Exhibit 10.2
(4/1/07)
MINERAL LEASE NO.
ML 50921
GRANT: SCH 2132.25
Deaf: 40
AMENDED AND
RESTATED
UTAH STATE MINERAL LEASE
FORM
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
LEASE
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED MINING
LEASE AND AGREEMENT (the “Lease”) is entered into and
is effective as of July 1, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”) by and between the STATE OF UTAH, acting by and
through the SCHOOL AND INSTITUTIONAL TRUST LANDS ADMINISTRATION,
675 East 500 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
(“Lessor”), and
RASER TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.
5152 NORTH EDGEWOOD DR., SUITE
375
PROVO, UTAH 84604
having a business address as shown
above (“Lessee”).
WITNESSETH:
That the State of Utah, as Lessor,
in consideration of the rentals, royalties, and other financial
consideration paid or required to be paid by Lessee, and the
covenants of Lessee set forth below, does hereby GRANT AND LEASE to
Lessee the exclusive right and privilege to explore for, drill for,
produce, remove, extract, store, utilize, treat, process, convert,
reinject, and sell, geothermal energy resources, as defined in
Paragraph 1.1, located within the boundaries of the
following-described tracts of land (the “Leased
Premises”) located in Beaver and Iron Counties, State of
Utah:
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Township 30
South, Range 12 W, SLB&M
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Section 34:
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Lots 1(39.87),
2(39.60), 3(39.48), 4(40.38), 5(39.86), 6(39.75), 7(39.60),
8(39.87), 9(40.12), 10(40.36), 11(40.36), 12(40.12), SW
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/ 4
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Section 36:
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Lots 1(35.29),
2(35.30), 3(36.38), 4(38.71), W 1 / 2
E 1 / 2
, W 1 / 2
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Township 31
South, Range 12 West, SLB&M
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Section 2:
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Lots 1(56.84),
2(56.82), 3(56.78), 4(56.76), 5(40.00), 6(40.00), 7(40.00),
8(40.00), 9(40.00), 10(40.00), 11(40.00), 12(40.00), S
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/ 2
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Township 36
South, Range 15 West, SLB&M
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Section 27:
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SE
1
/ 4 SE
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/ 4
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Containing 2172.25 acres, more or
less.
Together with the right and
privilege to make use of the surface and subsurface of the Leased
Premises for uses reasonably incident to the production of leased
substances by Lessee on the Leased Premises or on other lands under
the control of Lessee or produced in connection with operations on
the Leased Premises, including, but not limited to roads,
pipelines, utility and power lines, geothermal
Geothermal Energy Lease 4/1/07
Page No. 2
power generation facilities and other structures
and improvements and other purposes incident to development of the
leased substance; and the mitigation, restoration and reclamation
of the surface. This Mining Lease and Agreement is subject to, and
Lessee hereby agrees to and accepts, the following covenants,
terms, and conditions.
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1.1
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Geothermal
Energy Resources.
Geothermal energy resources leased under this Mining Lease and
Agreement (collectively “leased substances”) are :
(a) thermal energy in the form of hot water, brine, steam,
steam condensates, or by-products thereof, including minerals in
the hot water; (b) electrical and other energy derived,
generated or manufactured from water, brine, steam, or steam
condensates derived or obtained from geothermal energy resources;
and (c) byproducts obtained in the course of producing
geothermal energy resources
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1.2
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Discovery of
Other Minerals. This
mineral lease grants Lessee the right, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, to extract the leased substances. In
the event that minerals or materials other than the leased
substances are discovered during lease operations, Lessee shall
promptly notify the Lessor and shall not further disturb or remove
the other minerals or materials without Lessor’s written
permission. Upon notifying Lessor of such discovery the Lessee
shall have preference in making application to the Lessor for a
lease or permit covering the unleased minerals or materials that
are discovered.
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1.3
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No Warranty
of Title; Mineral Ownership under Severed Surface
. Lessor claims title to the
mineral estate covered by this Lease. Lessor does not warrant title
nor represent that no one will dispute the title asserted by
Lessor. It is expressly agreed that Lessor shall not be liable to
Lessee or any third party for any alleged deficiency in title to
the mineral estate, nor shall Lessee become entitled to any refund
for any rentals, bonuses, or royalties paid under this Lease in the
event of title failure except as provided in this paragraph 1.3.
