Title 14, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Sec. 32. IC 4-21.5 applies to a determination made under this chapter. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-9.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29. Amended by P.L.92-2025, SEC.61.

Sec. 33. An operator whose permit has been revoked under this chapter is not eligible to: (1) receive another permit; or (2) have a suspended permit reinstated; until the operator has complied with all the requirements of this chapter with respect to all revoked permits issued to…

Sec. 34. An operator who has forfeited a bond may not receive a permit unless: (1) the land for which the bond was forfeited has been reclaimed without cost to the state; or (2) the operator has paid to the department the amount that the commission finds is adequate to reclaim th…

Sec. 35. The commission: (1) may refuse to issue a permit to an operator whose permit the commission has repeatedly suspended for noncompliance or violation of: (A) this chapter; or (B) IC 13-4-6 (before its repeal); and (2) shall refuse to issue a permit to an operator whose per…

Sec. 37. (a) A person who violates or fails to comply with section 14, 15, 26, or 27 of this chapter (including a person who fails to comply with a rule of the commission or order of the director adopted or issued in connection with these sections) commits a Class A infraction. (…

Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "affected area" means the area of land: (1) from which overburden has been removed; (2) upon which cast overburden, mining refuse, or a mineral has been deposited; and (3) that is disturbed incidental to an operation. [Pre-1995 Recodification Cita…

Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "cast overburden" means a bank or deposit of overburden after removal from the overburden's natural state. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-2(e).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29.

Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "mineral" means coal, clay, or shale, including oil shale. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-2(g).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29.

Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "mining refuse" means all waste material directly connected with the cleaning and preparation of substances mined by surface mining. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-2(p).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29.

Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "operation" means the premises, facilities, nonpublic roads, and equipment used in the process of producing minerals from a surface mine. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-2(i).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29.

Sec. 9. As used in this chapter, "operator" means a person engaged in carrying on surface mining operations. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4-6-2(j).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.29.

Sec. 1. A permit, a bond, or an alternative security for a permit issued for a well for oil and gas purposes in force after June 30, 1988, is governed by this article. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-8-1-2.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30. Amended by P.L.80-2005, SEC.1.

Sec. 2. A person who was issued a federal permit for a Class II well may continue to operate the Class II well after June 30, 1988. Continued operation of a Class II well after June 30, 1988, subjects the person to: (1) this article; and (2) rules adopted under this article. [Pre…

Sec. 3. If a Class II well is authorized under Subpart C of the Underground Injection Control Program (40 CFR 144.21 through 144.28) in effect January 1, 1988, any federal terms or conditions placed on an owner or operator under Subpart C bind the owner or operator and may be enf…

Control Program Sec. 4. The terms of a federal permit issued under Subpart D of the Underground Injection Control Program (40 CFR 144.31 through 144.41) in effect January 1, 1988, bind the owner or operator and may be enforced as if issued by the department under: (1) this articl…

Sec. 5. This article does not apply to methane ventilation governed under an approved federal Mine Safety and Health Administration coal mine ventilation plan. As added by P.L.140-2011, SEC.3.

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commence to drill a well" means the institution of work in good faith with drilling equipment adequate for the drilling of a well to a depth that will reasonably test the oil and gas productiveness of the public land where the well is commenced. …

Sec. 10. Every permittee has the option of surrendering a permit at any time and is relieved of all liability under the permit except for physical damage to the premises embraced by the permit that has been caused by the permittee's operations. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: …

Sec. 11. (a) A permittee is, at any time during the life of the permit or upon the termination of the permit, entitled to a lease for the extraction of petroleum from not to exceed one (1) section, or an equivalent area, of land to be selected by the permittee. (b) A lease under …

Sec. 12. (a) A petroleum lease other than a lease provided for in section 11 of this chapter may be granted in parcels as determined by the commission. (b) A lease granted under this section must be at a royalty of: (1) not less than twelve and one-half percent (12 1/2%) of all p…

Sec. 13. (a) All proceeds derived: (1) from or by virtue or by reason of a permit or lease executed or issued under this chapter; or (2) from or by reason of any operations under this chapter; shall, after deducting all costs incurred by the department, be paid to the treasurer o…

Sec. 14. (a) A petroleum lease may not be issued on land that has not been classified by the commission as proven territory. With regard to proven territory to which no permit holder is entitled to a lease, the commission shall, in areas to be determined by the commission, lease …

Sec. 15. (a) The commission may cancel any permit or lease issued under this chapter for: (1) nonpayment of royalties; or (2) nonperformance by the permittee or lessee of any provision or requirement of the permit or lease; if before the cancellation the commission mails to the p…

