R649-3-11. Directional Drilling

  1. Except for the tolerances allowed under R649-3-10, no well may be intentionally deviated unless the operator shall first file application and obtain approval from the division.

  1.1. An application for directional drilling may be approved by the division without notice and hearing when the applicant is the owner of all the oil and gas within a radius of 460 feet from all points along the intended well bore, or the applicant has obtained the written consent of the owner to the proposed directional drilling program.

  1.2. An application pertaining to a well with a surface location outside the tolerances allowed by R649-3-2 or the appropriate board order, but with the point of penetration of the targeted productive zone(s) and bottom hole location within said tolerances, may be approved by the division without notice and hearing conditioned upon the operator filing a certification included with the application that it will not perforate and complete the well in any other zone(s) outside of said tolerances without complying with the requirements of R649-3-11.1.1. Under these circumstances, no additional exception location approval under R649-3-3 is required.

  1.3. An application for directional drilling may be included as part of the initial APD for a proposed well.

  2. An application for directional drilling shall include the following information:

  2.1. The name and address of the operator.

  2.2. The lease name, well number, field name, reservoir name, and county where the proposed well is located.

  2.3. A plat or sketch showing the distance from the surface location to section and lease lines, the target location within the intended producing interval, and any point along the intended well bore outside the 460 foot radius for which the consent of the owner has been obtained.

  2.4. The reason for the intentional deviation.

  2.5. The signature of designated agent or representative of operator.

  3. Within 30 days following completion of a directionally drilled well, a complete angular deviation and directional survey of the well obtained by an approved well survey company shall be filed with the division, together with other regularly required reports.