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Recent News

March 2024

Energy professor speaks at CCS conference in Houston

Professor Keith Hall spoke on the topic of “Local Government Regulation of CCUS” on March 8, 2024 at the Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law’s Special Institute on Carbon Capture, Utilization, & Storage in Houston, Texas.


February 2024

Energy professor testifies at legislative hearing

Professor Keith Hall testified about eminent domain issues relating to carbon capture and storage (CCS) before the Louisiana House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources & Environment on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at the invitation of the Committee.

Professor and LSU Law Center students attend energy law conference in Houston

Professor Keith Hall and three LSU Law Center students—Patrick Raymond, Isabelle Rowan, and Parker Smith—attended the Institute for Energy Law’s 75th Annual Energy Law Conference in Houston on February 23 and 24, 2024.

Parker Smith, Isabelle Rowan, Prof. Keith Hall, and Patrick Raymond attended the IEL’s 75th Annual Energy Law Conference in Houston.

Energy law professor speaks on CCS in Houston

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Drafting and Negotiating Instruments to Acquire Pore Space Rights for CCS” at the 3rd Annual U.S. Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy Law Seminar in Houston on February 7, 2024. The seminar was organized by the Foundation for National Resources & Energy Law and was held in conjunction with the 2024 version of NAPE, the North American Petroleum Exposition that is held each year by the American Association of Professional Landmen.

Energy professor gives guest lecture across campus

Professor Keith Hall gave a guest lecture on “Energy and Law” to the Energy Law & Environment course taught by the LSU School of Energy, Coast, & Environment.

Energy professor accepts another term as editor of the Oil & Gas Report

Professor Keith Hall recently accepted reappointment as Editor-in-Chief of the Institute for Energy Law’s quarterly Oil & Gas E-Report.


January 2024

Journal of Energy Law & Regulation hosts symposium on energy transition issues

The LSU Journal of Energy Law & Regulation hosted a symposium entitled “Hydrogen and Lithium: Key Elements in the Energy Transition,” on January 26, 2024, at LSU Law Center. A large audience attended and heard presentations on hydrogen and lithium, as well as carbon capture and storage and the State of Louisiana’s first Offshore wind leasing. Speakers included:

  • John Flake | LSU College of Engineering
  • Keith B. Hall | LSU Law Center
  • Joe Heaton | Liskow
  • William R. Huguet | Kean Miller
  • Jamie Manuel | Randazzo Giglio & Bailey
  • Justin Marocco | Jones Walker
  • Marjorie A. McKeithen | Jones Walker

Jamie Manuel from Randazzo Giglio & Bailey delivers his lecture at the Symposium.

Marjorie McKeithen and Justin Marocco from Jones Walker field questions after their talk.

Laborde Energy Law Center hosts symposium on Orphan Wells

LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center hosted the Orphan Well Symposium on January 19, 2024, at LSU Law Center. More than 80 people attended the Symposium to hear presentations from lawyers, engineers, and other professionals from state government, the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, industry, an environmental organization, and private law practice. Speakers included:

  • John Adams | LSU Law ’03 | Assistant Commissioner, Louisiana Office of Conservation
  • Blake Canfield | LSU Law ’06 | Executive Counsel, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
  • Meg Coleman | Policy Manager, Environmental Defense Fund
  • Tyler Duhon | Project Manager, The Lemoine Company
  • Monique Edwards | Commissioner, Louisiana Office of Conservation
  • Roby Fulkerson | Petroleum Scientist Manager, Louisiana Office of Conservation
  • Machelle Hall | Chief of Environmental Section, Civil Division, Louisiana Department of Justice
  • Andrew Jacoby | Owner, Law Office of Andrew Jacoby
  • Chris Sandoz | Director, Engineering Regulatory Division, Louisiana Office of Conservation
  • Curtis Shuck | Well Done Foundation
  • Sarah Stogner | LSU Law ’08 | Founder and Attorney, Stogner Legal
  • Gregory Upton | Interim Director, LSU Center for Energy Studies
  • Lori Wrotenbery | Executive Director, Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission

Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation Monique Edwards, LSU Law Dean Alena Allen, and Professor Keith Hall welcomed the attendees to the Symposium, which included a full day of presentations on legal, technical, and policy issues relating to orphan wells, which are oil and gas wells that have reached the end of their useful life, but which have not yet been properly plugged and closed, and for which the last operator is insolvent (or, in rare cases, unknown). In addition to those presentations, Meghan Kirkwood, an Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Visual Arts at the Same Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis exhibited a series of photographs which she has taken at orphan well sites in Caddo Parish. During lunch, Professor Kirkwood discussed her photographs.

