OPINION
By the Court,
Warm Springs Development Company here appeals from a *195judgment declaring the express terms of a mineral lease enforceable, urging that an implied covenant should be read into the lease, to contradict its explicit provisions. We disagree.
On November 18, 1962, Henry Houck entered into a heat, fluid, and mineral lease with respondent, W. J. McAulay, for 80 acres in Humboldt County. The lease was for twenty years (until November 18, 1982), but provided for termination if McAulay failed either to drill a well by October 18, 1963, or to pay nominal rents to defer drilling.1
McAulay did no drilling, but paid $8 per year for the first ten years, and $20 for the eleventh year. Then appellant Warm Springs, successor in interest to Houck, sent McAulay a lease termination notice, and sought a declaration from the district court that McAulay has “no rights whatsoever in and to said [leased] premises by reason of [the] written agreement.” The district court held the lease valid and in full force until October 18, 1982, provided McAulay continued to make the specified payments. On appeal, Warm Springs contends the court should have, declared the lease forfeit because McAulay breached an implied covenant, i.e., to proceed diligently to develop the property within a reasonable time.
Many jurisdictions do indeed recognize implied covenants in oil, gas, and mineral leases; however, the majority refuse to imply a covenant of due diligence where it would directly contradict an express provision allowing delay in development upon payment of rent. See Skinner v. Ajax Portland Cement Co., 197 Pac. 875 (Kan. 1921); Kachelmacher v. Laird, 110 N.E. 933 (Ohio 1915); Central States Production Corp. v. Jordan, 86 P.2d 790 (Okl. 1939); Coats v. Brown, 301 S.W.2d 932 (Tex.Civ.App. 1957); see also Grooms v. Minton, 250 S.W. 543 (Ark. 1923); Hartman Ranch Co. v. Associated Oil Co., 73 P.2d 1163 (Cal. 1937); 2 Brown, The Law of Oil and Gas Leases, § 16.02, -16 — 15 (2nd ed. 1973). It appears only Kentucky and Indiana imply such a covenant where the lease contains an express “drill or pay rent” clause. Sec Monarch Oil, *196Gas and Coal Co. v. Richardson, 99 S.W. 668 (Ky.App. 1904), Brown, cited above; cf. New Harmony Realty Corp. v. Superior Oil Co., 31 N.E.2d 673 (Ind. 1941); Consumers’ Gas Trust Co. v. Littler, 70 N.E. 363 (Ind. 1904). This minority approach, which seeks to prevent speculation by lessees, appears “violative of all settled interpretation and construction of contracts, and an unjustifiable interference with the privilege and power to contract.” 2 Summers, Oil and Gas, § 397, 547 (1959).
Accordingly, we adopt the majority rule and refuse to imply a covenant of due diligence to defeat the express agreement of the parties. The decision of the district court is affirmed.
Batjer, C. J., and Mowbray, Thompson, and Manou-kian, JJ., concur