Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 4. (a) For wells drilled or deepened for the production of natural gas from either the Trenton formation or the Black River formation in the shallow Trenton limestone reservoir region:

1. (1) the drilling unit shall contain five (5) acres of land; and

2. (2) the well shall be located not less than one hundred sixty-five (165) feet from the nearest external boundary line of the lease or production unit and not less than three hundred thirty (330) feet from the nearest location of any of the following in the same individual reservoir:

   1. (A) A producing well for oil and gas purposes.
   2. (B) A well being drilled for oil and gas purposes.
   3. (C) The site of a proposed well for oil and gas purposes for which a permit has been issued but the well is not yet drilled.

(b) For wells drilled or deepened for the production of natural gas from any sandstone reservoir, not specified in subsection (a), the top of which lies less than one thousand (1,000) feet below the surface:

1. (1) the drilling unit shall contain ten (10) acres of land, more or less; and

2. (2) the well shall be located not less than three hundred thirty (330) feet from the nearest external boundary line of the lease or production unit and not less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the nearest location of any of the following in the same reservoir:

   1. (A) A producing well for oil and gas purposes.
   2. (B) A well being drilled for oil and gas purposes.
   3. (C) The site of a proposed well for oil and gas purposes for which a permit has been issued but the well is not yet drilled.

(c) For wells drilled or deepened for the production of natural gas from any formation not specified in subsections (a) and (b), the top of which lies less than one thousand (1,000) feet below the surface:

1. (1) the drilling unit shall contain twenty (20) acres of land, more or less; and

2. (2) the well shall be located not less than three hundred thirty (330) feet from the nearest external boundary line of the lease or production unit and not less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the nearest location of any of the following in the same reservoir:

   1. (A) A producing well for oil and gas purposes.
   2. (B) A well being drilled for oil and gas purposes.
   3. (C) The site of a proposed well for oil and gas purposes for which a permit has been issued but the well is not yet drilled.

(d) For wells drilled or deepened for the production of natural gas from any formation, the top of which is greater than or equal to one thousand (1,000) feet below the surface:

1. (1) the drilling unit shall contain forty (40) acres of land, more or less; and

2. (2) the well shall be located not less than three hundred thirty (330) feet from the nearest external boundary line of the lease or production unit and not less than nine hundred ninety (990) feet from the nearest location of any of the following in the same reservoir:

   1. (A) A producing well for oil and gas purposes.
   2. (B) A well being drilled for oil and gas purposes.
   3. (C) The site of a proposed well for oil and gas purposes for which a permit has been issued but the well is not yet drilled.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-13-4; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA; readopted filed Jan 17, 2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA)