§22-6A-1. Short Title
This article shall be known and cited as the Horizontal Well Act.
§22-6A-2. Legislative Findings; Declaration of Public Policy
(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The advent and advancement of new and existing technologies and drilling practices have created the opportunity for the efficient development of natural gas contained in underground shales and other geologic formations;
§22-6A-3. Applicability; Exceptions
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the provisions of this article shall apply to any natural gas well, other than a coalbed methane well, drilled using a horizontal drilling method, and which disturbs three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads, or utilizes more than two hundred […]
§22-6A-3a. Karst Terrain; Rulemaking
(a) Because drilling horizontal wells in naturally occurring karst terrain may require precautions not necessary in other parts of the state, the secretary may require additional safeguards to protect this geological formation. When drilling horizontal wells in naturally occurring karst terrain, such additional safeguards may include changing proposed well locations to avoid damage to water […]
§22-6A-4. Definitions
(a) All definitions set forth in article six of this chapter apply when those defined terms are used in this article, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning. (b) Unless the context in which the term used clearly requires a different meaning, as used in this article: (1) […]
§22-6A-5. Application of Article Six of This Chapter to Horizontal Wells Subject to This Article
(a) To the extent that horizontal wells governed by this article are similar to conventional oil and gas wells regulated under article six of this chapter, the following sections of article six of this chapter are hereby incorporated by reference in this article: (1) The provisions of section three, article six of this chapter relating […]
§22-6A-6. Secretary of Department of Environmental Protection; Powers and Duties
(a) The secretary is vested with jurisdiction over all aspects of this article, including, but not limited to, the following powers and duties: (1) All powers and duties conferred upon the secretary pursuant to article six, chapter twenty-two of this code;