The market value of lost income due to drilling operations is a compensation obligation of which party?

The market value of lost income due to drilling operations is indeed a compensation obligation of the oil and gas developer. This is because the oil and gas developer is responsible for the actions associated with drilling, which can disrupt or interfere with existing businesses or income-generating activities on the surface.

In many jurisdictions, including West Virginia, oil and gas developers are required to compensate for any financial losses incurred by surface owners as a direct result of their drilling activities. This can include loss of crops, interference with livestock, or even disruption to a business. The rationale behind this obligation is that the developer has the right to extract minerals from the land, but they also bear the responsibility for any economic harm that may occur as a result of their operations.

This obligation is part of the broader principle of mineral rights law, where the rights of mineral extraction must be balanced with the rights of surface landowners. Thus, the correct answer highlights the accountability of the developer in ensuring that any negative impacts on income due to their drilling activities are adequately compensated.