Ohio Administrative Code
Title 1501:9 - Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas
Chapter 1501:9-1 - Oil Well Drilling
Section 1501:9-1-04 - Spacing of oil and gas wells
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 1501:9-1-04
Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) General spacing rules:
(1) The division of
oil and
gas resources management shall not issue a permit for the drilling of a
new well, the reopening of an existing well, or the deepening or plugging back
of an existing well to a different pool for the production of oil and gas
unless the proposed well location and spacing conform to the requirements of this
rule.
(2) This rule shall not apply
to any wells drilled in areas under special order from the chief for pool
spacing pursuant to section
1509.25 of the Revised Code. The
chief shall grant an exception to the requirements of any special order from
the chief for pool spacing pursuant to section
1509.25 of the Revised Code, if
the chief determines that an applicant
demonstrates that such exception will protect correlative rights
and/or promote conservation by permitting oil and/ or gas to be produced which
could not otherwise be produced. The chief shall grant
or deny the application for an exception by order.
(3) Upon receipt of an application by the
division, the chief shall determine if the proposed depth is reasonable to penetrate the
objective geological formation or geological zone. If the chief determines that
the proposed depth is insufficient to
penetrate the proposed geological formation or zone and that, because of the
insufficient proposed depth, the
spacing and acreage requirements under paragraph (C) of this rule are not fulfilled, the permit shall be denied.
No well shall be
drilled deeper than the proposed total depth without prior permission from the
chief.
(4) A permit shall not be
issued unless the drilling unit or subject tract for
the proposed well satisfies the acreage requirements for the
anticipated deepest depth at which oil and gas will be
produced.
If oil or gas is produced at a lesser depth than the geological formation or
zone for which the permit was issued, the acreage requirements may be changed
to conform with paragraph (C) of this rule by submitting an application to the chief
for a revision.
(B) Scope:
Paragraph (C) of this rule applies to the drilling of a new well, the reopening of an existing well, and the deepening or plugging back of an existing well regardless of its depth or the producing geological formation or zone except in areas under temporary minimum well spacing orders of the chief pursuant to paragraph (D) of this rule or for wells subject to exceptions granted by the chief pursuant to paragraph (E) of this rule. All drilling units shall be compact and composed of contiguous land.
(C) Location of wells:
(1) No permit shall be issued to drill,
deepen, reopen, or plug back a well for the production of oil and gas from
a pool
from zero to one thousand feet in depth unless the proposed well is located:
(a) Upon a subject tract or drilling unit containing not less
than one acre;
(b) Not less than
two hundred feet from any well drilling to, producing from, or capable of
producing from the same pool; and
(c) Not less than one hundred feet from any
boundary of the subject tract or drilling unit.
(2) No permit shall be issued to drill,
deepen, reopen, or plug back a well for the production of oil or gas from
a pool
greater than one thousand feet in
depth to two thousand feet in depth unless the proposed well is located:
(a) Upon a subject tract or drilling unit containing not less
than five
acres;
(b) Not less than four
hundred sixty feet from any well drilling to, producing from, or capable of
producing from the same pool; and
(c) Not less than two hundred thirty feet
from any boundary of the subject tract or drilling unit.
(3) No permit shall be issued to drill,
deepen, reopen, or plug back a well for the production of oil or gas from
a pool
greater than two thousand feet in
depth to four thousand feet unless the proposed well is located:
(a) Upon a subject tract or drilling unit containing not less
than ten acres;
(b) Not less than six hundred feet from any
well drilling to, producing from, or capable of producing from the same pool;
and
(c) Not less than three hundred feet from any
boundary of the subject tract or drilling unit.
(4)
Except as
otherwise provided in paragraph (C)(6) of this rule, no permit shall be issued to drill, deepen, reopen,
or plug back a well for the production of the oil or gas from
a pool
greater than four thousand feet in
depth unless the proposed
well is located:
(a) Upon a
subject tract or drilling unit containing not
less than twenty acres;
(b) Not less than one thousand feet from any
well drilling to, producing from, or capable of producing from the same pool;
and
(c) Not less than five hundred feet from any
boundary of the subject tract or drilling unit.
(5)
The minimum
distance to any boundary of the drilling unit or subject tract for a well
drilled in which the well bore reaches a horizontal or near horizontal position
to any formation shall be determined from the take points along the
wellbore.
