OAR 632-010-0142: Directional Drilling

(1) Any well intentionally deviated from the vertical must be surveyed at intervals of at least 250 feet to determine the location of the borehole at those intervals. Deviation from the vertical for short distances is permitted without special permission to straighten the hole, sidetrack junk, or correct other mechanical difficulties. (2) Except for the purpose of straightening the hole, sidetracking junk, or correcting mechanical difficulties as provided in this rule, no well may be intentionally deviated from the vertical unless the permittee files an application and obtains a permit from the department. (a) Prior to drilling, an application to deviate a well may be approved as part of the drilling permit. (b) If drilling is in progress, the permittee must notify the department immediately of the deviation of the hole or of the intention to deviate the hole. When a permittee follows this procedure, an application must be submitted as soon as practicable to obtain a permit. The application for a permit to deviate the hole is to be submitted to the department along with the appropriate fee pursuant to ORS 520.017 and must include: (A) Surface location in terms of distances from lease and section boundaries, and plan coordinates of top of producing interval and bottom of hole from surface location; (B) Reason for deviation; (C) If the proposed or final location of the producing interval of the directionally deviated well is not in compliance with the spacing or other rules applicable to the reservoir: (i) List of affected mineral rights owners or evidence that the applicant is the only affected mineral rights owner. For the purposes of this rule, affected mineral rights owners are the mineral rights owners in adjoining or cornering drilling or spacing units toward which the well is to be deviated; (ii) A plat of the lease and of all affected leases showing the names of all affected mineral rights owners and the surface and proposed producing interval locations of the well. The plat must be drawn to a scale that allows easy observation of all pertinent data; and (D) Other information as the department may require. (3)(a) The department will notify all affected mineral rights owners, located in drilling or spacing units toward which a well is being directionally drilled, of the proposed deviation before approving an application. Approval of the application to deviate will be granted or denied at the discretion of the department. Affected mineral rights owners may submit a written request for a hearing to consider the application. If any such mineral rights owner requests a hearing within 20 days of the date of the department’s notice, , the hearing will be held without undue delay by the board or its designated representative. If no request for a hearing is made within 20 days of the department’s notice, the department may approve the application. (b) If the applicant is the only affected mineral rights owner or has leased the right to drill from the only affected mineral rights owner or has obtained a waiver from the affected mineral rights owner and the department does not object to the application, the department may approve the application immediately. (c) If a well is being directionally drilled as part of a continuous drilling operation, the department may permit deviation of the well without providing a 20-day notice to all affected mineral rights owners in spacing units toward which the well is being directionally drilled. If a well is completed in a setback location, affected mineral rights owners will be notified and a public hearing will be held, if requested. (4) Upon completion, suspension, or decommission of a well, whichever comes first, the permittee must file a complete directional survey, obtained by approved well surveying methods, with the department, together with other regularly required reports.