2 Colo. Code Regs. § 404-1-401

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024
Section 2 CCR 404-1-401 - LOCATION OF WELL COMPLETIONS

All Wells drilled for oil or gas will have the following completion setbacks:

a.Well Completions 2,500 Feet or Greater in Depth. A Well completion 2,500 feet or greater below the surface will be located not less than 600 feet from any lease line and not less than 1,200 feet from any other existing or permitted Well completion in the same common source of supply, unless authorized by order of the Commission or an exception under Rule 401.c is obtained.
b.Well Completions Less than 2,500 Feet in Depth. A Well completion less than 2,500 feet below the surface will be located not less than 200 feet from any lease line and not less than 300 feet from any other existing or permitted Well completion in the same common source of supply, except that only one Well completion in each such source of supply will be allowed in each governmental quarter-quarter section unless authorized by order of the Commission or an exception under Rule 401.c is obtained.
c.Exception Locations.
(1) Operators may request in writing from the Director an exception to the Well completion location requirements of this Rule, or any order, because of geologic, environmental, topographic, or archaeological conditions, irregular sections, a Surface Owner request, or for other good cause shown. The Operator will submit the written exception location request and waivers pursuant to Rule 401.c.(2).B, as attachments to the Form 2, Application for Permit to Drill.
(2) The Director will not approve an exception request unless the Operator:
A. Demonstrates in sufficient detail that correlative rights are protected; and
B. Submits with its request one of the following waivers authorizing the encroachment:
i. If the proposed Well completion encroaches upon an unspaced lease, a waiver will be signed by the Owner unless Rule 401.c.(2).B.iii applies.
ii. If the proposed Well completion encroaches upon a unit, a waiver will be signed by all Owners within the unit, unless Rule 401.c.(2).B.iii applies.
iii. If the Operator of the proposed Well is the Owner of an encroached-upon unspaced lease, or of a lease within an encroached-upon unit, a waiver will be signed by the leased mineral interest Owners.
d.Exemptions to Rule 401.
(1) Rule 401 does not apply to authorized secondary or tertiary recovery projects;
(2) Rule 401 does not apply to Wells completed in fractured shale reservoirs in fields discovered prior to 1964; and
(3) In a unit operation approved by federal or state authorities, these Well completion location requirements apply to the exterior or interior (if one exists) boundary of the unit area unless otherwise authorized by Commission order after proper notice to Owners outside the unit area.
e.Wells Located Near a Mine. No Well will be located within 200 feet of a shaft or entrance to a coal mine not definitely abandoned or sealed, nor will such Well be located within 100 feet of any mine shaft house, mine boiler house, mine engine house, or mine fan; and the location of any proposed Well will ensure that when drilled it will be at least 15 feet from any mine haulage or airway.

2 CCR 404-1-401

37 CR 16, August 25, 2014, effective 9/30/2014
38 CR 01, January 10, 2015, effective 2/14/2015
38 CR 03, February 10, 2015, effective 3/2/2015
38 CR 07, April 10, 2015, effective 4/30/2015
38 CR 16, August 25, 2015, effective 9/14/2015
39 CR 04, February 25, 2016, effective 3/16/2016
41 CR 05, March 10, 2018, effective 4/1/2018
41 CR 06, March 25, 2018, effective 5/1/2018
41 CR 23, December 10, 2018, effective 12/30/2018
42 CR 02, January 25, 2019, effective 2/14/2019
42 CR 17, September 10, 2019, effective 9/30/2019
42 CR 24, December 25, 2019, effective 1/14/2020
43 CR 17, September 10, 2020, effective 9/30/2020
43 CR 13, July 10, 2020, effective 11/2/2020
43 CR 24, December 25, 2020, effective 1/15/2021
45 CR 07, April 10, 2022, effective 4/30/2022
45 CR 09, May 10, 2022, effective 5/30/2022
45 CR 13, July 10, 2022, effective 7/30/2022