Exhibit 5.1
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600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
713.220.4200 Phone
713.220.4285 Fax
andrewskurth.com |
June 20, 2006
Board of Directors
ConocoPhillips
600 North Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas 77079
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to ConocoPhillips, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in
connection with the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the
“Registration Statement”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) on the date hereof, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Act”), filed by the Company and the Permian Basin Royalty Trust, an express trust created
under the laws of the State of Texas (the “Trust”). The Registration Statement relates to
the offering from time to time of up to 9,620,741 units of beneficial interest of the Trust (the
“Trust Units”) by the Company. All capitalized terms which are not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement.
In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined the Permian Basin Royalty Trust
Indenture dated November 3, 1980 (the “Indenture”), the Registration Statement, and the
originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such other instruments
and other certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and the
Trust and such other persons, and we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed
appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below. In rendering the opinion expressed below,
we have assumed and have not verified (i) the genuineness of the signatures on all documents that
we have examined, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents supplied to us as certified
or photostatic or faxed copies, (iii) the authenticity of the originals of such documents and (iv)
as to the forms of all documents in respect of which forms were filed with the Commission as
exhibits to the Registration Statement, the conformity in all material respects of such documents
to the forms thereof that we have examined. In conducting our examination of documents executed by
parties other than the Company, we have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or
other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due
authorization by all requisite action corporate or other, and the due execution and delivery by
such parties of such documents and that such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of
such parties.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, it is
our opinion that the Trust Units are legally issued and, when sold by the Company in the manner
contemplated by the Registration Statement, will continue to be legally issued and will be fully
paid and non-assessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the
prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement without admitting that we are “experts” under
the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part
of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit.
Board of Directors
ConocoPhillips
June 20, 2006
Page 2
This opinion speaks as of its date and we undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, duty to
advise as to changes of fact or law coming to our attention after the delivery hereof on such date.
For the purposes of the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at the time of the delivery
of the Trust Units (a) the Company and the Trust will be validly existing in good standing under
the laws of the States of Delaware and Texas, respectively, and there shall have occurred no change
in applicable law (statutory or decisional), rule or regulation, or in any other relevant fact or
circumstance, that (in any such case) would adversely affect our ability to render at such time an
opinion containing the same legal conclusions herein set forth and subject only to the same (or
fewer) assumptions, limitations and qualifications as are contained herein, and (b) at the time of
offering and sale by the Company of such Trust Units pursuant to the Registration Statement (i) the
Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have
become effective and no stop order shall have been issued in respect thereof, (ii) a Prospectus
Supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Trust Units offered
thereby, and (iii) all such Trust Units will have been issued and sold in compliance with
applicable United States federal and state securities laws and in the manner contemplated in the
Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
We express no opinion other than as to the federal laws of the United States and the Texas
Trust Code, in each case as in effect as of the date hereof. We do not express any opinion as to
the laws of any other jurisdiction. This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in connection
with the above matter and may not be relied upon in any manner by any other person or entity
without our express written consent.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Andrews Kurth LLP