Lessor claims that geothermal energy resources are within the scope
of the reservation of minerals to the State of Utah made when the
State conveys or otherwise disposes of the surface estate of state
trust lands. In the event that Lessor has sold or otherwise
disposed of the surface estate of all or a portion of the Leased
Premises, and a surface owner obtains a final judgment establishing
its ownership of geothermal energy resources within or under such
split estate lands, Lessor shall refund or interplead that portion
of any royalties paid by Lessee for substances determined not to be
part of the mineral estate, and this Lease will automatically
terminate as to lands in which Lessor has been adjudicated to have
no interest in geothermal energy resources. Under no conditions
will any rental or bonus paid by the Lessee to the Lessor be
refunded.
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2.
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RESERVATIONS
TO LESSOR . Subject to
the exclusive rights and privileges granted to Lessee under this
Lease, and further provided that Lessor shall refrain from taking
actions with respect to the Leased Premises that may unreasonably
interfere with Lessee’s operations, Lessor hereby excepts and
reserves from the operation of this Lease the following rights and
privileges (to the extent that Lessor has the right to grant such
rights and privileges):
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2.1
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Rights-of-Way and Easements
. Lessor reserves the right,
following consultation with the Lessee, to establish rights-of-way
and easements upon, through or over the Leased Premises, under
terms and conditions that will not unreasonably interfere with
operations under this Lease, for roads, pipelines, electric
transmission lines, transportation and utility corridors, mineral
access, and any other purpose deemed reasonably necessary by
Lessor.
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Geothermal Energy Lease 4/1/07
Page No. 3
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2.2
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Other
Mineral Leases . Lessor
reserves the right to enter into mineral leases and agreements with
third parties covering minerals other than the leased substances,
under terms and conditions that will not unreasonably interfere
with operations under this Lease in accordance with Lessor’s
regulations, if any, governing multiple mineral
development.
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2.3
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Use and
Disposal of Surface . To
the extent that Lessor owns the surface estate of the Leased
Premises and subject to the rights granted to the Lessee pursuant
to this Lease, Lessor reserves the right to use, lease, sell, or
otherwise dispose of the surface estate or any part thereof
, provided that any such actions will not unreasonably
interfere with operations under this Lease. Lessor shall notify
Lessee of any such sale, lease, or other disposition of the surface
estate.
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2.4
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Rights Not
Expressly Granted .
Lessor further reserves all rights and privileges of every kind and
nature, except as specifically granted in this Lease, provided that
any actions under such reservations will not unreasonably interfere
with operations under this Lease.
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3.
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TERM OF
LEASE; MINIMUM ROYALTIES; READJUSTMENT .
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3.1
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Primary
Term . This Lease is
granted for a “primary term” of 10 years from
the Effective Date.
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3.2
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Extension
Beyond Primary Term By Production . Subject to Lessee’s compliance with the
other provisions of this Lease, this Lease shall remain in effect
beyond the primary term so long as leased substances are being
produced in sufficient commercial quantities as defined herein,
from the Leased Premises, or from lands constituting a geothermal
unit as approved by Lessor in its reasonable discretion. The phrase
“sufficient commercial quantities” as used herein,
means that the production of leased substances from the subsurface
geothermal estate of the leasehold is sufficient in quantity and
value to permit commercial sale for amounts sufficient to cover all
operating expenses accruing to the lessee for leasehold operations
for that lease year, including the payment of all taxes and the
payment of rentals and royalties accruing to the Lessor.
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3.3
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Extension
Beyond Primary Term By Diligent Development, Financial Investment
and Minimum Royalty . In
the absence of actual production in sufficient commercial
quantities as set forth in paragraph 3.2, Extension Beyond Primary
Term, this Lease shall remain in effect beyond the primary term
only if the Lessor finds in its reasonable discretion, taking into
account the interests of the trust beneficiaries, that Lessee is
engaged in diligent operations, exploration or development
activity, as well as making a substantial financial investment,
which activities and investments will advance development or
production of leased substances from the Leased Premises or lands
constituting a logical geothermal unit as approved by the Director
which includes the Leased Premises, and Lessee pays the annual
minimum royalty set forth in Paragraph 3.4, Minimum Royalty, in
advance, on or before the anniversary date of the date first
written hereinabove.
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3.4
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Minimum
Royalty . Commencing with
the eleventh lease year of this lease Lessee shall pay Lessor an
annual minimum royalty, in advance, on or before the Effective Date
and each anniversary thereof. The advance annual minimum royalty
shall be in the amount of $5.00 per acre. Lessee may credit each
lease-year’s minimum royalty payment against actual
production royalties accruing during that lease year, but such
credit shall not carry over beyond the lease year in which the
advance royalty was paid. Minimum royalties may not be credited
against the annual rentals or bonus bids.
