{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-52-52-310","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 52, § 52-310","heading":"Leaking wells - Entry upon land to plug, replug or repair","body":"- Emergencies.\n\nA. If, after notice and hearing, the Corporation Commission\n\nfinds that:\n\n1. A well drilled for the exploration, development, or\n\nproduction of oil or gas, or as an injection or disposal well, is\n\nabandoned and unplugged or improperly plugged or is causing or is\n\nlikely to cause surface or subsurface pollution of any fresh water\n\nor is purging or is likely to purge salt water, oil, gas, or other\n\ndeleterious substances onto the surface of the land in the vicinity\n\nof the well; and\n\n2. The operator of the well or any other person responsible for\n\nplugging, replugging, or repairing the well in such manner as is\n\nnecessary to prevent further or future pollution cannot be found or\n\nis financially unable to pay the cost of performing the work, the\n\nCommission or any person authorized by the Commission may enter upon\n\nthe land upon which the well is located and plug, replug, or repair\n\nthe well as may be reasonably required to remedy the condition. If\n\nan emergency exists or if it otherwise appears to the Commission\n\nthat irreparable injury will result if immediate remedial action is\n\nnot taken, such entry upon the land may be made or authorized by the\n\nCommission without notice or hearing, for the purpose of taking such\n\ntemporary remedial action as the Commission considers necessary to\n\nprevent or minimize the injury, pending the giving of notice and\n\nhearing. The operation shall be conducted in the manner prescribed\n\nby the Commission.\n\nB. For the purpose of immediately responding to emergency\n\nsituations within the Commission's jurisdiction having potentially\n\ncritical environmental or public safety impact, the Commission may\n\ntake whatever necessary action, without notice and hearing,\n\nincluding the expenditure of monies from the Corporation Commission\n\nPlugging Fund, to promptly respond to the emergency. Such emergency\n\nexpenditure shall be made pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma\n\nCentral Purchasing Act upon such terms and conditions established by\n\nthe Office of Management and Enterprise Services to accomplish the\n\npurposes of this section. Thereafter, the Commission shall seek\n\nreimbursement from the responsible person, firm or corporation for\n\nall expenditures made from the Corporation Commission Plugging Fund.\n\nAny monies received as reimbursement shall be deposited to the\n\ncredit of the Corporation Commission Plugging Fund.\n\nC. In the event that a well on the Commission's orphaned wells\n\nlist has measurable methane, pursuant to the American Carbon\n\nRegistry standards or pursuant to the standards of other carbon\n\nregistries chosen by the Commission, the Commission may test and\n\nrecord the measurements of such emissions from the well pursuant to\n\nthe requirements of the American Carbon Registry or pursuant to the\n\nstandards of other carbon registries chosen by the Commission and\n\nobtain any carbon credits that may be available for the measured\n\nemissions. The Commission may use proceeds received from the sale\n\nof carbon credits, which shall be deposited into the Oil and Gas\n\nDivision Revolving Fund, to offset the cost of administering the\n\nprogram and testing for methane. The Commission may hire an\n\nadministrator to assist in facilitating the program. All funds\n\nremaining after testing, administration, and the cost to market and\n\nsecure the credits value shall be placed in the Corporation\n\nCommission Plugging Fund. Nothing in this section shall prohibit\n\nthe Commission from transferring an orphaned well, and all\n\nassociated potential carbon credits, pursuant to the Commission's\n\nwell transfer program. The Commission may promulgate rules as\n\nneeded to effectuate the capture of emissions and obtaining of\n\ncredits under this section.\n\nD. If, at any time, the monies in the Corporation Commission\n\nPlugging Fund are insufficient to cover the cost of remedial action\n\nfor all wells eligible for plugging, replugging or repair under this\narbon credits, pursuant to the Commission's\n\nwell transfer program. The Commission may promulgate rules as\n\nneeded to effectuate the capture of emissions and obtaining of\n\ncredits under this section.\n\nD. If, at any time, the monies in the Corporation Commission\n\nPlugging Fund are insufficient to cover the cost of remedial action\n\nfor all wells eligible for plugging, replugging or repair under this\n\nstatute, the Commission shall prioritize expenditures according to\n\ndegree of actual or potential environmental harm.","path":["OK Code","Title 52"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os52.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"b116e384fc417d3d559d301bccdf0b2b55d9f7dbd66587b2ea653310f4240909","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-52-52-31","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-52-52-311"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}