Okla. Admin. Code § 165:10-3-17
Current through Vol. 42, No. 3, October 15, 2024
Section 165:10-3-17 - Well site and surface facilities(a)Scope.(1) This Section shall be applicable to all operators and owners of oil and gas wells, leases, secondary recovery units, converted or newly drilled disposal or injection wells, and re-entries or reworkings of the above; however, this Section does not cover pits used in connection with oil and gas operations (see 165:10-7-16) .(2) For purposes of this Section, "surface trash and debris" means all discarded material directly connected with the drilling, production, exploration, or development of hydrocarbons including, but not limited to, garbage, rubbish, junk or scrap.(b)Removal of fire hazards. Any material that might constitute a fire hazard shall be removed a safe distance from the well location, tanks, and separator. All waste oil shall be disposed of in a manner to avoid creating a fire hazard. (c)Removal of surface trash, debris, and unnecessary equipment.(1) All operators of wells are required to remove all surface trashand debrisoccasioned by their operations, from the vicinity of their operations and keep such premises free and clear of such trash and debris. With written permission from the surface owner, the operator may, without applying for an exception, bury all nonhazardous material at a minimum depth of three feet; cement bases are included.(2) The operator is required to remove all unnecessary operating equipment, structures, surface debris, abutments, or obstacles used in the operation of the well from the land upon which the well is located, unless the owner of the land and the operator have entered into a contract providing otherwise.(3) If the operator fails to comply with paragraphs (c)(1) or (c)(2) after written notice, the Commission may fine the operator up to $1,000.(d)Required lease signs. Within 30 days after the completion of any producing oil or gas well subsequent to the effective date of this Section, a sign shall be posted and maintained at the location indicating no trespassing, no unauthorized personnel or similar language, showing the operator of the well and the operator's twenty-four hour emergency telephone number, name of the well, number of the well, legal description of the well and API number; provided, however, where more than one well is producing on a lease, the operator may post and maintain a sign at the principal lease entrance indicating no trespassing, no unauthorized personnel or similar language, the lease name, operator, the operator's twenty-four hour emergency telephone number, legal description, and number of wells, and on each well designate the number of the well and API number. Within 30 days after completion or recompletion of an injection well or a disposal well subsequent to the effective date of this Section, a sign shall be posted and maintained at the well location indicating no trespassing, no unauthorized personnel or similar language, showing the operator of the well, the operator's twenty-four hour emergency telephone number, well name, well number, legal description of the well, API number and the Commission order number by which it was authorized. The legal description of each well completed on or after March 1, 1976, shall be posted at the well and shall describe the location of the well to the nearest quarter quarter quarter section and shall show the section, township, and range. On a 160-acre or larger drilling and spacing unit, a sign shall also be posted at the entrance to the well site. Upon the Commission's approval, after the effective date of this Section, of transfer to a new operator of a well completed or recompleted prior to the effective date of this Section, the operator must comply with all requirements in this Section. If an operator fails to post a sign as directed, the Commission may fine the operator $50.00 per violation; provided that total fines per incident shall not exceed $500.00 per lease.(e)Notice of fire or blowout. In case of a fire or blowout, the well operator shall notify by telephone or electronic mail, as soon as possible, either the Conservation Division or the appropriate Conservation Division District Office.(f)OTC numbers on stock tanks for oil and condensate.(1) On all oil and gas producing leases, the first purchaser of crude oil or condensate shall print its name or affix the company logo and print or affix the OTC Gross Production Division Purchaser Reporting Number on the lease sign or at least one of the storage tanks from which marketable liquids are being delivered.(2) On all oil and gas producing leases, the well operator shall print or affix the OTC Gross Production Division assigned Production Unit Number and the OTC Gross Production Division Operator Reporting Number on the lease sign or at least one of the tanks from which marketable liquids are being stored. In the case of an enhanced recovery or unitization operation where several OTC Gross Production Division assigned Production Unit Numbers exist for the wells in the unit, the word "unitized" shall be printed or affixed to the lease sign or one of the storage tanks from which marketable liquids are being delivered to the purchaser.(3) The identification numbers required in this subsection shall always be clearly legible. All letters and numbers shall be a minimum of two inches in height. Any operator failing to post required information may be fined up to $50.00 per violation; provided that total fines per incident shall not exceed $500.00 per well.(g)OTC numbers on gas meter or meter house.(1) On all gas producing leases, the operator of the well site gas meter required under 165:10-17-5 shall print or affix its name and OTC reporting number on the outside of the meter house or on the outside of the meter itself if no meter house exists.(2) The operator of the lease shall print its OTC lease number and operator reporting number on the meter house or on outside of the meter if no meter house exists.(3) The identification required in this subsection shall always be clearly legible.(h)Valve and seals on stock tanks. The operator shall install tank valves such that metal identification seals can be properly utilized. These seals shall be used on all delivery tank valves to lessen unauthorized movement of marketable products. (i)Man-ways on frac tanks. Each frac tank used at the wellsite shall have protective man-ways to prevent persons from accidentally falling into the frac tank. (j)Guy line anchors. All guy line anchors left buried for use in future operations of the well shall be properly marked by a marker of bright color not less than four feet in height and not greater than one foot east of the guy line anchor.(k)Well site cleared. Within 90 days after a well is plugged and abandoned, the well site shall be cleared of all equipment, trash, and debris. Any foreign surface material is to be removed and the location site restored to as near to its natural state as reasonably possible, except by written agreement with the surface owner to leave the surface in some other condition. If the location site is restored but the vegetative cover is destroyed or significantly damaged, a bona fide effort shall be made to restore or re-establish the vegetative cover within 180 days after abandonment of the well.(l)Restored surface. Within 90 days after a lease has been abandoned, surface equipment such as stock tanks, heater, separators, and other related items shall be removed from the premises. The surface shall be restored to as near to its natural state as reasonably possible, except by written agreement with the surface owner to leave the surface in some other condition. If the surface is restored but the vegetative cover is destroyed or significantly damaged, a bona fide effort shall be made to restore or re-establish the vegetative cover within 180 days after abandonment of the lease.(m)Leasehold roads. All leasehold roads shall be kept in a passable condition and shall be made accessible at all times for representatives and field inspectors of the Commission. At the time of abandonment of the property, the area of the road shall be restored to as near to its natural state as reasonably possible, except by written agreement with the surface owner to leave the surface in some other condition. If the road area is restored but the vegetative cover is destroyed or significantly damaged, a bona fide effort shall be made to restore or re-establish the vegetative cover within 180 days after abandonment of the property.(n)Extension of time.(1) An operator may request an extension of time required in (k), (l), and (m) of this Section for not more than six months by applying to the appropriate Conservation Division District Office and showing that there is no imminent danger to the environment and that one of the following conditions exists: (A) That an agreement with the surface owners is not possible.(B) That adverse weather conditions exist or existed.(C) That the equipment needed to conform to (k), (l), and (m) of this Section was not or is not available.(2) If approved by the District Manager, the extension shall be granted and the surface owner shall be notified by the operator. Any extension beyond six months shall require application, notice and hearing pursuant to OAC 165:5-7-41.Okla. Admin. Code § 165:10-3-17
Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2295, eff 6-25-92 ; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2190, eff 7-1-99 ; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2498, eff 7-11-09 ; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 2128, eff 7-11-10 ; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1041, eff 7-1-13
Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/12/2014Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015.Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 35, Issue 24, September 4, 2018, eff. 9/14/2018Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 10/1/2020Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 10/1/2022Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 24, September 1, 2023, eff. 10/1/2023