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3.5
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Expiration; Cessation of
Production . This Lease
may not be extended pursuant to paragraph 3.3, Diligent
Operations,
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Geothermal Energy Lease 4/1/07
Page No. 4
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beyond the end of the twentieth year
after the Effective Date except by the actual production of leased
substances in sufficient commercial quantities from the Leased
Premises or from lands constituting an approved unit or other
cooperative development arrangement which includes the Leased
Premises, or except by suspension of the Lease pursuant to Article
17.3, unless otherwise specifically approved in writing by the
Director of the Trust Lands Administration taking into account the
interest of the trust beneficiaries. After expiration of the
primary term, this Lease will expire of its own terms, without the
necessity of any notice or action by Lessor, if: (a) Lessee
fails to produce leased substances in sufficient commercial
quantities in accordance with Article 3.2; (b) Lessee ceases
to engage in diligent exploration, development, or operations or
fails to pay annual advance minimum royalties in accordance with
Paragraph 3.4; or, (c) Lessor fails to make a written
determination that it is in the interest of the trust beneficiaries
to extend this lease.
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3.6
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Readjustment
Option . At the end of
twenty (20) years, if this Lease is still in effect, and at
the end of each ten (10) year period thereafter (the
“Readjustment Period”), Lessor may exercise its option
to readjust the terms and conditions of this Lease, to obtain
market value return to the Lessor, (including, without limitation:
rental rates, minimum royalties, royalty rates, valuation methods,
and provisions concerning reclamation). Notice of intent to
exercise the right to readjust is timely given by Lessor if mailed
prior to the end of the Readjustment Period to the last address set
forth for Lessee in Lessor’s files. Lessor shall have up to
one year after exercising its option to readjust to review and
communicate in writing the final readjusted terms of the lease. If
within thirty (30) days after submission of the readjusted
lease terms to the Lessee, the Lessee determines that any or all of
the proposed readjusted terms and conditions are unreasonable, then
Lessee shall so notify Lessor in writing and the parties ,
acting reasonably, shall attempt to resolve the objectionable term
or condition. If the parties are unable , acting reasonably,
to resolve the matter and agree upon the readjusted terms and
conditions as submitted by Lessor at the end of the Readjustment
Period, Lessee shall forfeit any right to the continued extension
of this lease, and the lease shall automatically terminate,
provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude Lessee
from appealing any readjustment by Lessor pursuant to applicable
law.
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4.
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BONUS
BID . Lessee agrees to
pay Lessor an initial bonus bid in the sum of
$ n/a dollars
as partial consideration for Lessor’s issuance of this Lease,
payable in cash prior to execution of this lease. The initial bonus
bid may not be credited against annual rentals, annual minimum
royalties or production royalties accruing pursuant to this
lease.
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5.
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RENTALS/MINIMUM RENTALS . Lessee agrees to pay Lessor an annual rental
of $1.00 for each acre and fractional part thereof within the
Leased Premises; provided however, the minimum annual rental
required by this lease shall be $500.00 irrespective of acreage.
Lessee shall promptly pay annual rentals each year in advance on or
before the anniversary date of the Effective Date. The rental
payment for a mineral lease year may be credited against production
royalties only as they accrue for that lease year. The Lessee may
not credit rentals paid for one lease year against production
royalties accruing to another lease year. Rental payments may not
be credited against minimum royalties or bonus bids accruing to any
lease year.
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6.1
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Production
Royalties . Lessee shall
pay Lessor a production royalty out of gross proceeds, as defined
in 30 C.F.R. § 206.351 (2007), received by Lessee from the
sale of Leased Substances produced from the Leased Premises, or
allocated to the Leased Premises if all or a portion are unitized
pursuant to Paragraph 13.6, as follows:
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(a) Power Generation . If
Lessee utilizes geothermal resources from the Leased Premises to
generate and sell electric power, the royalty shall be equal to two
and one-quarter per cent (2.25 %) of the gross proceeds, as defined
in 30 C.F.R. § 206.351 (2007), of the sale of electric power
for the first five years of the lease term, and three and one-half
per cent (3.5 %) thereafter, subject to Lessor’s future
readjustment rights under Paragraph 3.6.
Geothermal Energy Lease 4/1/07
Page No. 5
(b) Direct Sale or Use . If
Lessee sells or uses geothermal resources directly in the form of
geothermal heat, steam or liquids, the royalty shall be equal to
ten per cent (10.0 %) of the net proceeds or value of the sale or
use, subject to Lessor’s future readjustment rights under
Paragraph 3.6.