Professor Hall, who also serves as Director of the Laborde Energy Law Center, thanked the speakers for donating their time and expertise to the Orphan Well Symposium. He stated, “Orphan wells raise important legal and public policy issues in Louisiana and every other state that has had a significant amount of oil and gas activity. This Symposium had two goals: first, to educate people about these issues; second, we wanted to foster dialogue between people who bring different perspectives and different types of expertise relevant to these issues. Thanks to a wonderful group of speakers, this Symposium hit a home run on both of those goals.”

To watch a video of the symposium or read some of the presentations, click here.

Lori Wrotenbery delivers her lecture at the Orphan Well Symposium.

Two colleagues have a brief discussion during a break.

Energy professor chairs fourth meeting of Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Storage

Professor Keith Hall chaired the fourth meeting of the Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Storage on January 18, 2024, at the Louisiana State Capitol. The Task Force heard testimony from industry officials, public officials, and environmental law organizations.

Energy professor attends field trip to Lake Maurepas

Professor Keith Hall attended a field trip to Lake Maurepas on January 15, 2024, to learn about work being done by researches at Southeastern Louisiana University at Lake Maurepas. Those researchers are collecting an extensive amount of baseline data on conditions at Lake Maurepas. In part, this will help scientists determine what impacts, if any, future events and future work around Lake Maurepas—including Air Products’ carbon capture and storage project—have on the local environment. Professor Greg Upton of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies also attended, and helped arrange the field trip. In addition, Ryan Montegut, Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, also attended.


December 2023

Energy Law professor speaks at Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE

Professor Keith Hall spoke on Mineral Law at the Baton Rouge Bar Association’s “CLE by the Hour” program on December 29, 2023.

Energy Law professor chairs meeting of Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Professor Keith Hall chaired a meeting of the Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Sequestration on December 18, 2023, at the Louisiana State Capitol. The Task Force was established by the Louisiana state legislature to study the benefits and revenue streams of carbon capture and sequestration projects, and to propose recommendations regarding the impact of carbon capture and sequestration projects across the state.

Resources for the Future publishes white paper co-authored by LSU Law interns

Resources for the Future (RFF) published a white paper entitled, “Adding Solar: The Role of the National Environmental Policy Act in Solar Development.” The paper was authored by Arthur G. Fraas of RFF and four LSU Law school graduates who worked on the paper while they were summer interns with RFF. These include Andre Bellefontaine (an associate at Kean Miller in Baton Rouge), Lindsay Rich Steinmetz (an associate at Eastman and Smith in Toledo, Ohio), Valkyrie Buffa (an associate at Liskow in Houston), and David Storment (a legal intern at Louisiana Sea Grant College in Baton Rouge). The summer intern program was sponsored by LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center. RFF is a prominent think tank devoted to natural resource, energy, and environmental issues. A link to the white paper is here.


November 2023

Energy law professor speaks on CCS for Energy & Mineral Law Foundation conference

Professor Keith Hall served as one of three panelists who discussed property law issues relating to carbon capture and storage during the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s one-day virtual conference on carbon capture and storage on November 16, 2023. Professor Hall spoke about potential disputes between CCS projects and mineral development, while his co-panelists addressed other property law issues.

Annual Liskow Visiting Professor in Energy Law addresses carbon capture and storage

Professor Tara Righetti of the University of Wyoming Law School delivered the annual Liskow Visiting Professor Lecture in Energy Law on the evening of November 14, 2023, at LSU Law Center. Professor Righetti spoke on “Land and Regulatory Consequences of Carbon Sequestration Well Classifications.”

Professor Keith Hall said, “Professor Righetti did a great job. She made it interesting, and she managed to deliver a lecture that provided new information to audience members who already know a good deal about carbon capture and storage, while making sure that folks who don’t have much background knowledge about CCS could still follow the talk.” He added, “We had a great audience. It included the Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation, Monique Edwards, whose agency regulates CCS in Louisiana. It also included Jamie Manuel, the Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Office of Mineral Resources. On behalf of the State Mineral and Energy Board, Jamie led the negotiations that led to the State granting contracts to authorize the use of pore spaces beneath certain state-owned land for CCS. Staff lawyers from the Louisiana Office of Conservation and an Assistant Attorney General who represents the Office of Conservation also attended. The audience also included students, practicing lawyers, and members of the public.”

