Fla. Court Says Well Developer Can't Walk Away Until Investor Repaid

PENSACOLA, Fla. - A Florida appeals court has sided with an investor that sued the operator of a saltwater disposal well for halting operations before the investment was repaid. Advent Oil & Operating Inc., et al. v. S&E Enterprises LLC, No. 1D10-56 (Fla. Ct. App., 1st Dist.).

The First District Court of Appeal said in its Oct. 7 opinion that a trial court did not err when it found the operator breached the parties' contract by constructing a well capable of producing the agreed-upon return, and then abandoning it.

At issue was a contract in which S&E Enterprises agreed to …