Statewide Spacing Unit Sizes and Setbacks
Effective August 2, 2005, Section 23-0501 of the Environmental Conservation Law applies to well permits for oil and gas wells which are OUTSIDE of:
- oil fields or pools which were discovered, developed and operated prior to January 1, 1981; and
- natural gas fields or pools which were discovered, developed and operated prior to January 1, 1995 and are not being extended.
Section 23-0501.1(B)(1) establishes statewide spacing for gas wells outside of pre-1995 fields, as summarized below. Well permits for units which conform to statewide spacing will be issued after a notice of intent is published in the Environmental Notice Bulletin. A spacing order is not required for a unit which conforms to statewide spacing.
Regulatory statewide spacing as established by Part 553 of 6 NYCRR applies to oil wells and wells in pre-1995 gas fields.
| Pool | Depth | Conforming Unit Size (Ac.) | Well and Boundary Distance Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medina and shale | any depth | 36 to 44 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 660 feet from any unit boundary |
| Onondaga reef or Oriskany | any depth | 144 to 176 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 660 feet from any unit boundary |
| Fault-bounded Trenton and/or Black River hydrothermal dolomite | 4,000' to 8,000' | 288 to 352 | Proposed productive section of the wellbore within the target formation no less than one-half mile from any other well in another unit in the same pool and no less than 1,000 feet from any unit boundary that is not defined by a field-bounding fault but in no event less than 660 feet from any unit boundary |
| below 8,000' | 608 to 672 | Proposed productive section of the wellbore within the target formation no less than one mile from any other well in another unit in the same pool and no less than 1,500 feet from any unit boundary that is not defined by a field-bounding fault but in no event less than 660 feet from any unit boundary | |
| All other pools | above 4,000' | 72 to 88 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 660 feet from any unit boundary |
| 4,000' to 6,000' | 144 to 176 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 660 feet from any unit boundary | |
| 6,000' to 8,000' | 288 to 352 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 1,000 feet from any unit boundary | |
| below 8,000' | 608 to 672 | Wellbore within the target formation no less than 1,500 feet from any unit boundary |
More about Statewide Spacing Unit Sizes and Setbacks:
- Well Spacing Orders - The Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law requires public notice and hearing to implement field-wide spacing and integration rules when necessary to prevent waste, provide greater ultimate recovery of the hydrocarbon resource and protect the correlative rights of all owners, including landowners.
- Scheduled Well Spacing Hearings - Well spacing hearings.
