Devon Energy Corp. has agreed to pay $3,492,463 to resolve allegations that a company it acquired in 1999–PennzEnergy, also known as Penzzoil Company–underpaid royalties on natural gas extracted on federal land.  According to the complaint, the company improperly deducted certain costs and excluded gas it used to power its fuel boosting compressors in calculating the royalties owed to the federal government.

The suit is one of several brought by now-deceased whistleblower Harold Wright.  As a result of Mr. Wright bringing these cases to the government’s attention, over $300 million has been recovered.

Read the entire article, “USDOJ: Devon Energy to Pay U.S. $3.5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Royalty Underpayments from Federal and Indian Lands”