(c) Sale of Byproducts . If
Lessee treats or processes any geothermal resources from the Leased
Premises to extract or manufacture therefrom any byproducts, as
defined in 30 C.F.R. § 206.351 (2007), and sells such
byproducts, the royalty shall be equal to five per cent (5.0 %) of
the net proceeds of the sale, subject to Lessor’s future
readjustment rights under Paragraph 3.6.
(d) Pro-Rata Adjustment for
Cooperative Development Arrangement . In the event that a
cooperative development arrangement commingles leased substances
from the Premises or a portion of the Premises with leased
substances from other Federal or private lands, Lessee shall meter,
gauge, or measure, according to prudent and prevalent industry
standards, all production from wells supplying any geothermal
generating facility within the cooperative development arrangement,
and compute and pay Lessor’s proportionate Production Royalty
attributable to the Premises on the proportionate basis in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.
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6.2
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Non-Arms
Length Transactions .
Upon any transfer, sale, or other conveyance of leased substances
by other than an arms-length contract, as defined in 30 C.F.R.
§ 206.351 (2007), Lessee shall promptly notify Lessor of such
non-arms-length transfer, sale or other conveyance. Lessor may then
determine the value of the leased substances for royalty purposes,
taking into account market prices for electricity generated from
similar projects, the value of production reported from other
geothermal leases, and other economic data deemed pertinent by
Lessor.
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6.3
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No
Deductions . It is
expressly understood and agreed that none of Lessee’s
production or processing costs including, but not limited to, costs
for materials, labor, overhead, distribution, processing, or
general and administrative activities, may be deducted in computing
Lessor’s royalty. All such costs shall be entirely borne by
Lessee and are anticipated by the rate of royalty set forth in this
Lease.
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6.4
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Royalty
Payment . For all leased
substances that are sold during a particular month, Lessee shall
pay royalties to Lessor on or before the end of the next succeeding
month. Royalty payments shall be accompanied by a verified
statement, in a form approved by Lessor, stating the amount of
leased substances sold, the gross proceeds accruing to Lessee, and
any other information reasonably required by Lessor to verify
production and disposition of the leased substances or leased
substances products. Delinquent royalties may be subject to late
fees and penalties in accordance with Lessor’s
Rules.
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6.5
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Suspension,
Waiver or Reduction of Rents or Royalties . Lessor, to the extent not prohibited by
applicable law, is authorized to waive, suspend, or reduce the
rental or minimum royalty, or reduce the royalty applicable with
respect to the entire Lease, whenever in Lessor’s sole
judgment it is necessary to do so in order to promote development,
or whenever in the Lessor’s sole judgment the Lease cannot be
successfully operated under the terms provided herein and continued
operations are in the trust land beneficiaries best
interest.
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Geothermal Energy Lease 4/1/07
Page No. 6
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6.6.
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Internal
Use . Lessee may use,
free of royalty, any leased substances, including without
limitation geothermal resources and electric power, reasonably
necessary for operations on the Leased Premises or lands within a
unit approved pursuant to Paragraph 13.6, or unavoidably lost
during operations.
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7.
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RECORDKEEPING; INSPECTION; AUDITS
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7.1
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Registered
Agent; Records . Lessee
shall maintain a registered agent within the State of Utah to whom
any and all notices may be sent by Lessor and upon whom process may
be served. Lessee shall also maintain an office within the State of
Utah containing originals or copies of all maps, engineering data,
permitting materials, books, records or contracts (whether such
documents are in paper or electronic form) generated by Lessee that
pertain in any way to leased substances production, output and
valuation; mine operations; assays; processing returns; leased
substances sales and dispositions; and calculation of royalties.
Lessee shall maintain such documents for at least seven years after
the date of the leased substances production to which the documents
pertain.
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7.2
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Inspection . Lessor’s employees and authorized agents
at Lessor’s sole risk and expense shall have the right to
enter the Leased Premises, to go on any part of the Leased Premises
to examine, inspect, survey and take measurements for the purposes
of verifying production amounts and proper lease operations. Upon
reasonable notice to Lessee, Lessor’s employees and
authorized agents shall further have the right to audit, examine
and copy (at Lessor’s expense) all documents described in
paragraph 7.1, Registered Agent; Records, whether such documents
are located on the leased premises or elsewhere. Lessee shall
furnish all conveniences necessary for said inspection, survey, or
examination; provided, however, that such inspections shall be
conducted in a manner that is in conformance with all applicable
safety regulations and does not unreasonably interfere with
Lessee’s operations.
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7.3
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Geologic
Information . In the
event Lessee conducts core-drilling operations or other geologic
evaluation of the Leased Premises, Lessor may inspect core samples,
evaluations thereof, and proprietary geologic info
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