Sec. 16. Upon the expiration or forfeiture of a permit, a new permit covering the banks or any of the banks embraced by the expired or forfeited permit may not be issued for thirty (30) days following the date of expiration or forfeiture. If more than one (1) application for a pe…

Sec. 17. (a) If the commission finds it is in the best interest of the state for the production of petroleum, the state, a permittee, a lessee, an operator, or any person owning or controlling royalty or other interest in separate properties of the same producing or prospective p…

Sec. 18. The commission may insert in a permit or lease issued under this chapter the terms that are customary and proper for the protection of the rights of: (1) the state; (2) the permittee or lessee; and (3) the owner of the surface of the leased land; not in conflict with thi…

Sec. 19. The commission may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to carry out this chapter. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-4-3-15.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.31.

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "person" means the following: (1) A citizen of the United States. (2) An individual who has, in good faith, declared the intention of becoming a citizen of the United States. (3) An association of individuals described in subdivision (1) or (2). (…

Sec. 20. (a) This section does not apply to the following: (1) Shore lands. (2) River beds. (3) Lake beds. (4) Submerged land. (b) A lease of land containing petroleum made or issued under this chapter must contain a condition that a well may not be drilled within three hundred t…

Sec. 21. A person granted a permit or lease under this chapter has a right-of-way over public land, as provided by law, when necessary for the drilling, recovering, saving, and marketing of petroleum. Before a right-of-way grant becomes effective, the following must occur: (1) A …

Sec. 22. (a) After the issuance of a petroleum lease the lessee shall proceed to develop the petroleum in the land through the drilling of the wells that will efficiently extract the petroleum. The development must take into account the following: (1) The productiveness of the pr…

Sec. 23. (a) A lease must provide that the lessee shall drill an offset well to a well on adjoining land that: (1) is within three hundred thirty (330) feet of an outer boundary of the land covered by the lease; and (2) is producing petroleum in paying quantities and draining the…

Sec. 24. (a) This section applies to an application for prospecting permits or leases for the following: (1) Shore lands. (2) River beds. (3) Lake beds. (b) The owner of the right to prospect for and develop and produce petroleum from the abutting land has a preferential right fo…

Sec. 25. This chapter does not require the commission to offer a tract of land for prospecting or lease. The commission may withhold a tract from prospecting or leasing for petroleum purposes if in the commission's judgment the best interest of the state will be served by so doin…

Sec. 26. (a) This section applies when a royalty is required to be paid under this chapter: (1) for oil, at the option of the commission: (A) at the mouth of the wells into tanks provided by the commission; or (B) into the pipeline with which the wells are connected, to the commi…

Sec. 27. The commission may delegate any powers granted in this chapter to any officers or employees of the commission. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-4-3-23.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.31.

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "petroleum" means any liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon occurring in nature beneath the surface of the earth. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-4-3-1(2).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.31.

Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "proven territory" means territory so situated with reference to known producing wells as to establish the general opinion that, because of the territory's relation to the producing wells, petroleum is contained in the territory. [Pre-1995 Recodif…

Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "public land" means land and area belonging to or subsequently acquired by the state or any of the state's institutions. The term includes land of every kind and nature. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-4-3-1(4).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.…

Sec. 6. (a) The commission may enter into written contracts designating a person as the permittee of the state with the exclusive right to prospect and explore not to exceed three (3) sections, or an equivalent area, of the public land for the occurrence of petroleum. A contract …

Sec. 7. A permit may not be issued upon public land classified by the commission as proven territory. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-4-3-3.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.31.

Sec. 8. A permittee may not commence an operation upon land covered by a permit until the permittee has compensated the following: (1) The owners of private rights in the land according to law. (2) The state for damage to the surface rights of the state in accordance with the rul…

Sec. 9. A permit requires the immediate commencement of geological, geophysical, or core drilling operations. All operations shall be prosecuted with reasonable diligence in accordance with good oil field practice and must be continuous except when causes beyond the control of th…

Sec. 10. Not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the completion of a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline for which the department has issued a certificate of authority under this chapter, the carbon dioxide transmission pipeline company shall provide maps and other do…

Sec. 11. A determination of the department under this chapter is subject to an administrative adjudication under IC 4-21.5. As added by P.L.150-2011, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.92-2025, SEC.68; P.L.161-2026, SEC.47.

Sec. 12. The department shall deposit fee revenue received under section 4(a)(1) of this chapter in the carbon sequestration project program administrative fund established by IC 14-39-2-10.5. As added by P.L.150-2011, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.25-2025, SEC.3; P.L.213-2025, SEC.134.