[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR3162.5-2]

[Page 424-425]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 3160--ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart 3162--Requirements for Operating Rights Owners and Operators
 
Sec. 3162.5-2  Control of wells.

    (a) Drilling wells. The operator shall take all necessary 
precautions to keep each well under control at all times, and shall 
utilize and maintain materials and equipment necessary to insure the 
safety of operating conditions and procedures.
    (b) Vertical drilling. The operator shall conduct drilling 
operations in a manner so that the completed well does not deviate 
significantly from the vertical without the prior written approval of 
the authorized officer. Significant deviation means a projected 
deviation of the well bore from the vertical of 10 deg. or more, or a 
projected bottom hole location which could be less than 200 feet from 
the spacing unit or lease boundary. Any well which deviates more than 
10 deg. from the vertical or could result in a bottom hole location less 
than 200 feet from the spacing unit or lease boundary without prior 
written approval must be promptly reported to the authorized officer. In 
these cases, a directional survey is required.
    (c) High pressure or loss of circulation. The operator shall take 
immediate steps and utilize necessary resources to maintain or restore 
control of any well in which the pressure equilibrium has become 
unbalanced.
    (d) Protection of fresh water and other minerals. The operator shall 
isolate freshwater-bearing and other usable water containing 5,000 ppm 
or less of dissolved solids and other mineral-bearing formations and 
protect them from contamination. Tests and surveys of the effectiveness 
of such measures shall be conducted by the operator

[[Page 425]]

using procedures and practices approved or prescribed by the authorized 
officer.

[47 FR 47765, Oct. 27, 1982. Redesignated and amended at 48 FR 36583-
36586, Aug. 12, 1983, further amended at 53 FR 17363, May 16, 1988]