(6)
(a)
No permit shall be issued to drill, deepen, reopen or
plug back a horizontal well for the production of oil and gas unless all of the
following apply:
(i)
Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (C)(6)(a)(ii)
of this rule, the perpendicular distance from a take point is not less than
four hundred feet from any drilling unit or subject tract
boundary.
(ii)
The first and last take points are not less than one
hundred fifty feet from the drilling unit or subject tract boundary that is
approximately perpendicular to the well bore.
(b)
There is no
minimum distance required between horizontal wells within the subject tract.
However, if adverse communication between one or more horizontal wells occurs
in a subject tract, the chief by an order, may require an alternative treatment
plan or minimum distances between an existing horizontal well in that subject
tract and a new horizontal well in that subject tract or between all new
horizontal wells in that subject tract. If the owner of a horizontal well
determines that adverse communication has occurred, the owner shall notify the
division.
(7)
The distance from any take point of an as-drilled
horizontal well may deviate up to ten percent of the distances specified in
paragraph (C)(6)(a) of this rule to the nearest drilling unit or subject tract
boundary.
(8) Wells drilled, deepened, reopened,
or plugged back for purposes
other than the production of oil and gas will be considered as special
situations, and each will be evaluated in accordance with the issues of
conservation of natural resources and of safety. Decisions as to spacing of
such wells will be determined after evaluation of the special circumstances.
(D) Temporary minimum well spacing in the vicinity of discovery wells:
(1) For the
purpose of orderly development of a pool until such time as
final spacing is determined, the chief on the chief's own motion or upon consideration of an application by an owner in an affected area, and with approval of the technical advisory council, may order temporary well spacing for wells to be drilled, deepened, reopened or plugged back to a particular pool or field in an area in the vicinity of a discovery well. Such order shall contain the following:
(a)
A
description of the area covered by the
order;
(b)
An
identification of the pool, field or
geologic
formations covered by the order;
(c)
The
minimum distance wells may be drilled from the tract
or drilling unit boundaries;
(d)
The
minimum distance between wells;
(e)
The
minimum acreage for tracts or drilling units; and
(f)
The order may contain other requirements deemed
necessary by the chief to accomplish the purpose of paragraph (D) of this
rule.
(2) An order
of the chief for temporary minimum well spacing in the vicinity of a discovery
well shall be effective on the date the order is made and shall continue in
effect until it is either rescinded or amended by the chief or until such time
as an order for special drilling unit requirements is made by the chief after
hearing pursuant to section
1509.25 of the Revised
Code.
(3) No well shall be drilled,
deepened, reopened, or plugged back to or below the particular pool or field
located in the area covered by an order of the chief under paragraph (D) of
this rule unless the requirements of such order are satisfied. Permits
issued prior to the effective date of such order for wells to be located in the
area and to or below the pool covered by such order
that do not
comply with the requirements of the order and where actual drilling operations
have not commenced, shall be revoked.
(E) Offset wells - spacing exception:
(1) The chief shall grant an exception to the
requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule to an applicant who demonstrates
that the well proposed for production of oil or gas will be an offset to a well
drilled or commenced before the effective date of paragraph (C) of this rule,
and which is producing or may be capable of producing on an adjacent tract, and
that is
so located on said adjacent tract as not to comply with any one or more of the
requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule.
(2) The chief shall grant an exception to the
requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule if the chief
determines that
the applicant
demonstrates that such an exception will protect
correlative rights and/or promote conservation by permitting oil and gas to be
produced which could not otherwise be produced. The
chief shall grant or deny the application for an exception by
order.
(3) A well proposed to
be drilled pursuant to such exceptions shall, nevertheless, be subject to the
requirements of rule
1501:9-1-05 of the
Administrative Code.
(F) Revision of drilling units or subject tracts: Except as provided otherwise in Chapter 1509. of the Revised Code, the requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule, as applicable, apply to the revision of a drilling unit or subject tract.
Effective:
10/10/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:
7/19/2019 and
10/10/2024
Promulgated
Under: 119.03
Statutory
Authority: 1509.24,
1509.03,
1509.23.
Rule
Amplifies: 1509.02,
1509.23,
1509.24,
1509.03.
Prior
Effective Dates: 02/10/1971, 01/31/1983, 04/15/2004,
08/11/2005
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