The lecture was hosted by LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, which made the lecture open to the public. Professor Hall, who serves as Director of the Center, stated, “This was a great event. On behalf of LSU, I thank the Liskow & Lewis firm for its generous support of LSU Law Center, including the donation that made the annual Liskow Visiting Professor in Energy Law Lecture possible.”

In addition to delivering the lecture on CCS, Professor Righetti delivered guest lectures to two LSU Law School classes—a Mineral Rights class and an Introduction to Environmental Law class.

LSU Law Center’s Dean Alena Allen, Liskow Visiting Professor Tara Righetti, and LSU’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Kimberly Lewis meet before the start of the lecture.

Professor Keith Hall, Director of the Laborde Energy Law Center, introduces Professor Righetti at the lecture.

Professor Righetti delivers her presentation.

Energy Law professor speaks on CCS issues at conference in Oklahoma

Professor Keith Hall spoke on the subject “Drafting and Negotiating Instruments to Acquire Pore Space Rights for CCS” at the Eugene Kuntz Conference on Natural Resources & Policy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on November 10, 2023.

Energy Law professor to head Task Force on CCS

Professor Keith Hall was elected Chair of a Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Sequestration. The Task Force was created by Louisiana Senate Resolution No. 179 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, which was authored by Senator Heather Cloud. The Resolution directs the Task Force to gather input from various stakeholders, including landowners and other citizens, industry, academia, and state and local governments, and to submit a report on the local impacts of CCS. The Task Force plans to meet multiple times in the next few weeks and to produce a report by February 2024.

Energy Law professor speaks at conference

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Recent Developments in Energy Law” at the Institute for Energy Law’s annual Energy Litigation Conference in Houston, Texas on November 2, 2023.

Professor Keith Hall delivers his presentation at the IEL Energy Litigation Conference.


October 2023

Professor Bryner makes presentation at academic workshop in Florida

Professor Nick Bryner presented a work in progress on statutory interpretation in environmental law at a workshop at the University of Florida Levin College of Law on October 23, as part of the SEC Junior Scholarly Exchange.

Professor speaks on CCS at Houston Bar Association meeting

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Transactional Issues in Carbon Capture and Storage” at a meeting of the Houston Bar Association’s Energy Law Section on October 26, 2023.

Lime Rock’s VP for Land gives guest lecture to LSU Law Center class

Michelle Phillips, Vice President of Land for Lime Rock Resources, gave a guest lecture to Professor Keith Hall’s Mineral Rights class on the role of professional landmen in the energy industry. Professor Hall stated, “Our students got a lot of value from Ms. Phillips’ guest lecture. She is a very engaging speaker, and her presentation was extremely informative.” Ms. Phillips then had lunch with Professor Hall and two LSU law students who recently accepted jobs to work in the energy law field after graduation. “The students really appreciated getting to visit with Michelle Phillips in a small group setting, where they could get some one-on-one career advice from her,” Professor Hall stated. The guest lecture and lunch were on October 23, 2023.

Michelle Phillips, Vice President of Land for Lime Rock Resources, appeared as a guest lecturer in Prof. Hall’s Mineral Rights class.

Professor speaks at the Oil & Gas Short Course in Colorado

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Conservation Regulation” at the 40th Annual Oil & Gas Short Course on October 18, 2023, in Westminster, Colorado. The Short Course is a week-long, intensive oil and gas law course organized by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL), formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF). LSU Law alumnus Patrick Ottinger also spoke at the Short Course on the subject of “Implied Covenants.”

LSU law students and professor play big role at Energy Law conference

LSU Law School was a dominant presence at the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Fall Symposium, which was held October 10-12, 2023, in Lexington, Kentucky. Ten LSU Law Center students attended, giving LSU a larger number of students in attendance than even the University of Kentucky and the nearby Appalachia School of Law. The LSU Law Center students who attended were Erin Alpandinar, Brandon Andrews, Patrick Van Burkleo, Isabella Eakins, Logan Goodwin, Emma Irvin, John Lejeune, Patrick Raymond, Parker Smith, and Jaxon Todd.

