Waste prohibited

55-601. Waste prohibited. The production of crude oil or petroleum in the state of Kansas in such manner and under such conditions as to constitute waste is hereby prohibited and shall be unlawful. History: L. 1931, ch. 226, § 1; May 28. Law Review and Bar Journal References: Application of section to compulsory pooling and unitization discussed, James M. Whittier, 15 K.L.R. 307, 320 (1967). "Sustaining the Unsustainable: Oil and Gas Development in the 21st Century," David E. Pierce, 23 Kan. J. L. & Pub. Pol'y, No. 3, 362 (Spring 2014). CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. History of act and effect of amendments discussed. Continental Investment Corp. v. State Corporation Comm., 156 Kan. 858, 859, 137 P.2d 166. 2. Commission may fix state-wide minimum allowable production exceeding 15 barrels per well, when; statute construed. Aylward Production Corp. v. Corporation Commission, 162 Kan. 428, 430, 433, 443, 176 P.2d 861. 3. Section applies only to production, not to sales or transportation. State, ex rel., v. Sinclair Pipe Line Co., 180 Kan. 425, 437, 438, 304 P.2d 930. 4. Corporation commission's authorization to repressure oil wells; findings based on evidence. Jackson v. State Corporation Commission, 186 Kan. 6, 7, 9, 348 P.2d 613. 5. Purpose of act; proration defined; implied covenants of oil lease not affected by commission's orders; proration does not affect lessor's duty to drill wells to prevent drainage. Renner v. Monsanto Chemical Co., 187 Kan. 158, 161, 169, 170, 354 P.2d 326. 6. Act cited and construction thereof discussed in construing Natural Gas Act (K.S.A. 55-703 et seq.); (dissenting opinion). Northern Natural Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 188 Kan. 355, 367, 368, 362 P.2d 599. Rehearing denied. 188 Kan. 624, 364 P.2d 668. 7. Jurisdiction of corporation commission; sale of part of interstate pipe line; requiring oil company to continue to buy oil. Sinclair Pipe Line Company v. Snyder, 147 F. Supp. 632, 635. 8. Discussed; corporation commission empowered to make and enforce rules, regulations and orders to make act effective. Cities Service Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 192 Kan. 707, 711, 391 P.2d 74. 9. Applied; corporation commission rule (82-2-125) valid; denial of exemption not arbitrary; no denial of due process. Hartman v. State Corporation Commission, 215 Kan. 758, 767, 529 P.2d 134. 10. Alternative decree in action for partial cancellation of oil and gas lease was reasonable and supported by evidence. Rush v. King Oil Co., 220 Kan. 616, 626, 627, 556 P.2d 431. 11. Act mentioned; order of commission not an absolute defense to suit to enforce terms of lease. Mobil Oil Corp. v. Kansas Corporation Commission, 227 Kan. 594, 607, 612, 608 P.2d 1325. 12. Cited; amending underages, additional production to protect correlative rights, authority under K.S.A. 55-703. Northwest Cent. Pipeline Corp. v. Kansas Corp. Comm'n, 237 Kan. 248, 257, 699 P.2d 1002 (1985). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026