(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a well for the production or underground storage of gas or oil may not be drilled on any property nearer than 1,000 feet to the boundary of the property except by agreement with the owners of the gas and oil on adjacent lands.
(2) A well for the production of coalbed methane may not be drilled on any property nearer than 500 feet to the boundary of the property except by agreement with the owners of coalbed methane on adjacent lands.
(b) On property on which it is impossible to locate a well the required minimum distance from the boundary, and where no agreement with the owners of the gas and oil or coalbed methane on adjacent lands has been made, a well may be located nearer than the required minimum distance under subsection (a) of this section to the boundary with the consent of the Department. However, when any permit to drill a well nearer than the required minimum distance to the boundary has been applied for, the Department shall notify every landowner, royalty owner, or leaseholder within the required minimum distance of the location of the proposed well, giving them a reasonable opportunity to file objections to the issuance of the permit. The Department then shall hold a hearing. If the Department determines that it is necessary for the well to be located nearer than the required minimum distance to the boundary, it may issue the permit. If a permit is issued, any landowner, royalty owner, or leaseholder within the required minimum distance of the proposed well has the right to a rehearing and appeal to the courts provided in this subtitle. A request for a rehearing or an appeal to the courts stays the authority granted under the permit until final determination of the issued permit is made.
(c) The Department, by rule or regulation, shall prescribe the distance between any two wells on any property.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Section 14-101 - Legislative Findings
Section 14-103 - Authority of Department to Adopt Rules and Regulations
Section 14-105 - Drilling Well and Disposing of Well's Products -- Application for Permit
Section 14-106 - Drilling Well and Disposing of Well's Products -- Bifurcation of Process
Section 14-107.1 - Hydraulic Fracturing Prohibited
Section 14-108 - Drilling Well and Disposing of Well's Products -- Denial of Permit
Section 14-109 - Seismic Operations; Permit Required; Use of Explosives
Section 14-110 - Conditions on Permits
Section 14-110.1 - Presumptive Impact Areas Around Gas Wells
Section 14-111 - Duties of Permittee
Section 14-112 - Location of Wells
Section 14-113 - Payment of Royalties When Leased Land Included Under Unit Agreement
Section 14-114 - Rules, Regulations, and Orders of Department
Section 14-117 - Appeal From Department's Decisions
Section 14-119 - Gas to Be Metered
Section 14-121 - Inspection of Coalbed Methane Production