NOTICE OF REQUEST TO RELEASE OIL AND GAS LEASE & INTENT TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT OF FORFEITURE
On June 19, 1964, Eastern Drilling, Inc., as "Lessee," entered into an oil and gas lease (the "Lease") with Arthur T. Donovan and Leila A. Donovan, as "Lessors." The leased property is approximately 107.64 acres with a postal address of 1723 S. Section Line Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, identified by the Delaware County Auditor as Parcel Nos. 41922001004001, 41922001004002, and 41922001004003 (hereinafter, the "Property").
The Lessors conveyed their interest in the Property to their company, Donovan Farms, Inc. ("DFI"), and DFI became the successor-in-interest to the Property as well as the successor lessor of the expired Lease.
As expressly stated in said Lease, the primary term of the Lease was six (6) months, but it could be extended if drilling occurred within the primary term. No drilling or production ever occurred on the Property, and there are no oil or gas wells (producing or abandoned) located on the Property. The Lease therefore expired by its own terms in 1965, and according to the Lease is terminated and void.
The purpose of this correspondence is to satisfy the requirements under Ohio Revised Code Section 5301.332 and to:
(i) request that the Lessee cause the Lease to be released of record with the Delaware, Ohio County Recorder within Thirty (30) days of receipt of this Notice and the release and termination of the Lease shall be indexed in the Official Records of Delaware County, Ohio; and
(ii) provide notice to the Lessee that DFI, the successor interest to the Property and successor Lessee, intends to file an Affidavit of Forfeiture of record with the Delaware, Ohio, County Recorder if the Lessee does not release the Lease as requested above.
Please be advised that unless the Lessee timely exercises its rights (if any) under R.C. 5301.332 to protect and preserve the expired Lease, DFI will complete the process to terminate the expired Lease, and the Lease shall be null and void. Failure to respond in timely manner will result in an impairment of rights.
Dated November 18, 2025
BY: SSP LAW CO., L.P.A.
Paul T. Saba, Esq., 2623 Erie Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208, (513) 533-2703
November 21, 28, December 5 2025
LWOO0410513