Oklahoma § 17-53.2 - Removal of operating equipment, production and storage

§ 17-53.2. Removal of operating equipment, production and storage

structures, supplies and equipment, surface debris, abutment or

obstacle - Filling of certain pits - Grading or terracing certain

disturbed land - Release - Extension of time.

A. The Corporation Commission shall prescribe and promulgate

rules and regulations which require the lease operator to remove all

unnecessary operating equipment, structures, surface debris,

abutment or obstacles used in the operation of the well from the

land upon which the well is located, and shall grade or terrace the

surface of the soil as required in this section unless the owner of

the land and the lease operator have entered into a contract

providing otherwise. Provided, however, the provisions of this

section shall not apply to Osage County.

B. Within twelve (12) months after the completion of a

producing well, the operator shall fill all the pits for containing

muds, cuttings, salt water or oil that are not needed for production

purposes or are not required by state or federal law or regulation

and shall remove all concrete bases, drilling supplies and drilling

equipment and all other equipment not necessary for producing said

well, excluding guy line anchors. Within such period, the operator

shall grade or terrace the land surface within the area disturbed in

siting, drilling, completing and producing the well which land is

not required in production of the well.

C. Within twelve (12) months after a well that has produced oil

or gas is plugged or after the plugging of a dry hole, the operator

shall remove all production and storage structures, supplies and

equipment and any oil, salt water and debris and fill any remaining

excavations. Within such period, the operator shall grade or

terrace the area disturbed.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 17. Corporation Commission

D. The operator shall be released from responsibility to

perform any or all requirements of this section on any part or all

of the area disturbed upon the filing of a request for a waiver with

and obtaining the written approval of the Commission, which request

shall be signed by the surface owner to certify the approval of the

surface owner of the release sought. The Commission shall approve

such requests unless it finds upon inspection that the waiver would

be likely to result in substantial damage to adjoining property,

substantial contamination of surface or underground water or

substantial erosion or sedimentation. If the Commission refuses to

approve a request for waiver, it shall do so by order.

E. This act shall also apply to the operators of a secondary or

enhanced oil recovery unit that is or has been operated under a plan

of unitization approved by order of the Oklahoma Corporation

Commission and established by a proper certificate of effectiveness.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to repeal the statutes

governing the establishment and operation of such secondary or

enhanced recovery unit.

F. The Commission may, upon written application by an operator

showing reasonable cause, extend the period within which restoration

shall be completed, but not to exceed a further six-month period,

except under extraordinarily adverse weather conditions or when

essential equipment, fuel or labor is unavailable to the operator.

If the Commission refuses to approve a request for waiver or

extension, it shall do so by order.

G. The provisions of this section shall also apply to the

drilling of or conversion to a saltwater disposal or injection well

and to any operation in connection with reentering or reworking any

oil and gas well or saltwater injection or disposal well.

Amended by Laws 1982, c. 205, § 2, emerg. eff. April 27, 1982.