Ark. Code Ann. § 15-76-313: Operator

(a) The producer who either has incurred or shall incur the greater share or portion of the capital investment required under the plan of development and operation of the unit shall be designated by the Oil and Gas Commission as operator unless the producer refuses to serve as operator or agrees to the designation of another person to act in that capacity.

(b) The operator so designated shall receive payments of amounts due and owing from owners and shall cause disbursements of amounts due and owing with respect to unleased interests in the unit, including the annual royalty provided for in § 15-76-314 .

(c) Neither the order requiring operation of an area as a unit nor any other provision of this subchapter shall be construed as granting an operator any rights with respect to the surface of any tracts in a unit, nor does the subchapter deprive any landowner of any surface rights.