New Mexico Administrative Code

19.15.17 NMAC is adopted pursuant to the Oil and Gas Act, NMSA 1978, Section 70-2-6, Section 70-2-11 and Section 70-2-12.

Permanent.

June 28, 2013, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

To regulate pits, closed-loop systems, and below-grade tanks and sumps used in connection with oil and gas operations for the protection of fresh water, public health and the environment.

A. "Alluvium" means detrital material that water or other erosional forces have transported and deposited at points along a watercourse's flood plain. It typically is composed of sands, silts and gravels; exhibits high porosity and permeability; and generally carries fresh water.…

A. A person shall not construct or use a pit except in accordance with a division-issued permit. Only an operator may apply for a division-issued permit. After June 16, 2008, an unlined pit is prohibited and the division shall not issue a permit for an unlined pit. B. The divisio…

A. An operator shall use the appropriate form C-144 to apply to the division for a permit to construct or use a pit or proposed alternative method, or to register a below-grade tank. The operator shall submit the form C-144 either separately or as an attachment to a permit applic…

Oil Conservation Commission.

The operator shall at all times operate, produce and maintain multiple completed wells that the division has authorized in a manner to ensure the complete segregation of the various common sources of supply. The division may require the operator take tests the division deems nece…

(Reserved.)

(Reserved.)

A. An operator may use vacuum pumps, gathering system compressors or other devices to operate a well or gathering system at below atmospheric pressure only if that operator has: (1) executed a written agreement with the operator of the downstream gathering system or pipeline to w…

An operator shall report monthly on form C-115 the amount of water produced with the oil and gas from each well.

A. Oil shall be received and measured in facilities of an approved design. The facilities shall permit the testing of each well at reasonable intervals and may be comprised of manually gauged, closed stock tanks for which the operator of the ACT system has prepared proper strappi…

A. No person shall store or retain oil in earthen reservoirs or in open receptacles. Dikes or fire walls are not required except an operator shall erect and maintain fire walls around permanent oil tanks or tank batteries that are within the corporate limits of a city, town or vi…

A. No person shall clean a tank of sediment oil or remove sediment oil from a lease without the appropriate division district office's prior approval. The lease operator or the company contracted or otherwise authorized to perform the tank cleaning may receive authorization for t…

The operator shall operate wells producing oil in a manner that reduces as much as practicable the formation of emulsion and basic sediments. No person shall allow these substances and tank bottoms to pollute fresh waters or cause surface damage.

A. The waste of drip is prohibited when it is economically feasible to salvage the drip. B. A person may move and sell drip, provided it complies with 19.15.18.19 NMAC. C. A person shall not transport or sell drip until the gas transporter files form C-104 designating the drip tr…

19.15.18 NMAC applies to persons engaged in oil and gas development and production within New Mexico.

19.15.18 NMAC is adopted pursuant to the Oil and Gas Act, Section 70-2-6, Section 70-2-11 and Section 70-2-12 NMSA 1978.

Permanent.

December 1, 2008, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

To regulate the production of oil and gas wells within the state in order to prevent waste, protect correlative rights and protect public health and the environment.

"Drip" means a liquid hydrocarbon incidentally accumulating in a gas gathering or transportation system.

A. An operator shall take a gas-oil ratio test no sooner than 20 days nor later than 30 days following the completion or recompletion of each oil well, if: (1) the well is a wildcat, or (2) the well is located in a pool that is not exempt from 19.15.18.8 NMAC's requirements. B. P…

The operator shall make a bottom hole pressure test on the discovery well of a new pool and shall report the results of the test to the division within 30 days after the discovery well's completion. On or before December 1 of each calendar year the division shall designate the mo…

Oil Conservation Commission.

(Reserved.)

With the exception of the requirement to meter and report monthly the amount of gas injected and the amount of gas withdrawn from storage, in the absence of waste 19.15.19 NMAC shall not apply to gas being injected into or removed from storage. (See 19.15.7.40 NMAC)

The rules relating to gas, gas wells and gas reservoirs including those provisions relating to well locations, acreage dedication requirements, casing and cementing requirements and measuring and reporting of production also apply to carbon dioxide gas, carbon dioxide wells and c…

The operator shall report gas wells that are disconnected from intrastate gas transportation facilities to the division within 30 days of the date of disconnection. The operator shall file the notice on form C-130 in compliance with 19.15.7.39 NMAC.

19.15.19 NMAC applies to persons engaged in gas development and production within New Mexico.

19.15.19 NMAC is adopted pursuant to the Oil and Gas Act, Section 70-2-6, Section 70-2-11 and Section 70-2-12 NMSA 1978.

Permanent.

December 1, 2008, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

To regulate the gas production within the state in order to prevent waste, protect correlative rights and protect public health and the environment.

[RESERVED] [See 19.15.2.7 NMAC for definitions.]

A. An operator shall conduct tests to determine the daily open flow potential volumes of gas wells from which gas is being used or marketed. The operator shall report the tests on division-prescribed forms within 60 days after (1) the date of the well's initial connection to a ga…

A. The transporter of gas produced shall account for the gas by metering or other division-approved method and report it to the division. The owner or operator of the gas transportation facility shall report gas produced from a gas well and delivered to a gas transportation facil…

Oil Conservation Commission.

A. The division shall establish online application and submittal procedures on the division's website for the electronic filing of all forms, applications and other written documents and information with the division. B. All applications that require the payment of a fee, as prov…

A. Notwithstanding other provisions of 19.15.2 NMAC through 19.15.39 NMAC, in the event the division or commission finds an emergency exists that requires an order's or rule's issuance without a hearing, the emergency rule or order shall have the same validity as if the division …

All requirements in the rules: A. to file a form or application with the division or commission, including documents required to be filed with district offices or the Santa Fe office, shall be accomplished by using the applicable online process on the division's website, B. to ot…

In computing a period of time prescribed by the Oil and Gas Act, the rules or an order, the division and commission shall comply with the Uniform Statute and Rule Construction Act, Section 12-2A-7 NMSA 1978.

Pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1 commission members may participate in commission meetings and hearings by conference telephone or other similar communications equipment when it is otherwise difficult or impossible for members to attend the meeting or hearing in person. Eac…

The division may from time to time enter into arrangements with state and federal governmental agencies, industry committees and individuals with respect to special projects, services and studies relating to oil and gas conservation and the associated protection of fresh waters.

Division personnel have the authority and duty to enforce division rules. Upon a showing by an operator that changes are necessary to avoid waste or protect public health or the environment, division personnel may allow minor deviations from approved field operational plans such …