Well Operator Responsibilities

If you acquire, own, or operate natural gas, oil, or other Article 23 regulated well(s), you are legally responsible for meeting the state regulatory requirements of the Oil, Gas, and Solution Mining Law and its associated Rules and Regulations (Environmental Conservation Law Article 23 and 6 NYCRR Parts 550 - 559), including, but not limited to:

  • Registering as a well operator by submitting and maintaining an up-to-date Organizational Report;
  • Submitting and maintaining required levels of financial security;
  • Complying with the required well permitting process including the submission of Application(s) for Permit to Drill, Deepen, Plug Back or Convert, and Well Drilling and Completion Report(s);
  • Operating the well(s) in an environmentally safe and responsible manner, complying with all applicable state regulatory requirements;
  • Complying with 6 NYCRR Part 203, Oil and Natural Gas Sector regulations, effective January 1, 2023, for reducing methane (CH4) emissions and conducting regular Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR);
  • Properly containing and disposing of all produced fluids and brine from the well(s);
  • Properly handling, storing, and transporting all hydrocarbon production from the well;
  • Immediately notifying the appropriate Division of Mineral Resources regional office of any leak, spill, fire or other non-routine incident related to your well(s) that may affect the environment or the health, safety, welfare or property of any person;
  • Submitting well production data on an annual basis;
  • Submitting Request(s) for Transfer of Well Responsibilities when intending to legally transfer well responsibilities from yourself to another well operator;
  • Receiving DEC approval to shut-in or temporarily abandon well(s) when suspending operations on non-completed well(s) or suspending production of a completed well without initiating plugging operations; and
  • Properly plugging and abandoning the well(s) when the well(s) reach the end of their productive life including the submission of the Notice(s) of Intention to Plug and Abandon and Plugging Report(s).

Contact for this Page

DMN, Bureau of Oil and Gas Regulation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

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