November 1, 2023

XTO Energy Inc. has agreed to pay $16 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act.  In exchange for producing natural gas on federal and Native American lands, XTO was supposed to put the gas in marketable condition and pay royalties on the value of the gas produced.  However, over an 8 year period, XTO improperly deducted the costs of transporting carbon dioxide.  With this settlement, the Department of Interior has now recovered $25 million from energy companies who similarly withheld required royalties from the government.  DOJ

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Programs Fraud,