[SoJoCo]

A better comparison is not taxes but Federal Royalty rates. The federal royalty rate for the infamous BP Macondo oil spill lease in the Gulf of Mexico was 18.75 percent.

But since that is a royalty and not a tax then I assume you don't have a problem with it?

[thackney]

All owners of minerals charge royalties to sell their oil or gas.

I don't understand why you think owners of minerals should give them away for free, regardless if that owner is a private individual or a government entity.

If the producer makes a mistake and wastes the oil rather than capturing it for production, I think they still should pay the royalty. The mineral was lost, the original owner no longer has it and should be paid for it.