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2001 SESSION

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HB 1248 Gas and Oil Act; permit applications.

Introduced by: Terry G. Kilgore | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia Gas and Oil Act; permit applications. Provides that a permit or proposed drilling unit shall be granted if, after a hearing to consider objections to a proposed drilling unit or location, a well operator and the objecting coal owners are unable to agree upon a drilling unit or location for a new well. The permit or proposed drilling unit will not, however, be granted if the Virginia Gas and Oil Board determines that the drilling unit or location will unreasonably interfere with the safe recovery of coal, oil, gas, or coalbed methane gas as proposed. The Board may also modify the drilling unit or location to permit the safe recovery of coal, oil, gas, or coalbed methane gas as proposed.

In an application for a permit to drill a coalbed methane gas well or to convert any methane drainage borehole into a coalbed methane gas well, the consent from the operators of coal seams located within 750 feet of the proposed well location shall not be required where the coal seam is a stratum of coal deeper than 750 feet below the lowest surface elevation within 750 horizontal feet of the proposed well location. The consent from the operators of coal seams located within 750 feet of the proposed well location shall be deemed granted (1) if the applicant has obtained consent to stimulate the tracts comprising the majority of the acreage located within 750 feet of the proposed well location and title to the coal is held by multiple owners, or (2) by order of the Board where (a) the applicant has exercised due diligence in attempting to obtain the consent of a coal operator, (b) the coal operator has withheld its consent, and (c) the proposed method of stimulation will not render the coal seam unworkable or impair mine safety.


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