North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 43 - Industrial Commission
Article 43-02 - Mineral Exploration and Development
Chapter 43-02-03 - Oil and Gas Conservation
Section 43-02-03-25 - Deviation tests and directional surveys

When any well is drilled or deepened, tests to determine the deviation from the vertical shall be taken at least every one thousand feet [304.8 meters]. The director is authorized to waive the deviation test for a shallow gas well if the necessity therefor can be demonstrated to the director's satisfaction. When the deviation from the vertical exceeds five degrees at any point, the director may require that the hole be straightened. Directional surveys may be required by the director, whenever, in the director's judgment, the location of the bottom of the well is in doubt.

A directional survey shall be made and filed with the director on any well utilizing a whipstock or any method of deviating the well bore. The obligation to run the directional survey may be waived by the director when a well bore is deviated to sidetrack junk in the hole, straighten a crooked hole, control a blowout, or if the necessity therefor can be demonstrated to the director's satisfaction. The survey contractor shall file with the director free of charge one certified electronic copy of all surveys, in a form approved by the director, within thirty days of attaining total depth. Such survey shall be in reference to true north. The director may require the directional survey to be filed immediately after completion if the survey is needed to conduct the operation of the director's office in a timely manner. Special permits may be obtained to drill directionally in a predetermined direction as provided above, from the director.

If the director denies a request for a permit to directionally drill, the director shall advise the applicant immediately of the reasons for denial. The decision of the director may be appealed to the commission.

General Authority: NDCC 38-08-04

Law Implemented: NDCC 38-08-04