In March 2016, Total E&P USA agreed to pay the city of Fort Worth, Texas, $6 million to settle claims that Total and Chesapeake Energy underpaid royalties to the city on natural gas leases. Chesapeake and Total operate several hundred gas wells in Fort Worth, from which the city is supposed to receive royalties of 25 percent to 27.5 percent of the natural gas sold or its market value, whichever is higher. The city alleged the companies underpaid royalties through the use of sham sales to affiliates and by improperly deducting production and transportation costs and other expenses. Total did not admit any liability in settling the lawsuit.