Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024
(1)
Any well intentionally deviated from the vertical must be surveyed at intervals
of at least 250 feet to determine the location of the borehole at those
intervals. Deviation from the vertical for short distances is permitted without
special permission to straighten the hole, sidetrack junk, or correct other
mechanical difficulties.
(2) Except
for the purpose of straightening the hole, sidetracking junk, or correcting
mechanical difficulties as provided in this rule, no well may be intentionally
deviated from the vertical unless the permittee files an application and
obtains a permit from the department.
(a)
Prior to drilling, an application to deviate a well may be approved as part of
the drilling permit.
(b) If
drilling is in progress, the permittee must notify the department immediately
of the deviation of the hole or of the intention to deviate the hole. When a
permittee follows this procedure, an application must be submitted as soon as
practicable to obtain a permit. The application for a permit to deviate the
hole is to be submitted to the department along with the appropriate fee
pursuant to ORS 520.017 and must include:
(A) Surface location in terms of distances
from lease and section boundaries, and plan coordinates of top of producing
interval and bottom of hole from surface location;
(B) Reason for deviation;
(C) If the proposed or final location of the
producing interval of the directionally deviated well is not in compliance with
the spacing or other rules applicable to the reservoir:
(i) List of affected mineral rights owners or
evidence that the applicant is the only affected mineral rights owner. For the
purposes of this rule, affected mineral rights owners are the mineral rights
owners in adjoining or cornering drilling or spacing units toward which the
well is to be deviated;
(ii) A plat
of the lease and of all affected leases showing the names of all affected
mineral rights owners and the surface and proposed producing interval locations
of the well. The plat must be drawn to a scale that allows easy observation of
all pertinent data; and
(D) Other information as the department may
require.
(3)
(a) The department will notify all affected
mineral rights owners, located in drilling or spacing units toward which a well
is being directionally drilled, of the proposed deviation before approving an
application. Approval of the application to deviate will be granted or denied
at the discretion of the department. Affected mineral rights owners may submit
a written request for a hearing to consider the application. If any such
mineral rights owner requests a hearing within 20 days of the date of the
department's notice,, the hearing will be held without undue delay by the
board or its designated representative. If no request for a hearing is made
within 20 days of the department's notice, the department may approve the
application.
(b) If the applicant
is the only affected mineral rights owner or has leased the right to drill from
the only affected mineral rights owner or has obtained a waiver from the
affected mineral rights owner and the department does not object to the
application, the department may approve the application immediately.
(c) If a well is being directionally drilled
as part of a continuous drilling operation, the department may permit deviation
of the well without providing a 20-day notice to all affected mineral rights
owners in spacing units toward which the well is being directionally drilled.
If a well is completed in a setback location, affected mineral rights owners
will be notified and a public hearing will be held, if requested.
(4) Upon completion, suspension,
or decommission of a well, whichever comes first, the permittee must file a
complete directional survey, obtained by approved well surveying methods, with
the department, together with other regularly required reports.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 520
Stats. Implemented: ORS
520.095