2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas › Chapter 11. Oil and Gas Conservation › Part 2. Unit Operations › 82-11-204. Hearing on operation of pool as unit

82-11-204. (Temporary) Hearing on operation of pool as unit.
(1) The board, upon the application of persons owning leasehold interests underlying 60% of the surface within the delineated area, shall hold a hearing to consider the need for the operation as a unit of one or more pools or parts thereof in a field for enhanced recovery purposes as to oil or oil and gas, to increase ultimate recovery, or to prevent waste of gas from pools or portions of pools where gas only is produced.
(2) At least 60 days prior to application, the applicant shall, by registered or certified mail, notify all known persons owning an interest in the oil and gas within the proposed unit area as disclosed by the records of the county or counties in which the proposed unit area is situated, at those persons' last-known addresses, of the applicant's intention to make the application. At the same time producers shall be furnished with a plan of unit operations. Upon written request of an operator of a lease which is in whole or in part within the confines of the proposed delineated area, the applicant shall furnish the operator with copies of any exhibits to be submitted to the board at the time of hearing.
82-11-204. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Hearing on operation of pool as unit.
(1) (a) The board, upon the application of persons owning leasehold interests underlying 60% of the surface within the delineated area, shall hold a hearing to consider the need for the operation as a unit of one or more pools or parts of the pools in a field for enhanced recovery purposes related to oil or oil and gas, to increase ultimate recovery, or to prevent waste of gas from pools or portions of pools where gas only is produced.
(b) The board, upon the application of persons owning or holding subsurface storage rights of 60% of the storage capacity of the proposed storage area, shall hold a hearing to consider the need for the operation of a unit for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide.
(2) (a) At least 60 days prior to application, the applicant shall, by registered or certified mail, notify all known persons owning an interest in the oil and gas within the proposed unit area as disclosed by the records of the county or counties where the proposed unit area is situated, at those persons' last-known addresses, of the applicant's intention to make the application.
(b) At least 60 days prior to application, if the application is for a carbon dioxide storage reservoir, the applicant shall, by registered or certified mail, notify all persons with an ownership interest in the surface, subsurface storage rights, and the subsurface minerals within the proposed unit area as disclosed by the records of the county or counties where the proposed unit area is situated, at those persons' last-known addresses, of the applicant's intention to make the application.
(c) At the same time producers must be furnished with a plan of unit operations. Upon written request of an operator of a lease that is in whole or in part within the confines of the proposed delineated area, the applicant shall furnish the operator with copies of any exhibits to be submitted to the board at the time of hearing.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 33, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 150, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 61, Ch. 253, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 336, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 60-131.1; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 474, L. 2009.