Authority: IC 14-38-2-7

Affected: IC 14-38-2

Sec. 3. (a) A person drilling or plugging test holes shall conduct operations so as to prevent:

1. (1) waste;
2. (2) the escape of oil or gas;
3. (3) the intrusion of water into oil, gas, or coal strata;
4. (4) the pollution of fresh water;
5. (5) damage to an underground gas storage reservoir; or
6. (6) obstructing or the placing of unauthorized material in a test hole.

(b) If a test hole penetrates a stratum containing gas, the hole shall be shut in, if escape of the gas can be avoided and would constitute waste. The division may require mud-laden fluid to be applied, the gas stratum cased, or another suitable method adopted to arrest escape of the gas.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 17-2-3; filed Feb 23, 1998, 11:30 a.m.: 21 IR 2349; readopted filed Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; readopted filed Mar 25, 2010, 2:59 p.m.: 20100421-IR-312100038RFA; readopted filed Sep 30, 2015, 12:13 p.m.: 20151028-IR-312150224RFA; readopted filed May 19, 2021, 4:17 p.m.: 20210616-IR-312210111RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)