Government & Regulatory | Top Story | Legal / Lawsuit

Large Swath of Oklahoma Land Falls Within Indian Reservation, US Supreme Court Rules

Friday,July 10,2020

In a move that could complicate things for MidCon-focused operators and midstream companies, the US Supreme Court ruled that a large portion of land in Oklahoma is within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, according to multiple reports.

The ruling narrowly passed with a 5-4 vote in favor.

This is the second recent court victory for Native Americans. Earlier this week, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe saw a favorable ruling from the court system in regard to its lawsuit agaist Energy Transfer's Dakota Access Pipeline.

Oklahoma is an active region in regard to oil and gas operations, as it is home to several plays including the SCOOP / STACK, Woodford and Mississippi Lime. Numerous top operators hold assets in the region including EOG Resources, Devon Energy, Ovintiv Inc., Continental Resources, among others.

As for midstream implications, many pipelines pass through Oklahoma's regional hub in Cushing.

In addition to oil and gas from the Midcontinent region, Oklahoma's pipelines also carry products derived from plays to the north, including the North Dakota Bakken and Canadian resource plays.