Subject to reasonable limitations as set out in the plan of unitization, the unit shall have a first and prior lien for costs incurred pursuant to the plan of unitization upon the leasehold estate and other oil and gas rights, exclusive of a 1/8 share of gross production that is attributable to a lessor’s royalty interest, in and to each separately owned tract, and the interest of the owners thereof in and to the unit production and equipment in possession of the unit, in the form and manner as provided in Act No. 146 of the Public Acts of 1937, being section 570.251 to 570.266 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The interest of the person who by lease, contract, or otherwise is responsible for the cost of developing and operating a given portion of the unit area in the absence of unitization is primarily responsible for costs as allocated by the plan of unitization, and resort may be had to the entire 7/8 of gross production, including, but not limited to, overriding royalties, oil and gas payments, and royalty interests in excess of 1/8 of gross production but which would not otherwise be responsible for allocated costs, only if the person primarily responsible fails to pay the allocated costs pursuant to the unit plan. Persons whose allowable share of production is made secondarily responsible under this section to the extent that their interest is foreclosed are subrogated to all of the rights of the unit to the interest or interests primarily responsible.