New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 16 - DRILLING AND PRODUCTION
Section 19.15.16.14 - DEVIATION TESTS AND WELLBORE SURVEYS; VERTICAL, DEVIATED AND DIRECTIONAL WELLS

(1) Deviation tests required. An operator shall test a vertical or deviated well that is drilled or deepened at reasonably frequent intervals to determine the deviation from the vertical. The operator shall make the tests at least once each 500 feet or at the first bit change succeeding 500 feet. The operator shall file with the division along with its form C-104 a tabulation of deviation tests run that is sworn to and notarized.

(2) Excessive deviation. When the deviation averages more than five degrees in a 500-foot interval, the operator shall include the calculations of the hole's maximum possible horizontal displacement. When the maximum possible horizontal displacement exceeds the distance to the appropriate unit's nearest outer boundary line the operator shall run a directional survey to establish the location of the well's completed interval.

(3) Unorthodox well locations. If the results of the directional survey of a vertical or deviated well indicate that the completed interval is more than 50 feet from the approved surface location and closer than the minimum setback requirements to the applicable unit's outer boundary, then the well is considered unorthodox. To obtain authority to produce the well, the operator shall file an application with the division's Santa Fe office, and shall follow the process outlined in Subsection C of 19.15.15.13 NMAC to obtain approval of the unorthodox well location.

(4) Directional survey requirements. Upon the director's request, the operator shall directionally survey a vertical or deviated well. The operator shall file directional surveys run on a well, in division-approved format, with the division upon the well's completion. The division shall not approve a form C-104 for the well until the operator has filed the directional surveys.

(1) Directional drilling. The appropriate division district office may grant a permit to directionally drill a well bore if every point of the completed interval is projected to be located at a distance greater than or equal to the minimum setback distance from the applicable spacing unit's outer boundaries or at an unorthodox well location the division previously approved.

(2) Unorthodox well locations. If all or part of a directional well's completed interval is projected to be located less than the minimum distance from the outer boundary of the well's spacing unit, the well's location is considered unorthodox. To obtain approval for the well's location, the operator shall file an application in the division's Santa Fe office in accordance with Subsection C of 19.15.15.13 NMAC.

(3) Directional surveys required. An operator shall run a directional survey on each well drilled pursuant to Subsection B of 19.15.16.14 NMAC. The operator shall file a directional survey, in division-approved format, with the division upon the well's completion. The division shall not approve a form C-104 for the well until the operator files the directional survey. The well's location will be considered unorthodox if the directional survey indicates that part of a well's completed interval, as drilled, is located more than 50 feet from its projected location and closer to an outer boundary of the spacing unit than applicable minimum setback distance. For previously approved unorthodox well locations, the well's as-drilled location is unorthodox if the directional survey indicates that any part of the completed interval is located more than 50 feet (or, if less, twenty-five percent of the previously authorized distance) closer to the outer boundary of the spacing unit than the approved location.