In addition, LSU Law Professor Keith Hall was one of the speakers at the Symposium. He spoke on natural gas gathering agreements on the last day of the conference.

Professor speaks on carbon and capture regulatory issues

Professor Keith hall spoke on “CCS Rulemaking and Regulatory Update” at the Institute for Energy Law’s Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage on October 11, 2023 in Houston.

Prof. Keith Hall begins his presentation in front of the attendees of the CCUS Conference in Houston. Photo courtesy of LSU Law graduate Kyrie Buffa.

Professor speaks at Energy Transition Symposium

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Acquisition of Pore Space Rights for CCS” at the LSU Center for Energy Studies’ Energy Transition Research Symposium in Baton Rouge on October 6, 2023. LSU Law alum Jamie Manuel, who is the Assistant Secretary at the Louisiana Office of Mineral Resources, also spoke at the symposium. Mr. Manuel addressed the topic “State Lands in the Energy Transition.”

Professor gives guest lecture on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in petroleum engineering class

Professor Keith Hall gave a guest lecture on legal issues relating to carbon capture and storage in a petroleum engineering class at LSU on October 4, 2023. Blake Canfield, an LSU Law alum who serves as Executive Counsel for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, also guest lectured on CCS. Professor Hall focused on property law issues and Mr. Canfield focused on regulatory issues related to CCS.

Professor speaks at International Oil & Gas Conference

Professor Keith Hall made two presentations at the International Oil & Gas Law, Contracts, and Negotiations conference on October 2, 2023, in Houston, Texas. His first presentation was on “Unconventional Resource Projects.” His second presentation of the day was on “Crude Oil Marketing.” The conference, which is co-sponsored by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law and by the Association for International Energy Negotiators, lasts for two weeks. LSU Law School alumni played major roles in the conference. LSU Law alum Harry Sullivan served as Chair of the conference; the co-chair, Frank Cascio, is also an LSU Law alum. In addition, LSU Law alum Andrew Melsheimer of Holland & Knight made multiple presentations at the conference, and LSU Law alum William (Bill) Pugh of Liskow & Lewis also made a presentation. Professor Hall stated, “LSU Law School does a great job of preparing students for careers in energy law, including careers in international oil and gas. This is a high-profile international oil & gas conference, and no other law school was as well represented as LSU on the list of conference speakers.”


September 2023

Mineral Law Institute Advisory Council meets and plans next annual Institute

The Mineral Law Institute Advisory Council met on September 29, 2023 to plan the 71st Annual Mineral Law Institute, which will be held March 21-22, 2024 in Baton Rouge. Topics selected for the next Annual Institute include:

  • Lithium Extraction from Brine and Produced Water
  • What is a “mineral”?
  • Louisiana and Texas Mineral Law Recent Developments
  • Update on Issues at the Office of Conservation and Dept. of Natural Resources
  • The Acquisition of Pore Space Rights for Carbon Capture and Storage
  • The Science of Carbon Capture and Storage
  • Usufruct Issues in Mineral Law
  • Offshore Oil & Gas Update
  • An Operator’s Rights and Obligations With Respect to Unleased Owners
  • Louisiana Stressed Water Rights
  • Ethics
  • Professionalism

Professor Keith Hall, Director of the Mineral Law Institute, leads a discussion with the Advisory Council.

Energy Center hosts panel discussion on Careers in Environmental Compliance

LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center hosted a panel discussion on “Careers in Environmental Compliance” on September 27, 2023.

Panelists included:

  • Maureen Harbourt, who is Of Counsel in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. She has over 25 years of experience in Louisiana and federal environmental law.
  • Tokesha Collins-Wright, who is Vice President of Environmental Affairs and General Counsel for the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA).
  • Douglas Melancon, who works for ExxonMobil as the State Environmental and Regulatory Advisor in the Americas Global Operations & Sustainability organization.
  • Danny Bosch, who is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2023 and practices with the environmental regulatory group.

Professor Keith Hall moderated the discussion. Approximately 23 students attended.

The panelists for the 2023 Careers in Energy Law event.

From left to right: Douglas Melancon, Danny Bosch, Tokesha Collins-Wright, and Maureen Harbourt.

Professor discusses carbon capture and storage at FNREL webinar

Professor Keith Hall co-moderated and served as a panelist for the webinar “Pore Space Acquisition for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage,” organized by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, on September 25, 2023.

