55-177. Removal of structures and abutments from lands after abandoning wells; exception. (a) Leaving the surface of lands with a part of the operating structure or other equipment intact after abandoning oil or gas wells is against public policy, and constitutes a public nuisance, and shall be hereafter prohibited. Whenever any lease operator abandons any oil or gas well, the lease operator, within six months thereafter, shall remove any rig, derrick or other operating structure, and all abutments and other obstacles of every kind or size used in the operation of such oil or gas lease, from the land upon which the well was theretofore operated, and shall grade the surface of the soil in such manner as to leave the land, as nearly as practicable, in the same condition after the removal of such structures, equipment and obstacles as it was before such structures and abutments were placed thereon, unless the owner of the land and the abandoning party have entered into a contract providing otherwise.
(b) Any person, firm, association, partnership or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.
History: L. 1986, ch. 201, ยง 29; July 1.
Structure Kansas Statutes
Article 1 - Oil And Gas Wells; Regulatory Provisions
55-101 Natural gas for residents of platted land outside city; laying and maintenance of pipes.
55-112 Transportation of gas; standards for.
55-114 Penalty for violation of 55-112.
55-153 Advisory committee on regulation of oil and gas activities.
55-154 Certification of compliance with statutes and rules and regulations.
55-156 Protection of water prior to abandoning of well; penalty for noncompliance.
55-158 Submission of bond logs and surveys; penalties.
55-159 Notification of commission prior to setting surface casing or plugging; inspections; penalty.
55-160 Notification of commission prior to reentering plugged well; inspections.
55-161 Investigation of abandoned wells; integrity tests; costs.
55-164 Administrative penalties; procedure; costs and attorney fees; disposition of moneys.
55-165 Maintenance of information on wells.
55-169 Kansas surface owner notice act; citation.
55-169b Same; authorization for rules and regulations.
55-171 Permit required for the storage or disposal of salt water, oil or refuse in surface ponds.
55-172 Salt water, oil or refuse from wells; prevention of escape.
55-173 Notice prior to abandonment and plugging of wells; notification of surface owner.
55-174 Penalty for failure to notify of intent to drill.
55-175 Appointment of agents by the commission.
55-176 Commission's costs assessed against operators and agents; disposition of moneys.
55-177 Removal of structures and abutments from lands after abandoning wells; exception.
55-178 Abandoned wells; complaint concerning pollution or water loss; commission investigation.
55-179 Same; responsibility for remedial actions; hearings; orders; plugging.
55-181 Administration and enforcement of rules, regulations and orders.
55-182 Agents of commission; right of ingress and egress; restoration of premises.
55-186 Spill notification requirements.
55-192 Abandoned oil and gas well fund established; well plugging assurance fund abolished.
55-193 Abandoned oil and gas well fund; certain transfers thereto.
55-1,102 Filing of rates and other information required; use of information; disclosure.
55-1,103 Limitations on manner of offering services and facilities.
55-1,104 Commission review of fees, terms, practices; complaint; procedure.
55-1,105 Rules and regulations.
55-1,106 Exemptions from rate averaging or pricing systems.
55-1,107 Issuance of more than one certificate of convenience and necessity; exit fees prohibited.
55-1,108 Contractual obligations, when amended.
55-1,109 Notice of lack of capacity to serve required.
55-1,111 Commission review of exit tap on gathering system, access, service, abandonment; procedure.
55-1,117 Same; department of health and environment regulation of other underground storage.
55-1,117a Same; department of health and environment regulation of underground crude oil storage.
55-1,119 Same; penalties for violations of rules and regulations.
55-1,120 Same; salt solution mining wells; abandonment, legal responsibility for.
55-1,122 Same; representatives of secretary; right of ingress and egress.