KRS 353.570: Permit required -- Department may authorize operation prior to issuance

of permit.

(1) No person shall drill or deepen a well, drill a stratigraphic test well, or reopen a

plugged well for the production of oil or gas or for the injection of water, gas or

other fluid into any oil or gas producing formation (except seismograph test holes)

after June 16, 1960, or drill or deepen a water supply well after June 16, 1966, until

such person shall obtain a permit from the department, except as provid ed in KRS

353.588.

(2) When any applicant for a permit as required by this section has complied with the

provisions of this chapter and all rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, the

department shall issue the permit.

(3) The department may authorize the commencement of the drilling, deepening or

reopening of any well prior to the issuance of a permit therefor; except if the

location of the well is known to be underlaid by a coal -bearing stratum and consent

of the owner, operator, and lessee of the co al-bearing stratum has not been granted.

Consent shall be implied, when the coal-bearing stratum is owned by the oil and gas

lessor or lessee, and the coal is not under lease to any third party.