Illinois Code § 19.5

§ 19.5.

Any person who had no obligation to plug, replug or repair the well or restore the site of any well, but who does so under the provisions of this Act, including the Department under Section 19.6 of this Act, shall have a cause of action against the person or persons who by law were obligated to properly plug, replug or repair the well for the reasonable cost and expense incurred in plugging, replugging or repairing the well, and shall have a lien enforceable upon the interest of such obligated person or persons in and to the oil and gas rights in the land and equipment located thereon to the extent of such reasonable cost and expense. The lien created by this Section shall not, however, affect the rights of any purchaser, mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lien holder arising prior to the filing of a notice of such lien in the office of the recorder of the county in which the real estate on which the well is located is situated, or in the office of the registrar of titles of such county if that real estate is registered under "An Act concerning land titles" approved May 1, 1897, as amended; which notice shall definitely describe the real estate and property involved, the nature and extent of the lien claimed, and the facts upon which the same is based. In the case of orphan wells, the State of Illinois, by and through the Department, shall have a lien for all fees due and for all funds expended by the Department to plug, replug, repair or restore the site of the orphan well upon the interest of all owners and all the interest of the operator of the orphan well or wells for which such fees are due and unpaid or for which such funds are expended. The lien shall extend to the entire owners' and operator's interest in the wells and to all equipment used in connection with the operating of such wells as to the entire acreage included in the drilling unit or units. The lien created in the case of an orphan well shall be prior and superior to any mortgage or other lien except for the lien of local property taxes. The Oil and Gas Lien Act of 1989 shall apply and be applicable to the perfection and foreclosure of all liens under this Section. (Source: P.A. 87-744.)