New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 20 - OIL PRORATION AND ALLOCATION
Section 19.15.20.12 - DEPTH BRACKET ALLOWABLES
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Subject to the market demand percentage factor determined pursuant to 19.15.20.10 NMAC, the daily oil allowable for each oil pool in the state shall equal the appropriate depth bracket allowable below. The depth of the casing shoe or the top perforation in the casing, whichever is higher, in the first well completed in the pool shall determine the pool's depth classification. Daily oil allowables for each of the several ranges of depth and spacing patterns are as follows, shown in barrels:
|
POOL DEPTH RANGE |
DEPTH BRACKET ALLOWABLE |
||
|
40 Acres |
80 Acres |
160 Acres |
|
|
0 to 4999 feet |
80 |
160 |
|
|
5000 to 5999 |
107 |
187 |
347 |
|
6000 to 6999 |
142 |
222 |
382 |
|
7000 to 7999 |
187 |
267 |
427 |
|
8000 to 8999 |
230 |
310 |
470 |
|
9000 to 9999 |
275 |
355 |
515 |
|
10,000 to 10,999 |
320 |
400 |
560 |
|
11,000 to 11,999 |
365 |
445 |
605 |
|
12,000 to 12,999 |
410 |
490 |
650 |
|
13,000 to 13,999 |
455 |
535 |
695 |
|
14,000 to 14,999 |
500 |
580 |
740 |
|
15,000 to 15,999 |
545 |
625 |
785 |
|
16,000 to 16,999 |
590 |
670 |
830 |
|
17,000 and deeper |
635 |
715 |
875 |
B. The 40-acre depth bracket allowables apply to all undesignated wells not governed by special pool orders and to all pools developed on the normal 40-acre statewide spacing unit.
C. The 80-acre and 160-acre depth bracket allowables apply to wells governed by applicable special pool orders the division issues as an exception to the normal 40-acre statewide spacing unit.
D. The division may, where deemed appropriate, assign to a given pool a special depth bracket allowable at variance to the depth bracket allowable normally assigned to a pool of similar depth and spacing. The special allowable may be more or less than the regular depth bracket allowable and shall be assigned only after notice and hearing.
E. In assigning a lesser than regular depth bracket allowable, the division may consider, among other pertinent factors, reservoir damage, casinghead gas production and disposition, water production and disposition, transportation facilities, the prevention of surface or underground waste and the protection of correlative rights.
F. The division shall assign a greater than regular depth bracket allowable only after sufficient reservoir information is available to ensure that the allowable can be produced without damage to the reservoir and without causing surface or underground waste. The division shall also consider the availability of oil transportation and marketing facilities; casinghead gas transportation, processing and marketing facilities; water disposal facilities; the protection of correlative rights; and other pertinent factors.
