Okla. Stat. tit. 52, § 52-248: Declaration of policy

Whereas, agriculture constitutes one of the basic foundations of

this state, and agricultural production in this state frequently is

restricted and curtailed by reason of shortage of rainfall and could

be increased and rendered more stable by irrigation, and, whereas,

in many areas of the state in which surface water resources are

inadequate to afford dependable and adequate sources of water for

irrigation, there also exist ample subsurface reservoirs of water at

such depths that they may be pumped successfully for irrigation only

by use of an assured and adequate source of power, which is not

available from commercial sources in rural neighborhoods, and,

whereas, in many such areas there exist developed deposits of

natural gas from which such power could be obtained, it is hereby

declared and enacted that the use of natural gas on the premises

from which it is produced to pump to the surface water to be used

for irrigation on such premises is a preferred use, prior in order

to all other uses which such gas may be devoted.