Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION › Title 267 - NEBRASKA OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION › Chapter 3 - DRILLING, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCING AND ABANDONMENT › Section 267-3-013 - LOCATION OF WELLS

Current through June 17, 2024
013.01 No well
				drilled for oil or gas in or adjacent to presently producing pools shall be
				drilled at a location within a legal subdivision which varies substantially
				from the established locations within legal subdivisions of a majority of the
				wells in the pool or which will result in a spacing unit for such wells
				substantially different from that attributable to the established wells in the
				pool.
013.02 All wells drilled to
				sources of supply at estimated depths in excess of two thousand five hundred
				(2500) feet for which no spacing pattern has been established by existing wells
				shall be drilled on 40-acre legal subdivisions or equivalent lots and not less
				than five hundred (500) feet from the boundaries of said legal subdivisions.
				The Director or authorized agent may administratively approve an exception to
				the requirements hereof where topographical conditions, irregular sections or
				geological conditions make the drilling of a well at the regular location
				impractical, provided that the owners, as defined in the Act, within a distance
				of five hundred (500) feet from the proposed well file with the Director or
				authorized agent a waiver of objection, or consent in writing, agreeing to said
				exception; provided further, that a well drilled under the terms of such
				waiver, or consent, shall be subject to such production limitations as may be
				necessary to protect correlative rights.
013.03 All wells drilled to sources of supply
				at estimated depths of two thousand five hundred (2500) feet or less for which
				no spacing pattern has been established by existing wells shall not be drilled
				closer than three hundred (300) feet from the boundaries of a 40-acre legal
				subdivision or equivalent lot.
013.04 Upon the receipt, by the Commission,
				of an application from any person requesting the establishment of special field
				rules for spacing of wells within a designated area, all or a portion of which
				is not then subject to special field rules, or upon decision by the Commission
				to call a hearing for the establishment of such special field rules,
				application for permits to drill within such area will be held in abeyance by
				the Commission until such time as the matter has been fully heard and
				determined; and no further permits to drill within the area designated in the
				application shall be issued until such determination has been made.
				Notwithstanding the provisions above, a permit shall be issued if an owner
				demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Director that a loss of his leasehold
				will result or that significant drainage may occur if approval of drilling is
				withheld. However, in event a permit is issued, the permit to drill shall
				authorize a location for the proposed well which conforms as nearly as
				practicable to the pattern proposed in each application or petition then on
				file with the Commission for spacing within the designated area.
013.05 The foregoing spacing restrictions
				shall not apply to approved unit operations or authorized secondary recovery
				projects or stratigraphy test holes drilled for geologic storage, or to any
				field where the Commission, after notice and hearing, ordered a different
				spacing pattern in special field rules.