20 AAC 25.050. Wellbore surveys

(a) A well that is not intentionally deviated must be

(1) drilled as close to vertical as is possible using conventional drilling techniques, except that deviation is permitted for short intervals to straighten the hole, sidetrack junk, or correct mechanical difficulties;

(2) surveyed to determine the inclination from vertical with surveys starting at 500 feet and no more than 500 feet apart to total depth; and

(3) surveyed by a complete continuous directional survey if a portion of the well path is less than 500 feet from a property line where the ownership by owner or landowner is not identical on both sides of the line, or if a portion of the well path is less than 200 feet from any other vertical or deviated well; the survey must be taken at intervals not more than 100 feet apart, beginning within 100 feet of the surface.

(b) If a well is to be intentionally deviated, the application for a Permit to Drill (Form 10-401) must

(1) include a plat, drawn to a suitable scale, showing the path of the proposed wellbore, including all adjacent wellbores within 200 feet of any portion of the proposed well; and

(2) for all wells within 200 feet of the proposed wellbore

(A) list the names of the operators of those wells, to the extent that those names are known or discoverable in public records, and show that each named operator has been furnished a copy of the application by certified mail; or

(B) state that the applicant is the only affected owner.

(1) directionally surveyed at intervals not more than 500 feet apart on straight or tangent sections of the well during the normal course of drilling, and at intervals not exceeding 100 feet in all portions of the hole where intentional angle changes are performed;

(2) surveyed by a continuous directional survey if a portion of the well path is less than 500 feet from a property line where the ownership by owner or landowner is not identical on both sides of the line; the survey must be taken at intervals not more than 100 feet apart, beginning within 100 feet of the surface; and

(3) surveyed by a continuous directional survey if a deviated portion of the wellbore is less than 200 feet from any other vertical or deviated well; the survey must be taken at intervals not more than 100 feet apart, beginning within 100 feet of the surface.

(d) Within 30 days after the completion, abandonment, or suspension of a well, and within 30 days after completion or plugging of a well branch, a complete digital copy of each inclination and directional survey not previously filed must be filed with the commission in a format acceptable to the commission. A composite survey may additionally be filed if the operator believes this would better represent the well course. If a composite survey is filed, the operator shall specify the portion of each survey used in the composite.

(e) If the final location of the producing interval of a well is not in compliance with 20 AAC 25.055 or with pool rules established under 20 AAC 25.520, the operator shall apply for an exception. The commission will review the application in accordance with 20 AAC 25.540. The well may not be produced until the exception is granted.

(f) A wellbore survey report required by (a) or (c) of this section must contain

(1) the name of the surveying company;

(2) the name, title, and signature of the person who actually performed the survey;

(3) the date on which the survey was performed;

(4) the type of survey conducted;

(5) the method used in calculating the survey;

(6) a complete identification of the well or, in the case of a well with more than one bottom-hole location, a complete identification of the well branch; the identification must show the name of the well designated by the operator under 20 AAC 25.005(f) , the name of the operator, the property name or lease number, the Permit to Drill number assigned under 20 AAC 25.040(b) , the API number, and the field name;

(7) the depth interval over which the survey was conducted; and

(8) a plat showing the coordinates

(A) of the surface location, the plotted well course, and wells within 500 feet of any portion of the wellbore; these coordinates must be referenced to governmental section lines; and

(B) of the surface location, referenced to the state plane coordinate system for this state as maintained by the National Geodetic Survey in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(g) The commission will, in its discretion, require submittal of the original film, time sheets, charts, graphs, discs, and other data used to compile the survey required by (a) or (c) of this section.

(h) Upon application, the commission will, in its discretion, waive all or part of the directional survey requirements of this section or approve alternate means for determining the location of a wellbore if the variance at least equally ensures accurate surveying of the wellbore to prevent well intersection, to comply with spacing requirements, and to ensure protection of correlative rights.

History: Eff. 4/13/80, Register 74; am 4/2/86, Register 97; am 11/7/99, Register 152

Authority: AS 31.05.030

Editor's note: As of Register 177 (April 2006), the regulations attorney made a technical revision under AS 44.62.125 (b)(6), to 20 AAC 25.050(g) .

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