In Oil Corp. v. Winsauer, 159 Tex. 560, 323 S.W.2d 944, 946, 2 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 266 (Tex. 1959), gas production ceased for 174 days due to a combination of litigation between the lessor and lessee and mechanical breakdowns. 323 S.W.2d at 945. Despite the fact that causes other than mechanical difficulties or sudden stoppages contributed to the cessation of production, this Court concluded that the royalty interest had not terminated. Id. at 948. Had we narrowly construed the TCOP doctrine, the term royalty interest would certainly have terminated. Although the gas obstruction would have qualified as a permissible mechanical difficulty, litigation would not have been an acceptable excuse for cessation under a strict approach to the TCOP doctrine, especially when litigation was the initial cause of the cessation.