§ 38-08.1-06 — Duty to plug drill holes

North Dakota § 38-08.1-06

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 38: Mining and Gas and Oil Production
• Ch. 38-08.1: Geophysical Exploration Requirements

Text

1. Drill holes must be plugged and abandoned as required by this section.
2. The seismic company responsible for the plugging and abandonment of seismic shot
holes shall notify the commission in writing that it intends to plug and abandon the drill
hole. The required notice must be received by the commission at least twenty-four
hours before the time plugging activities are scheduled to begin. The notice must
include the date and time the activities are expected to commence, the location by
section, township, and range of the holes to be plugged, and the name and telephone
number of the person in charge of the plugging operations. A copy of the notice must
be sent to the landowner or lessee at the same time it is sent to the commission. The
seismic company shall notify the commission in writing upon completion of the
plugging operation.
3. All seismic shot holes must be plugged as soon after being used as reasonably is
practicable; however, they may not remain unplugged for a period of more than thirty
days unless, upon application, the commission grants an extension which may not
exceed ninety days. All seismic shot holes must be temporarily capped during the
period between drilling and final plugging.
4. The plug must have permanently affixed to it a durable nonrusting metal or plastic tag
or plate imprinted with the name of the operator responsible for the plugging of the
hole and the operator's permit number.
5. The surface around each seismic shot hole must be restored to its original condition
insofar as restoration is practicable and all stakes, markers, cables, ropes, wires,
primacord, cement or mud stacks, and any other debris or material not native to the
area must be removed from the drill site and lawfully disposed of.