Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 82. MINERALS, OIL, AND GAS

CHAPTER 11. OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION

Part 1. Regulation by Board of Oil and Gas Conservation

Landowner's Bond On Noncommercial Well

82-11-163. (Temporary) Landowner's bond on noncommercial well. If the owner of the surface land upon which has been drilled a well that fails to produce oil or gas in commercial quantities acquires the well for domestic purposes, the board may cancel and absolve the bond required in 82-11-123 upon its acceptance of surety in the form of a certificate of deposit or a surety bond in the amount of $5,000 for a single well or in the amount of $10,000 for more than one well or in the form of a property bond of two times the value of the required certificate of deposit or surety bond. The release of the certificate of deposit, surety bond, or property bond must be conditioned on proof provided by the landowner that the well has been properly plugged.

82-11-163. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Landowner's bond on noncommercial well. If the owner of the surface land upon which has been drilled a well that fails to produce oil or gas in commercial quantities acquires the well for domestic purposes, the board may cancel and absolve the bond required in 82-11-123(1)(e) upon its acceptance of surety in the form of a certificate of deposit or a surety bond in the amount of $5,000 for a single well or in the amount of $10,000 for more than one well or in the form of a property bond of two times the value of the required certificate of deposit or surety bond. The release of the certificate of deposit, surety bond, or property bond must be conditioned on proof provided by the landowner that the well has been properly plugged.

History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 530, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 278, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 474, L. 2009.