N.M. Admin. Code § 19.15.15.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 19.15.15.9 - OIL WELL ACREAGE AND WELL LOCATION REQUIREMENTS

A. A wildcat well that the operator projects to drill as an oil well to a formation and in an area that in the division's opinion may reasonably be presumed to produce oil rather than gas, and each development well for a defined oil pool unless otherwise provided in special pool orders, shall be located on a spacing unit consisting of approximately 40 contiguous surface acres, substantially in the form of a square that is a legal subdivision of the United States public land surveys and is a governmental quarter-quarter section or lot, and shall be located no closer than 330 feet to a boundary of the unit. Unless otherwise provided in applicable special pool order, a 40-acre oil spacing unit may contain up to four wells. Only those 40-acre spacing units committed to active secondary recovery projects shall be permitted more than four wells.

B. If a well drilled as an oil well is completed as a gas well but does not conform to the applicable gas well location requirements, the operator shall apply for administrative approval for a non-standard location before the well can produce. The director may set the application for hearing.

19.15.15.9 NMAC - Rp, 19.15.3.104 NMAC, 12/1/08