Professor shares his ongoing work on statutory interpretation in environmental law

On September 23, Professor Nick Bryner presented a work in progress on statutory interpretation in environmental law at the Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship. Prof. Bryner will also be presenting this work at an upcoming workshop at the University of Florida Levin College of Law on October 23, 2023, as part of the SEC Junior Scholarly Exchange.

Professor discusses International Commission and environmental cooperation

Professor Nick Bryner visited the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) in Montreal, Canada, on September 19, 2023, where he discussed the general work and submission process of the commission. The CEC is a trilateral organization set up by Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the NAFTA/USMCA treaties, and it serves as a vehicle for cooperation among the three countries on environmental issues, from biodiversity and species conservation to wildfire monitoring to pollution control.

Professor quoted in news story on Carbon Capture and Storage

Professor Keith Hall was quoted in an EnergyWire article on September 25, 2023, on the recently announced plans of Carbonvert Inc. and Castex Carbon Solutions LLC to develop a carbon capture and storage hub using a 24,000-acre area leased from the State of Louisiana offshore of Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana.

Professor speaks at webinar on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Professor Keith Hall co-moderated and served as a panelist for the webinar “Pore Space Acquisition for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage,” organized by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, on September 25, 2023. Professor Hall has published two law review articles on CCS, as well as a paper for the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, and he co-authored a research report on CCS for the U.S. Department of Energy.


August 2023

LSU receives grant for student travel to energy law conferences

LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center has received a grant of $8,000 from the Highland Foundation to support travel of LSU Law students to energy law conferences. Professor Keith Hall stated, “Our students benefit tremendously from attending energy law conferences—both by learning substantive legal information and by meeting and networking with practicing lawyers who work in the energy law field. But the expense of attending such conferences is a burden on the budget of law students. This generous grant from the Highland Foundation will help us subsidize the travel expenses of students so that they can attend conferences and obtain all the benefits that come with doing that.”

LSU Energy Center holds information session regarding certificate program

LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center held an information session regarding the Energy Law & Policy Certificate program on August 21, 2023 for LSU Law students interested in energy law. Thirty-five students attended.

LSU professor and alums speak at energy conference in Dallas

LSU Law Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Gathering Agreements 101 at the Dallas Bar Association’s 38th Annual Review of Energy Law conference on August 17, 2023. In addition, LSU Law alumni John Grand (2006) of Vinson & Elkins LLP and Charles Sartain (1976) of Gray Reed spoke at the conference. Grand spoke on Merger & Acquisition Trends and Sartain provided Case Law updates.


July 2023

Professor speaks on carbon capture and storage at conference in Salt Lake City

Professor Keith Hall spoke on the topic “Drafting and Negotiating Instruments to Acquire Pore Space Rights for CCS” at the 69th Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute on July 20, 2023, in Salt Lake City. The Annual Institute and 730 registrants.

LSU Law professor, student, and alums participate in energy law conference

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Recent Developments in Louisiana Oil and Gas Law” at an Oil & Gas Practitioners Lunch sponsored by the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the American petroleum Institute on July 20, 2023. The lunch was held in conjunction with the 69th Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute in Salt Lake City. In addition, Professor Hall represented LSU at the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s Annual Board of Trustees meeting on July 19, 2023, and he participated in an academic workshop held on the afternoon of July 22, 22023 at the University of Utah School of Law. Both the Trustees meeting and the academic workshop were held as part of the 69th Annual Institute. An LSU Law Center student also attended the Annual Institute. In addition, Michael Brassett, a 2008 graduate of LSU Law Center and a member of the firm Bradley Murchison, also spoke at the conference, providing a case law update, and other LSU alums participated.


June 2023

Professor appointed to Carbon Capture and Sequestration Task Force

Professor Keith Hall, Director of the Energy Law Center, was appointed to the Task Force on Local Impacts of Carbon Capture and Sequestration, which was created by Senate Resolution No. 179 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Senate Resolution No. 179 was authored by Senator Heather Cloud.

Professor testifies on carbon capture and storage

Professor Keith Hall testified on June 22, 2023 at the U.S. EPA’s public hearing on the State of Louisiana’s application for primacy to regulate Class VI underground injection control wells that will be used for carbon capture and storage.

