W. Va. Code § 37B-1-2: Declaration of public policy; legislative findings.

It is declared to be the public policy of this state and in the public interest to:

(1) Foster, encourage and promote exploration for and development, production, and conservation of oil, natural gas and their constituents;

(2) Prohibit waste of oil, natural gas, and their constituents and unnecessary surface loss of oil, natural gas, and their constituents;

(3) Encourage the maximum recovery of oil, natural gas, and their constituents;

(4) Safeguard, protect and enforce the correlative rights of operators and mineral owners in that each such operator and mineral owner may obtain his or her just and equitable share of production;

(5) Safeguard, protect and enforce the integrity of the passive royalty owner’s interest in his or her minerals.

(6) Safeguard, protect and enforce the rights of surface owners; and

(7) Protect and enforce the clear provisions of contracts lawfully made.