West Virginia Code § 22-6A-5

Application of article six of this chapter to horizontal wells subject to this
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article.
(a) To the extent that horizontal wells governed by this article are similar to conventional oil
and gas wells regulated under article six of this chapter, the following sections of article six
of this chapter are hereby incorporated by reference in this article:
(1) The provisions of §22-6-3 of this code relating to the findings and orders of inspectors
concerning violations, the determination of reasonable time for abatement, extensions of
time for abatement, special inspections and notice of findings and orders;
(2) The provisions of §22-6-4 of this code providing for the review of findings and orders by
the secretary, special inspections and applications for annulment or revision of orders by the
secretary;
(3) The provisions of §22-6-5 of this code relating to the requirements for findings, orders
and notices, notice to the operator of findings and olrders and judicial review of final orders
of the secretary; s
(4) The provisions of §22-6-7 of this code rielating to the issuance of water pollution control
permits, the powers and duties of the secretary related thereto and penalties for violations of
the same;
(5) The provisions of §22-6-8 of this code of this chapter relating to the prohibition of permits
for wells on flat well royalty leases and requirements for permits;
(6) The provisions of §22-6-12 of this code pertaining to plats prerequisite to drilling or
fracturing wells, the preparation and contents thereof, notice furnished to coal operators,
owners or lesVsees, the issuance of permits and required performance bonds, with the
following exceptions:
(A) Under subsection (a), §22-6-12 of this code, the plat also shall identify all surface tract
boundaries within the scope of the plat proposed to be crossed by the horizontal lateral of
the horizontal well and the proposed path of such horizontal lateral, and
(B) Under subsection (b), §22-6-12 of this code, any reference to a time period shall be thirty
days in lieu of fifteen days;
(7) The provisions of §22-6-13 of this code providing for notice of the operator's intention to
fracture wells, with the exception that under the third paragraph of §22-6-13 of this code,
the applicable periods shall be thirty days in lieu of fifteen days;
(8) The provisions of §22-6-14 of this code providing requirements related only to the
introduction of liquids for the purposes for enhanced recovery, with the exception that the
type of wells used for enhanced recovery referenced in §22-6-14(a) of this code shall also
include the introduction of fluids or gases, not otherwise prohibited by law or rule, including
carbon dioxide, for the purposes provided for in §22-6-25 of this code;
(9) The provisions of §22-6-15 of this code pertaining to objections to proposed deep well
drilling sites above seam or seams of coal, with the exception that the applicable time for
filing objections is within thirty days of receipt by the secretary of the required plat and/or
notice in lieu of fifteen days;
(10) The provisions of §22-6-16 of this code pertaining to the process of issuing permits
related only to the introduction of liquids or waste for the purposes for enhanced recovery,
with the exception that the type of wells used for enhanced recovery referenced in §22-6-16
of this code shall also include the introduction of fluids or gases,u not otherwise prohibited by
law or rule, including carbon dioxide, for the purposes provided for in §22-6-25 of this code;
(11) The provisions of §22-6-17 of this code pertaining to drilling of shallow gas wells, notice
to be provided to the chair of the review board, ordersa issued by the review board and
permits issued for such drilling, with the exception that the applicable time for filing
objections is thirty days from the date of receipt byl the secretary of the required plat and
notice in lieu of fifteen days; s
(12) The provisions of §22-6-18 of this codei providing for protective devices for when a well
penetrates one or more workable cogal beds and when gas is found beneath or between
workable coal beds;
(13) The provisions of §22-6-19 of this code providing for protective devices during the life of
the well and for dry or abandoned wells;
(14) The provisions of §22-6-20 of this code providing for protective devices when a well is
drilled through the h orizon of a coalbed from which the coal has been removed;
(15) The provisions of §22-6-21 of this code requiring the installation of fresh water casings;
(16) The provisions of §22-6-22 of this code relating to the filing of a well completion log and
the contents thereof, confidentiality and permitted use and the secretary's authority to
promulgate rules;
(17) The provisions of §22-6-25 of this code regarding the introduction of liquid pressure into
producing strata to recover oil contained therein, with the exception that (i) the purposes of
wells set forth in §22-6-25 of this code may also be for introducing fluid or gaseous pressure,
including carbon dioxide, and (ii) the substance that is the subject of recovery also includes
natural gas;
(18) The provisions of §22-6-27 of this code regarding a cause of action for damages caused
by an explosion;
(19) The provisions of §22-6-28 of this code of this chapter relating to supervision by the
secretary over drilling and reclamation operations, the filing of complaints, hearings on the
same and appeals;
(20) The provisions of §22-6-29 of this code providing for the Operating Permit and
Processing Fund, the oil and gas reclamation fund and associated fees, with the exception
that in the first paragraph of subsection (a), §22-6-29 of this code, the fees to be credited to
the Oil and Gas Operating Permit and Processing Fund are the permit fees collected
pursuant to section seven of this article; e
(21) The provisions of §22-6-31 of this code providing for preventing waste of gas, plans of
operation for wasting gas in the process of producing oil and the secretary's rejection
thereof; u
(22) The provisions of §22-6-32 of this code pertaining to the right of an adjacent owner or
operator to prevent waste of gas and the recovery of costs;
(23) The provisions of §22-6-33 of this code relating to circuit court actions to restrain waste;
(24) The provisions of §22-6-36 of this code providing for the declaration of oil and gas notice
by owners and lessees of coal seams and setting out the form of such notice;
(25) The provisions of §22-6-39 of this code relating to petitions for injunctive relief; and
(26) The provisions of §22-6-40 of this code of this chapter relating to appeals from orders
issuing or refusing to issue a permit to drill or fracture, and the procedure therefore.
(b) Notwithstanding anyL other provision of this code to the contrary, no provision of article
six of this chapter shall apply to horizontal wells subject to this article except as expressly
incorporated by refe rence in this article. Any conflict between the provisions of article six
and the provisions of this article shall be resolved in favor of this article.

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