Professor and six LSU Law students attend energy conference

Professor Keith Hall and six LSU Law students attended the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Annual Institute on June 18-20, 2023, in Charleston, South Carolina. The students were Chancellor Crawford, Val Dykes, Amanda Johnson, Dean Jolly, Portia Oduro, and Oluwafoyinsola Owolabi. While at the conference, Professor Hall also attended the annual meeting of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Professor Keith Hall and four of the six LSU Law students who attended the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s 44th Annual Institute. From left to right: Dean Jolly, Keith Hall, Portia Oduro, Val Dykes, and Oluwafoyinsola Owolabi.

Professional Landmen Association of New Orleans grants scholarship to LSU Law student

The Professional Landmen Association of New Orleans (PLANO) recently awarded a scholarship to LSU Law student Harlee Connell for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship was announced at PLANO’s annual Awards Lunch on Monday, June 12, 2023, at Ralph’s on the Park restaurant in New Orleans. Professor Keith Hall attended and was asked to say a few words after the scholarship award was announced. Professor Hall stated, “You all picked a great student to receive this scholarship. Harlee would liked to have been here, but she is working this summer in Midland. She is there as an intern in Chevron’s land management department, so you can be sure not only that she is interested in the energy field, but also in land management. On behalf of Harlee and the LSU Energy Law Center, I want to thank PLANO for making this scholarship program available to LSU Law school students.”

PLANO is a non-profit organization founded in 1953 to provide continuing education and networking opportunities to professionals involved in the oil and gas and other energy industries, particularly individuals “engaged in the negotiation, acquisition, processing, maintenance and administration of any contractual agreement involving land title.” PLANO has sponsored a scholarship program for the past several years. Prior to this year, the scholarship program was primarily for students majoring in petroleum land management, and law students were not eligible. PLANO opened its scholarship program to law students for the first time this year.

Professor publishes article on carbon capture and storage

Professor Keith Hall’s article, Reconciling Property Rights with Carbon Capture and Storage, was published recently in the Belmont Law Review, Volume 10, pp. 382-420. A PDF of the article is available here. This is one of two articles that Professor Hall has published this year on carbon capture and storage, or CCS, which is sometimes also referred to as “carbon capture, utilization, and storage,” or CCUS.


May 2023

Seventeen LSU students earn the Graduate Certificate in Energy Law and Policy in 2023

The following seventeen students were awarded the Graduate Certificate in Energy Law and Policy at LSU Law Center’s commencement exercise on May 20, 2023. To earn the Certificate, the students took at least sixteen credit hours of courses related to energy law, wrote a research paper on a legal issue relating to energy law, and participated in at least fourteen hours of applied learning activities related to energy law.

James Anderson William Eunice Catherine Hunt Ryan Morrison David Storment
Lea Daigle Olivia Graham Amanda Johnson John Newman
Adriana Deras Manning Greene Brett Landry Damian Olvera
Austin Dooyema Marin Hansen Olivia Maynard Seth Pohlmann

Professor Keith Hall poses after graduation with Portia Oduro, an LLM student from Ghana who participated in Energy Center activities.

Professor testifies regarding carbon capture and storage

Professor Keith Hall provided testimony to the Louisiana Legislature’s House Natural Resources and Environmental Committee on May 2, 2023, regarding two bills relating to carbon capture and storage.


April 2023

LSU Law Center hosts panel discussion on methane mitigation

The John P. Laborde Energy Law Center and the Environmental Defense Fund co-hosted a panel discussion on “Methane Mitigation” at LSU Law Center on April 5, 2023. Speakers and panelists included Charles Sutcliffe, Chief Resilience Officer in the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities; Isaac Brown, Director of the Center for Methane Emissions Solutions; Audrey Mascarenhas, CEO of Questor, a clean combustion technology company; Elizabeth Lieberknecht, Regulatory and Legislative Manager, Midcontinent for the Environmental Defense Fund; and Professor Keith Hall of the LSU Law Center. Representatives from state government, industry, and non-governmental organizations attended, as did several LSU Law students.

Five panelists sit at the front of the room with a microphone.

From left to right, panelists Elizabeth Lieberknecht, Isaac Brown, Audrey Mascarenhas, Danny Johns, and Professor Keith Hall speak on the topic of methane mitigation.

A classroom full of adults listening to someone who is standing up.

Students, government officials, non-governmental organization members, and industry professionals lunch and listen to the panelists.

Professor presents journal article in New York

On April 4, 2023, Professor Nick Bryner gave a presentation at the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law Symposium in New York. The presentation was based on an article he co-wrote with Victor Flatt of the University of Houston, titled “Rotting Under the Bridge—How False Data is Polluting Administrative Rulemaking.” The article has just been published by the journal and is available here.

A photo of two professors

Prof. Bryner with Prof. Sonya Ziaja, University of Baltimore School of Law, who provided commentary on the article at the symposium.

Professor speaks at oil & gas conference in Houston

Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Oil & Gas Lease Implied Covenants” at the Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Conference, which was hosted by the University of Texas Law School on April 13, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Professor testifies regarding renewable energy leases

Professor Keith Hall testified before the Louisiana Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 27, 2023, regarding a bill that proposes to codify rules for renewable energy leases.


March 2023

Professor participates in environmental justice workshop

Professor Keith Hall participated in a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)/LSU Environmental Justice Workshop on March 29, 2023. Most of the participants were BOEM social scientists and LSU professors from various departments, though the participants also included a few individuals from outside BOEM and LSU.

Task Force provides input to Legislature regarding renewable energy

LSU Law Professor Keith Hall chaired the Emerging Energy Codification Task Force, a group established by a resolution of the Louisiana State Senate to provide recommendations to the Louisiana Legislature regarding possible legislation on emerging new energy industries. The Task Force held its most recent meeting on March 21, 2023, when it gave input to the Senate on potential legislation.

LSU’s 70th Annual Mineral Law Institute held in Baton Rouge

LSU held its 70th Annual Mineral Law Institute on March 23 and 24, 2023 in Baton Rouge. The program included presentations on recent developments in oil and gas law, acquisition of royalty damages, pipeline issues, implied obligations in oil and gas leases, potential conflicts between mineral development and carbon capture and storage projects, the accommodation doctrine, amendments to Louisiana’s risk-charge statute, recent developments in offshore oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico, an update on legacy oilfield contamination litigation, property mineral rights in riparian lands, and recent developments relating to carbon capture and storage projects in Louisiana.

LSU’s Annual Mineral Law Institute is the oldest annual mineral law conference in the United States and the second oldest annual conference relating to energy law issues. Professor Keith Hall, Director of the Mineral Law Institute, reported that attendance was back to pre-COVID levels, with more than 170 individuals registering for one or both days of the Annual Institute.

Chief Judge John Michael Guidry

Chief Judge John Michael Guidry of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal speaks on the topic of Professionalism at the 70th Annual Mineral Law Institute.

A full audience listens to one of the guest speakers at the 70th Annual Mineral Law Institute.

Attendees listen to a lecture at the 70th Annual Mineral Law Institute.

LSU Law students attend environmental law conference

Three LSU Law Center students attended the Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law’s two-day “National Environmental Policy Act” conference on March 16-17, 2023, at the historic Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.


February 2023

LSU Law professor and students attend conference in Houston

Professor Keith Hall and two LSU Law Center students attended the Institute for Energy Law’s 74th Annual Energy Law Conference. The Conference included presentations on carbon capture and storage, offshore wind agreements, LNG, energy security, oil and gas master service agreements, oil and gas lien statutes, trends in energy industry acquisitions and divestitures, greenwashing claims, hydrogen, nuclear power, carbon markets, and the role of private equity in the energy transition.

IEL’s event is the oldest annual energy law conference in the U.S. and one of the premier energy law events each year. It is a few years older than LSU’s own Annual Mineral Law Institute, which is the second oldest energy law conference in the country and the oldest energy conference to focus on oil and gas law; LSU’s Mineral Law Institute will host its 70th Annual Institute on March 23-24, 2023.

Professor Hall and two law students at conference

Foyin Owolabi, Professor Hall, and Portia Oduro at the IEL conference in Houston.


January 2023

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources hosts symposium

The LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources held an online symposium entitled “Congressional Action in the Energy Transition” on January 27, 2023. The symposium’s speakers addressed recent developments relating to offshore oil and gas leasing, offshore wind development, carbon capture and storage, and environmental social governance (ESG) issues. Professor Keith Hall spoke on “The Intersection Between Property Rights and Carbon Capture and Storage.”

LSU Law school student attends oil and gas law transaction conference

An LSU Law school student attended the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s two day Oil & Gas Mergers and Acquisitions Conference in Houston, Texas on January 19-20, 2023, with travel support funds from the Laborde Energy Law Center.