West Virginia Code
Article 21. Coalbed Methane Wells and Units
§22-21-20. Spacing

No coalbed methane well may be drilled closer than one hundred feet of the outermost boundary of the coalbed methane tract, leased premises, or unit from which coalbed methane is or will be produced or within one thousand six hundred linear feet of the location of an existing well or a proposed well for which a permit application is on file, unless all owners and operators of any affected workable coal seams agree in writing. Affected workable coal seams for purposes of this section shall be those which will be penetrated or those seams more than twenty-eight inches in thickness from which production is targeted. Spacing shall otherwise be as provided in a pooling order issued by the chief, an order establishing special field rules or an order issued by the review board.

Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 22. Environmental Resources

Article 21. Coalbed Methane Wells and Units

§22-21-1. Declaration of Public Policy; Legislative Findings

§22-21-2. Definitions

§22-21-3. Application of Article; Exclusions; Application of Chapter Twenty-Two-B to Coalbed Methane Wells

§22-21-4. Chief; Powers and Duties Generally

§22-21-5. Duties of the Coalbed Methane Review Board; Meetings; Notice, Powers and Duties Generally

§22-21-6. Permit Required for Coalbed Methane Well; Permit Fee; Application; Soil Erosion Control Plan; Penalties

§22-21-7. Consent and Agreement of Coal Owner or Operator

§22-21-8. Performance Bonds; Corporate Surety or Other Security

§22-21-9. Notice to Owners

§22-21-10. Procedure for Filing Comments

§22-21-11. Objections or Comments to Coalbed Methane Wells by Coal Owner or Operator; Hearings

§22-21-12. Review of Application; Issuance of Permit in the Absence of Objections; Copy of Permits to County Assessor

§22-21-13. Review Board Hearing; Findings; Order

§22-21-14. Protective Devices Required When a Coalbed Methane Well Penetrates Workable Coalbed; When a Coalbed Methane Well Is Drilled Through Horizon of Coalbed From Which Coal Has Been Removed; Notice of Stimulation; Results of Stimulation

§22-21-15. Drilling Units and Pooling of Interests

§22-21-16. Notice to Owners

§22-21-17. Review of Application; Hearing; Pooling Order; Spacing; Operator; Elections; Working Interests, Royalty Interests, Carried Interests, Escrow Account for Conflicting Claims, Division Order

§22-21-18. Operation on Drilling Units

§22-21-19. Validity of Unit Agreements

§22-21-20. Spacing

§22-21-21. Dry or Abandoned Wells

§22-21-22. Notice of Plugging and Reclamation of Well; Right to Take Well; Objection; Plugging Order; Plugging for Mine-Through

§22-21-23. Method of Plugging

§22-21-24. Existing Mining Rights

§22-21-25. Judicial Review; Appeal to Supreme Court of Appeals; Legal Representation for Review Board

§22-21-26. Limitation on Actions in Trespass

§22-21-27. Injunctive Relief

§22-21-28. Penalties

§22-21-29. Construction