The division may place a well in approved temporary abandonment for a period of up to five years. Prior to the expiration of an approved temporary abandonment the operator shall return the well to beneficial use under a plan the division approves, permanently plug and abandon the well and restore and remediate the location or apply for a new approval to temporarily abandon the well. An operator is limited to placing the following numbers of wells in approved temporary abandonment:

1. A. one well, if the operator operates between one and five wells; or
2. B. one-third of all wells (rounded to the nearest whole number), if the operator operates more than five wells.

[19.15.25.12 NMAC - Rp, 19.15.4.203 NMAC, 12/1/2008; A, 1/15/2019]