PURPOSE: The oil reserves of the state or nation at any one time consist of that fraction of discovered oil that can be economically recovered using existing technology. Since optimum recovery is dependent upon engineering and scientific achievements as well as economics, any development of new processes represents an increase in oil reserves as well as an improvement in oil conservation practices. By carefully matching recovery processes to individual reservoirs, it should be possible to greatly extend the potential that exists in the so-called heavy oil deposits of western Missouri. This rule permits the council to give special consideration to development of potential resources such as these.

1. (1) It is the purpose of the council to encourage development of economic recovery of oil and gas reserves in the state, in particular the research and development leading to economic recovery of so-called heavy oil reserves by primary, secondary and tertiary recovery methods. Research or special projects whose object is to devise and develop methods may be approved as units complete within themselves. Unit approval may be obtained, at the discretion of the council, by submitting to the state geologist a project report specifying all pertinent details of the proposed project. It is the stated policy of the council to permit to the owner a great measure of latitude in the spacing of producing wells, injection wells, observation wells or other wells required for the orderly development and evaluation of the projects. Blanket project approval for drilling the wells may be granted at the discretion of the state geologist, provided the location and numbers of the wells are anticipated with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
2. (2) No well drilled for the purpose of producing oil or gas shall be drilled closer than approximately one hundred sixty-five feet (165') to a lease line.
3. (3) Reports of the pertinent details of overall project operation shall be submitted quarterly to the state geologist for his/her study and use and shall be considered as confidential for no less than two (2) years, upon written request by the operator.

AUTHORITY: sections 259.060 and 259.070, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed Oct. 11, 1966, effective Oct. 21, 1966. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 1973, effective Sept. 22, 1973. *Original authority: 259.060, RSMo 1965, amended 1972 and 259.070, RSMo 1965, amended 1972.