Definitions
N.D. Cent. Code § 38-08-09.13
in effect38-08-09.13. Definitions
For the purposes of sections 38-08-09.1 through 38-08-09.16, unless the context otherwise
requires:
1. "Lessee" refers not only to lessees under oil and gas leases but also includes owners
of unleased mineral rights having the right to develop the same for oil and gas to the
extent of a seven-eighths interest.
2. "Oil and gas" refers not only to oil and gas as such in combination one with the other,
but shall have general reference to oil, gas, casinghead gas, casinghead gasoline,
gas-distillate, or other hydrocarbons, or any combination or combinations thereof,
which may be found in or produced from a common source of supply of oil, oil and
gas, or gas-distillate.
3. "Person" means and includes any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, common-law or statutory trust, association of any kind, the state of North
Dakota, or any subdivision or agency thereof acting in a proprietary capacity, guardian,
executor, administrator, fiduciary of any kind, or any other entity or being capable of
owning an interest in and to a unit source of supply of oil and gas.
4. "Unit expense" includes and means any and all cost and expense in the conduct and
management of its affairs or the operations carried on by it.
5. Any reference to a separately owned tract, although in general terms broad enough to
include the surface and all underlying common sources of supply of oil and gas, shall
have reference thereto only in relation to the unit source of supply or portion thereof
embraced within the unit area of a particular unit.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t38c08.pdf#nameddest=38-08-09p13Fetched: 10/16/2026