Delaware Code
Chapter 61. MINERALS IN SUBMERGED LANDS
§ 6101. Definitions.

This chapter shall apply to all lands located within the boundaries of this State, except that sections relating to fees, royalties or rights to lease shall be applicable only to lands owned by this State. Unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) “Filled lands” includes tide and submerged lands reclaimed artificially through raising such lands above the highest probable elevation of the tides to form dry land, by placement of a fill or deposit of earth, rock, sand or other solid imperishable material.
(2) “Gas” means all natural gas and all other fluid hydrocarbons not defined as oil in subdivision (5) of this section, including condensate originally in the gaseous phase in the reservoir.
(3) “Lease” means a mineral lease issued pursuant to this chapter.
(4) “Mineral” means any natural inorganic substance with definite chemical and physical properties which is present in, or at the bottom of a body of water, or anywhere within the earth's crust.
(5) “Oil” means crude petroleum oil and all other hydrocarbons, regardless of gravity, which are produced in liquid form by ordinary production methods, but does not include liquid hydrocarbons that were originally in a gaseous phase in the reservoir.
(6) “Person” in addition to the meanings set forth in § 302 of Title 1, includes quasi-public corporations, political subdivisions and governmental agencies and instrumentalities.
(7) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, or, if so designated pursuant to § 6140 of this title, the State Geologist.
(8) “Structure” means any construction works, including but not limited to derricks, pipelines, lines for the transmission and distribution of electricity, telephone lines, wharves, piers, slips, warehouses and units designed to act as groins, jetties, seawalls, breakwaters or bulkheads.
(9) “Submerged lands” means lands lying below the line of mean low tide in the beds of all tidal waters within the boundaries of this State established before or after July 1, 1966.
(10) “Tidelands” means lands lying between the line of mean high water and the line of mean low water.

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