

Oil and gas regulator: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), Office of Oil and Gas

West Virginia's Office of Oil and Gas (within WVDEP) regulates drilling and production and takes reports by phone, with a separate emergency spill hotline. WVDEP's complaint page has no oil-and-gas-specific form, and no royalty-owner complaint process was found.

Phone: Office of Oil and Gas, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304; (304) 926-0499. Pollution and emergency spills hotline 1-800-642-3074; imminent danger 911. Link

Online form: WVDEP 'Report a Complaint' page; its online Environmental Enforcement form lists dam safety, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, and water and waste (no oil-and-gas-specific form). General DEP line 304-926-0440, toll free 866-568-6649. Link

Royalty payment statute: W. Va. Code §§ 37C-1-1 to 37C-1-3 (horizontal wells); W. Va. Code § 36-4-9c (conventional vertical wells)

For horizontal wells, payments are due within 120 days of first sale and within 60 days for each later sale, and late payment carries a mandatory interest penalty of prime plus 2%, compounded quarterly (exceptions for title defects, legal disputes or missing owners). For conventional vertical wells, a lessee who fails to pay royalty within six months after it is due is liable for three times the market value of the unpaid royalty, for suits filed on or after July 1, 2025, unless there is a bona fide dispute or a written agreement otherwise. Also: W. Va. Code § 36-4-9c (conventional vertical wells)

Notice and information requests: For missing payment information on horizontal wells, the owner may send a written request by certified mail; the operator must supply it within 60 days. The statutes state no pre-suit notice requirement for late payment itself. Source

Attorney general: West Virginia Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division

The West Virginia AG's Consumer Protection Division takes consumer complaints about unfair or deceptive business practices online or on a downloadable form. How to file: Online consumer complaint form (wv.accessgov.com) or downloadable form by mail; the page lists three ways to submit.

Wyoming

Oil and gas regulator: Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC)

WOGCC's FAQ answers 'What do I do if I have not received my royalty check(s)?' by pointing to the Wyoming Royalty Payment Act and suggesting legal advice from a Wyoming oil and gas attorney. Its Mineral Owners Guide says offers, values, and contractual matters outside WOGCC authority should go to an attorney.

What it does not handle: WOGCC's Mineral Owners Guide describes offers for mineral rights, their value, surface use agreements and other contractual information as 'external to WOGCC authority' and recommends a Wyoming oil and gas attorney; for missing royalty checks the FAQ refers owners to the statute and to legal advice. Source

Phone: WOGCC main office, Casper: (307) 234-7147; field inspectors are listed by name and phone on the Contacts page Link

Protest (hearing process): Protests of oil and gas activity follow the 'Criteria for Filing a Protest' under the Hearings tab Link

Royalty payment statute: Wyo. Stat. §§ 30-5-301 through 30-5-305 (Wyoming Royalty Payment Act)

Unless a valid contract provides otherwise, production proceeds must be paid starting within six months after the first day of the month following first sale and then within 60 days after the month of sale; proceeds that cannot be paid on time must go into an interest-bearing escrow account in a Wyoming bank, and a payor who violates the Act owes the unpaid amount plus 18% annual interest. Check stubs must show listed details (volumes, price, taxes, itemized deductions, decimal interest), a certified-mail question must be answered by certified mail within 30 days, and failure to provide required stub information carries $100 per month liability.

Attorney general: Wyoming Attorney General - Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit

The Wyoming AG accepts written consumer complaints and may forward them to the business for a written response, but it handles everything in writing, cannot act as your private attorney, and lists 'private contractual disputes' among matters it will not examine. How to file: Written complaint only: online form or downloadable PDF form mailed to Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit, 109 State Capitol, Cheyenne, WY 82002; supporting documents to [email protected].

Does the state oil and gas regulator handle late royalty payments?

It depends on the state. Of the 21 states on this page, 6 regulators say royalty payment disputes are outside their role or belong in district court (Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas). North Dakota also has a Department of Agriculture Royalty Oversight Program that connects owners and operators with an independent ombudsman. Colorado's ECMC complaint form lists royalty payment and missing production as a complaint type, and declines jurisdiction when there is a bona fide dispute over interpreting a contract.

What should I do before filing a complaint about a late royalty check?

Contact the payor in writing and keep a copy. In Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, the payment statute requires written notice to the payor before a suit for nonpayment; Texas, for example, gives the payor 30 days after receiving the notice to pay or to state in writing a reasonable cause for nonpayment (Tex. Nat. Res. Code § 91.404). Montana's accounting action begins with a written demand (MCA 82-10-101), and MCA 82-10-102 says that remedy is additional to, not a substitute for, other remedies. This is general information, not legal advice; an oil and gas attorney in your state can tell you what applies to your lease.

Who handles complaints about federal or Indian mineral leases?

ONRR collects and disburses revenue from federal and Indian leases; its revenue data does not cover privately owned or state lands, so it is not a complaint route for private minerals. Individual Indian mineral owners can reach ONRR's Indian Outreach offices, and ONRR's FAQ says to contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs office that keeps your lease records first when a check does not arrive. The BLM inspects operations on federal and Indian leases.

Where do I report a deceptive offer letter or a scam?

Report it to your state attorney general's consumer-protection office (linked in each state card) and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC says it cannot resolve individual reports; it shares them with law enforcement.