Sunray Mid-Continent Oil Co. v. Tisdale, 366 P.2d 614 (Okl. 1961). See also: Salmon Corporation v. Forest Oil Corporation, 536 P.2d 909 (Okl. 1974). Thus, just as the trial court found, the Oklahoma authorities above cited, when considered in the light of the facts reflected in the record before us, fully support these conclusions: that all operators are responsible for proper plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells for the protection of the surface and sub-surface strata; that cessation of production with no intent to continue operations evidences abandonment; that Mobil was the owner and operator of the wells on the Gannon lease when Geyer's rights expired under his partial assignment contract and that Mobil was, as such owner and operator, obligated by law to plug the wells.

Thus, approval of the various transfers by the DNR does not extinguish liability of the previous operator for a duty arising during its tenure. See Salmon Corp. v. Forest Oil Corp. (1974), Okla., 536 P.2d 909; Loriaux v. Corporation Commission (1973), Okla., 514 P.2d 941. Therefore, upon approval of the transfer from Crystal Oil to Midwest Oil, Midwest Oil became responsible on its bond for compliance with IC 13-8-10-1.