Title 43, Mineral Resources

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Condensate” means liquid hydrocarbons that were originally in the gaseous phase in the reservoir. (2) “Field” means the general area underlaid by one or more pools. (3) “Gas” means all natural gas and all other …

(1) The following fees are established under this chapter: (a) The application fee for a permit to drill a well is $5,000. (b) The fee to modify a well permit, information hole permit or seismic program permit is $5,000. (c) The annual renewal fee for a well permit, information h…

(1) A person may not drill or use a well without first obtaining a permit from the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and posting any bond that may be required pursuant to ORS 520.095 (1). When drilling has been completed, the well must be maintained under a permi…

(1) A person may not drill an information hole or a hole drilled as part of a seismic program without first applying for approval from the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and paying the fee established in ORS 520.017. The application must be submitted on a form…

The waste of oil or gas, as defined in ORS 520.005, is prohibited. [1953 c.667 §3; 2007 c.672 §7]

The State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may determine whether waste of oil or gas over which it has jurisdiction exists or is imminent. In the exercise of such power the department may: (1) Collect data. (2) Make investigations and inspections. (3) Examine properti…

(1) The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries has jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property, including tidal submerged and submersible lands of this state under ORS 274.705 to 274.860, necessary to enforce effectively this chapte…

The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may adopt rules and issue orders, and the department may issue orders, as may be necessary in the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter, including but not limited to rules and orders for…

(1) For a period of two years from the date of abandonment or completion of a well, all well logs and records and well reports submitted to the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries are trade secrets under ORS 192.345 and are not subject to public disclosure under OR…

(1) The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may summon witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of records, books and documents for examination at any hearing or investigation conducted before the board. (2) In case of failure o…

Any person adversely affected by any rule adopted by the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries under this chapter or any order issued by the board or the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries under this chapter may obtain judicial …

A person may not, for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter or any rule adopted or order issued under this chapter, make or cause to be made any false entry or statement in a report required by this chapter or by any rule or order under this chapter, make or cause…

A person may not knowingly aid or abet any other person in the violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted or order issued under this chapter. [1953 c.667 §17; 2007 c.672 §16]

(1) Whenever it appears that any person is violating or threatening to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted or order issued under this chapter, the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries may bring an action against such pers…

(1) When necessary to prevent waste of oil or gas, to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells or to protect correlative rights, the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries shall establish spacing units for a pool or field. Spacing units when esta…

(1) When two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a spacing unit or when there are separately owned interests in all or a part of such spacing unit, then the interested persons may integrate their tracts or interests for the development and operation of the spacing…

(1) An agreement for the unit or cooperative development and operation of a field or pool in connection with the conduct of repressuring or pressure maintenance operations, cycling or recycling operations, including the extraction and separation of liquid hydrocarbons from natura…

(1) For the purpose of properly conserving the natural resources of any single oil or gas pool or field, lessees under ORS 274.705 to 274.860 and their representatives may unite with each other jointly or separately, or jointly or separately with others owning or operating lands …

(1) The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries upon its own motion may, and upon the application of any interested person shall, hold a hearing to consider the need for the operation as a unit of one or more pools or parts thereof in a field. (2…

An order issued pursuant to ORS 520.260 shall be upon terms and conditions that are just and reasonable, and shall prescribe a plan for unit operations that includes the following: (1) A description of the pool or pools or parts thereof to be so operated. (2) A statement of the n…

(1) The allocation described in ORS 520.270 (3) shall be in accord with the agreement, if any, of the interested parties. If there is no such agreement, the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries shall determine the relative value, from evidence…

(1) No order of the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries providing for unit operations is effective until: (a) The plan for unit operations prescribed by the board under ORS 520.270 has been approved in writing by (A) those owners who, under t…

An order providing for unit operations may be amended by an order made by the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as an original order providing for unit operations. However: (1) If the am…

(1) The governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries by order may provide for the unit operation of a pool or pools or parts thereof that embrace a unit area established by a previous order of the board. The order, in providing for the allocation of u…

(1) No division order or other contract relating to the sale or purchase of production from a separately owned tract may be terminated by the order providing for unit operations, but remains in force and applies to oil and gas allocated to that tract until terminated in accordanc…

All operations, including but not limited to the commencement, drilling or operation of a well, upon any portion of the unit area, are considered for all purposes the conduct of such operations upon each separately owned tract in the unit area by the several owners thereof. The p…

The underground storage of natural gas in Oregon is found by the Legislative Assembly to be in the public interest in that the establishment of underground reservoirs of natural gas will help insure the continued, uninterrupted availability of natural gas supplies to residential,…

(1) All natural gas in an underground reservoir utilized for underground storage, whether acquired by eminent domain or otherwise, shall at all times be the property of the natural gas company utilizing said underground storage, its heirs, successors, or assigns. In no event shal…

Subject to ORS 153.022, violation of any provision of this chapter, any rule adopted by the governing board of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries under this chapter or any order issued by the board or the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries unde…