West Virginia Code 22-7-2 – Definitions
(a) In this article, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 22-7-2
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
- Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(1) “Agricultural production” means the production of any growing grass or crop attached to the surface of the land, whether or not the grass or crop is to be sold commercially, and the production of any farm animals, whether or not the animals are to be sold commercially;
(2) “Drilling operations” means the actual drilling or redrilling of an oil or gas well commenced subsequent to June 9, 1983, and the related preparation of the drilling site and access road, which requires entry, upon the surface estate;
(3) “Oil and gas developer” means the person who secures the drilling permit required by article six of this chapter;
(4) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, firm, partnership, partnership association, venture, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary or other representative of any kind, and includes any government or any political subdivision or agency thereof;
(5) “Surface estate” means an estate in or ownership of the surface of a particular tract of land overlying the oil or gas leasehold being developed; and
(6) “Surface owner” means a person who owns an estate in fee in the surface of land, either solely or as a coowner.