The Moncriefs lost the drilling rights, but they did get a $5 million settlement from the Egyptians.

The Richfield Oil Company of California had purchased the drilling rights to the land where the discovery well was located.

The oil industry and its allies persuaded the House leadership to agree to a vote on the Senate bill as the best chance to win new drilling rights.

The drilling rights were acquired in a package of oil and gas properties bought by Mr. Anderson after his retirement, for $180 million.

One of our companies has the inside track for the drilling rights.

As for the purchase of the drilling rights, Interior Department officials deny that politics played any role.

In 1982 thirty-three foreign oil companies submitted bids for offshore drilling rights; twenty-seven eventually signed contracts.

Suppose several petroleum firms are bidding on the drilling rights to a piece of tundra.

In the meantime, they had obtained exclusive offshore drilling rights.

Shell Oil has the biggest drilling rights in the fields.