{"data":{"id":"us/43-cfr-3261.18","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"43 CFR 3261.18","heading":"Do I need to file a bond with BLM before I build a well pad or drill a well?","body":"Before starting any operation, you must:\n(a) File with BLM either a surety or personal bond in the following minimum amount:\n(1) $10,000 for a single lease;\n(2) $50,000 for all of your operations within a state; or\n(3) $150,000 for all of your operations nationwide;\n(b) Get our approval of your surety or personal bond; and\n(c) To cover any drilling operations on all leases committed to a unit, either submit a bond for that unit in an amount we specify, or provide a rider to a statewide or nationwide bond specifically covering the unit in an amount we specify.\n(d) See subparts 3214 and 3215 for additional details on bonding procedures.","path":["Title 43—Public Lands: Interior","Subtitle B—Regulations Relating to Public Lands","CHAPTER II—BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","SUBCHAPTER C—MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)","PART 3200—GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING","Subpart 3261—Drilling Operations: Getting a Permit"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-43.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:15Z","sha256":"13012e237e67ed65de8686391af78f9b89261563cf5e2880e46f9dea74145604","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/43-cfr-3261.17","next":"us/43-cfr-3261.19"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}