For purposes of this part and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the terms listed below will have the following meaning:(1) 'Drilling operation' means the actual drilling or redrilling of an oil or gas well and the related preparation of the drilling site and access roads, which requires entry upon the surface estate;(2) 'Oil and gas developer' means the person who acquires the oil and gas estate by any legal means for the purpose of extracting therefrom oil or gas;(3) 'Person' means any natural person, corporation, firm, partnership, venture, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary or other representative of any kind, and includes any government or any political subdivision or agency thereof; and(4) 'Surface owner' means a person who owns an estate in fee in the surface of land overlying an oil and gas estate being developed, either solely or as a co-owner.Acts 1984, ch. 863, § 2.
Tennessee Legal Code