23-0701 – Voluntary Integration and Unitization in Oil and Natural Gas Pools and Fields.

§ 23-0701. Voluntary  integration and unitization in oil and natural gas
           pools and fields.
1. Voluntary integration and unitization in oil pools or fields and in
  natural gas pools or fields shall be subject to the provisions  of  this
  section.  When two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a
  spacing unit, or when there are separately owned interests in all  or  a
  part  of  a  spacing  unit,  the  interested persons may integrate their
  tracts or interests for the development and  operation  of  the  spacing
  unit.  An  agreement for the unit or for the cooperative development and
  operation of a field, pool, or part thereof, may  be  submitted  to  the
  department  for  approval  as being in the public interest or reasonably
  necessary to prevent waste. Such approval shall  constitute  a  complete
  defense  to  any  suit  charging  violation of any statute of this state
  relating to trusts and monopolies on account thereof or  on  account  of
  operations  conducted  pursuant  thereto.  Failure  to  submit  such  an
  agreement to the department for approval shall not for that reason imply
  or constitute  evidence  that  the  agreement  or  operations  conducted
  pursuant  thereto  are  in  violation  of  laws  relating  to trusts and
  monopolies.
2. Upon twenty-one days notice to  the  fee  owners  of  oil  and  gas
  interests  under  lease in a spacing unit, a well operator may record as
  to each tract for which notice has been given a declaration of voluntary
  integration. The declaration of voluntary integration shall include  the
  acreage  applicable  to each tract so integrated and the proportion such
  acreage bears to the entire spacing unit. The declaration  of  voluntary
  integration shall be final and binding upon all persons and their heirs,
  successors  and  assigns, and all persons who take title by operation of
  law.