[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR3135.1-5]

[Page 381]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 3130_OIL AND GAS LEASING: NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE, ALASKA--Table 
of Contents
 
   Subpart 3135_Transfers, Extensions, Consolidations, and Suspensions
 
Sec. 3135.1-5  Extension of lease.

    (a) The term of a lease shall be extended beyond its primary term so 
long as oil or gas is produced from the lease in paying quantities or so 
long as drilling or reworking operations, actual or constructive, as 
approved by the Secretary, are conducted thereon.
    (b) A lease may be maintained in force by directional wells drilled 
under the leased area from surface locations on adjacent or adjoining 
lands not covered by the lease. In such circumstances, drilling shall be 
considered to have commenced on the lease area when drilling is 
commenced on the adjacent or adjoining lands for the purpose of 
directional drilling under the leased area through any directional well 
surfaced on adjacent or adjoining lands. Production, drilling or 
reworking of any directional well shall be considered production or 
drilling or reworking operations on the lease area for all purposes of 
the lease.